Modular invariant critical superstrings on four-dimensional Minkowski space times two-dimensional black hole

Extending the seminal work of Bilal and Gervais, we construct a tachyon-free, modular invariant partition function for critical superstrings on four-dimensional Minkowski × two-dimensional black hole. This model may be thought of as an SL(2,)/U(1) version of Gepner models and corresponds to a conifold point on the moduli space of Calabi-Yau compactifications. We directly deal with N = 2, c = 9 unitary superconformal characters. Modular invariance is achieved by requiring the string to have a momentum along an extra noncompact direction, in agreement with the picture of singular CFTs advocated by Witten. The four-dimensional massless spectrum coincides with that of the tensionless strings, supporting the proposal made by Bershadsky et al. concerning a dual description of type-II strings on a conifold in terms of two intersecting NS5-branes. An interesting relation to D = 6, N = 4 gauged supergravity is also discussed.