Little strings and T-duality

TL;DR

This paper explores the gauge theory descriptions of little strings on NS5-branes, demonstrating that the elliptic genera of IIA and IIB strings are related through T-duality, and introduces new N=(0,4) quiver theories for IIA strings.

Contribution

It introduces new N=(0,4) quiver gauge theories for IIA little strings, simplifying the study of infrared observables and clarifying T-duality relations.

Findings

Elliptic genera of IIA and IIB strings map to each other via T-duality.

New N=(0,4) quiver gauge theories facilitate analysis of IIA little strings.

Higgs and Coulomb branch CFTs describe IIB and IIA strings respectively.

Abstract

We study the 2d N = 4 gauge theory descriptions of little strings on type II NS5- branes. The IIB strings on N NS5-branes are described by the N = (4,4) gauge theories, whose Higgs branch CFTs on U(N) instanton moduli spaces are relevant. The IIA strings are described by N = (4,4) circular A_{N-1} quiver theories, whose Coulomb branch CFTs are relevant. We study new N = (0,4) quiver gauge theories for the IIA strings, which make it easier to study some infrared observables. In particular, we show that the elliptic genera of the IIA / IIB strings precisely map to each other by T-duality.