Classical geometry and gauge duals for fractional branes on ALE orbifolds

TL;DR

This paper explores the classical geometry of fractional D3 branes on ALE orbifolds, linking it to non-conformal N=2 gauge theories, and discusses IR regulation mechanisms consistent with gauge theory predictions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the geometry and gauge theory duals of fractional branes on ALE spaces, including IR singularity regulation via the enhancon mechanism.

Findings

Twisted fields match perturbative gauge theory behavior.

IR singularities are regulated by the enhancon mechanism.

Five-form flux decreases logarithmically, consistent with beta-functions.

Abstract

We investigate the classical geometry corresponding to a collection of fractional D3 branes in the orbifold limit of an ALE space. We discuss its interpretation in terms of the world-volume gauge theory on the branes, which is in general a non conformal N=2 Yang-Mills theory with matter. The twisted fields reproduce the perturbative behaviour of the gauge theory. We regulate the IR singularities for both twisted and untwisted fields by means of an enhancon mechanism qualitatively consistent with the gauge theory expectations. The five-form flux decreases logarithmically towards the IR with a coefficient dictated by the gauge theory beta-functions.