Brane Constructions, Conifolds and M-Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the relationship between brane configurations near conifold singularities and intersecting branes in type IIA string theory, deriving the associated field theories and M-theory limits with clear geometric and symmetry interpretations.

Contribution

It provides a new mapping between probe branes near conifold singularities and intersecting branes, along with explicit derivations of the field theory and M-theory limit.

Findings

Explicit mapping between 3-brane probes and intersecting branes

Derivation of the field theory on probes from brane configurations

Simple M-theory limit with symmetry and moduli analysis

Abstract

We show that a set of parallel 3-brane probes near a conifold singularity can be mapped onto a configuration of intersecting branes in type IIA string theory. The field theory on the probes can be explicitly derived from this formulation. The intersecting-brane metric for our model is obtained using various dualities and related directly to the conifold metric. The M-theory limit of this model is derived and turns out to be remarkably simple. The global symmetries and counting of moduli are interpreted in the M-theory picture.