Gauge Theories with Tensors from Branes and Orientifolds

TL;DR

This paper constructs Type IIA string theory brane setups for N=1 supersymmetric SO and Sp gauge theories with tensors, revealing new stability rules and deriving dualities via M-theory lifts.

Contribution

It introduces novel brane configurations with orientifolds for SO and Sp theories, including new stability rules and duality derivations from M-theory.

Findings

New brane constructions for SO and Sp gauge theories with tensors.

Postulation of two new stability rules for D-brane configurations.

Re-derivation of N=1 dualities using M-theory curves.

Abstract

We present brane constructions in Type IIA string theory for N=1 supersymmetric SO and Sp gauge theories with tensor representations using an orientifold 6-plane. One limit of these set-ups corresponds to N=2 theories previously constructed by Landsteiner and Lopez, while a different limit yields N=1 SO or Sp theories with a massless tensor and no superpotential. For the Sp-type orientifold projection comparison with the field theory moduli space leads us to postulate two new rules governing the stability of configurations of D-branes intersecting the orientifold. Lifting one of our configurations to M-theory by finding the corresponding curves, we re-derive the N=1 dualities for SO and Sp groups using semi-infinite D4 branes.