On string one-loop correction to the Einstein-Hilbert term and its implications on the Kähler potential

Abstract

Abstract To compute the string one-loop correction to the Kähler potential of moduli fields of string compactifications in Einstein-frame, one must compute: the string one-loop correction to the Einstein-Hilbert action, the string one-loop correction to the moduli kinetic terms, the string one-loop correction to the definition of the holomorphic coordinates. In this note, in the small warping limit, we compute the string one-loop correction to the Einstein-Hilbert action of type II string theory compactified on orientifolds of Calabi-Yau threefolds. We find that the one-loop correction is determined by the new supersymmetric index studied by Cecotti, Fendley, Intriligator, and Vafa and the Witten index. As a simple application, we apply our results to estimate the size of the one-loop corrections around a conifold point in the Kähler moduli space.