Anomaly Inflow and Gauge Group Topology in the 10d Sugimoto String Theory

TL;DR

This paper examines anomaly cancellation and gauge group topology in the 10-dimensional Sugimoto string theory, providing evidence for a specific global gauge structure and discussing potential dualities and anomaly constraints.

Contribution

It analyzes the chiral spectra on branes in the Sugimoto model, confirming anomaly inflow cancellation and proposing the gauge group as $Sp(16)/bZ_2$, with implications for dualities.

Findings

Consistent anomaly inflow cancellation in the Sugimoto model

Evidence that the gauge group is $Sp(16)/\mathbb{Z}_2$

Discussion of anomaly constraints and dualities

Abstract

We revisit the chiral spectra on charged 1- and 5-branes in the 10d non-supersymmetric $\mathfrak{sp}(16)$ string theory (also known as the Sugimoto model), and verify that they consistently cancel the anomaly inflow induced by a Green--Schwarz mechanism in the bulk. By analyzing the $\mathfrak{sp}(16)$ representations arising from quantizing the fermion zero modes on these branes as well as uncharged 4-branes, we find compelling evidence that the global structure of the gauge group is $Sp(16)/\mathbb{Z}_2$. We further comment on a possible duality to non-supersymmetric heterotic strings, and explore bottom-up anomaly inflow constraints for 10d effective $Sp(16)/\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theories coupled to gravity.