Orientifold dual for stuck NS5 branes

TL;DR

This paper establishes a T-duality between NS5 branes on an orientifold 8-plane in type I' and an orientifold setup in type IIB with intersecting D7 branes, leading to new string theory constructions and insights into heterotic string models.

Contribution

It introduces a novel T-duality linking two different brane configurations, enabling new gauge theories and advancing understanding of heterotic string models on ADE singularities.

Findings

New brane constructions with symplectic gauge groups

Realization of conformal N=1 theories in string theory

Insights into the (0,4) linear sigma model for heterotic strings

Abstract

We establish T-duality between NS5 branes stuck on an orientifold 8-plane in type I' and an orientifold construction in type IIB with D7 branes intersecting at angles. Two applications are discussed. For one we obtain new brane constructions, realizing field theories with gauge group a product of symplectic factors, giving rise to a large new class of conformal N=1 theories embedded in string theory. Second, by studying a D2 brane probe in the type I' background, we get some information on the still elusive (0,4) linear sigma model describing a perturbative heterotic string on an ADE singularity.