Twisting E8 Five-Branes

TL;DR

This paper explores the moduli space and various branches of tensor theories on coincident E8 5-branes, predicting new superconformal field theories with exceptional symmetries and analyzing dualities and brane configurations.

Contribution

It introduces new sectors in the moduli space of E8 5-branes, identifies associated superconformal theories, and provides insights into their Higgs and Coulomb branches using string and M-theory dualities.

Findings

Identification of new superconformal sectors with G2 and F4 symmetries.

Determination of Higgs and Coulomb branches via dual descriptions.

New arguments for string dualities and construction of non-BPS branes.

Abstract

We consider the tensor theory on coincident E8 5-branes compactified on a three torus. Using string theory, we predict that there must be distinct components in the moduli space of this theory.We argue that new superconformal field theories are to be found in these sectors with, for example, global G2 and F4 symmetries. In some cases, twisted E8 5-branes can be identified with small instantons in non-simply-laced gauge groups. This allows us to determine the Higgs branch for the fixed point theory. We determine the Coulomb branch by using an M theory dual description involving partially frozen singularities. Along the way, we show that a D0-brane binds to two D4-branes, but not to an Sp-type O4-plane (despite the existence of a Higgs branch). These results are used to check various string/string dualities for which, in one case (quadruple versus NVS), we present a new argument. Finally, we describe the construction of new non-BPS branes as domain walls in various heterotic/type I string theories.