New N=1 dualities from orientifold transitions - Part I: Field Theory

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new class of N=1 gauge theory dualities arising from orientifold transitions in string theory, with extensive checks on specific examples like C^3/Z_3 and dP_1 singularities, suggesting a broader geometric origin.

Contribution

It presents novel N=1 gauge theory dualities from orientifold transitions, supported by detailed anomaly and index matching, expanding understanding of gauge/string dualities.

Findings

Dualities confirmed for C^3/Z_3, dP_1, F_0, and Y^{4,0} singularities.

Extensive checks including anomaly and superconformal index matching.

Indicates a connection to SL(2,Z) self-duality in type IIB string theory.

Abstract

We report on a broad new class of N=1 gauge theory dualities which relate the worldvolume gauge theories of D3 branes probing different orientifolds of the same Calabi-Yau singularity. In this paper, we focus on the simplest example of these new dualities, arising from the orbifold singularity C^3/Z_3. We present extensive checks of the duality, including anomaly matching, partial moduli space matching, matching of discrete symmetries, and matching of the superconformal indices between the proposed duals. We then present a related duality for the dP_1 singularity, as well as dualities for the F_0 and Y^{4,0} singularities, illustrating the breadth of this new class of dualities. In a companion paper, we show that certain infinite classes of geometries which include C^3/Z_3 and dP_1 all exhibit such dualities, and argue that their ten-dimensional origin is the SL(2,Z) self-duality of type IIB string theory.