Non-Abelian Field Theory of stable non-BPS Branes

TL;DR

This paper derives a non-abelian field theory for non-BPS D3-branes in type IIA string theory, revealing a complex moduli space with flat directions and brane condensation phenomena influenced by quantum effects.

Contribution

It presents the first derivation of the non-abelian action for non-BPS branes in a specific orbifold background, highlighting the structure of the moduli space and quantum effects on brane condensation.

Findings

Classical moduli space contains non-abelian flat directions.

Scalar fields acquire masses at generic points, leading to brane condensation.

Quantum corrections influence the flat directions and support brane condensation.

Abstract

We derive the action for the non-abelian field theory living on parallel non-BPS D3-branes in type IIA theory on the orbifold T^4/I_4(-1)^F_L. The classical moduli space for the massless scalars originating in the ``would be'' tachyonic sector shows an interesting structure. In particular, it contains non-abelian flat directions. At a generic point in this branch of the moduli space the scalars corresponding to the the separations of the branes acquire masses and the branes condense. Although these tree level flat directions are removed by quantum corrections we argue that within the loop approximation the branes still condense.