Brane Configurations and 4D Field Theory Dualities

TL;DR

This paper explores how brane configurations in string theory can model four-dimensional N=1 and N=2 supersymmetric field theories, elucidating dualities, moduli spaces, and deformations, including new dual pairs and potential links to non-supersymmetric theories.

Contribution

It provides a detailed brane-based framework for understanding Seiberg duality and moduli spaces in 4D supersymmetric theories, including new dual pairs and deformation mappings.

Findings

Reproduces known field theory dualities using brane configurations.

Clarifies the correspondence between brane positions and field theory deformations.

Proposes new dual pairs with N=1 supersymmetry.

Abstract

We study brane configurations which correspond to field theories in four dimension with N=2 and N=1 supersymmetry. In particular we discuss brane motions that translate to Seiberg's duality in N=1 models recently studied by Elitzur, Giveon and Kutasov. We investigate, using the brane picture, the moduli spaces of the dual theories. Deformations of these models like mass terms and vacuum expectation values of scalar fields can be identified with positions of branes. The map of these deformations between the electric and dual magnetic theories is clarified. The models we study reproduce known field theory results and we provide an example of new dual pairs with N=1 supersymmetry. Possible relations between brane configurations and non-supersymmetric field theories are discussed.