Holography, Singularities on Orbifolds and 4D N=2 SQCD

TL;DR

This paper explores the holographic duality between string theory on orbifold singularities and non-critical superstring vacua, applying it to analyze IR fixed points in 4D N=2 SQCD, including the conformal point at N_f=2N_c.

Contribution

It proposes a new holographic dual for singularities in Calabi-Yau compactifications and applies this to study non-trivial IR fixed points in 4D N=2 SQCD.

Findings

Holographic duals match gauge theory predictions at IR fixed points.

The approach provides insights into the structure of non-trivial IR fixed points.

Results extend understanding of holography in singular Calabi-Yau compactifications.

Abstract

Type II string theory compactified on a Calabi-Yau manifold, with a singularity modeled by a hypersurface in an orbifold, is considered. In the limit of vanishing string coupling, one expects a non gravitational theory concentrated at the singularity. It is proposed that this theory is holographicly dual to a family of ``non-critical'' superstring vacua, generalizing a previous proposal for hypersurfaces in flat space. It is argued that a class of such singularities is relevant for the study of non-trivial IR fixed points that appear in the moduli space of four-dimensional N=2 SQCD: SU(N_c) gauge theory with matter in the fundamental representation. This includes the origin in the moduli space of the SU(N_c) gauge theory with N_f=2N_c fundamentals. The 4D IR fixed points are studied using the anti-holographic description and the results agree with information available from gauge theory.