An Orbifold of Type 0B Strings and Non-supersymmetric Gauge Theories

TL;DR

This paper explores a specific orbifold of Type 0B string theory, revealing a non-supersymmetric gauge theory on D3-branes that relates to an orbifold of N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, with implications for gauge/string duality.

Contribution

It demonstrates the construction of a non-supersymmetric gauge theory from a Type 0B orbifold and relates it to a known supersymmetric theory via orbifolding, providing new insights into gauge theories from string theory.

Findings

The only massless mode on the fixed four-plane is a U(1) gauge field.

Non-supersymmetric non-abelian gauge theories arise on D3-branes at the orbifold.

The gauge theory on balanced electric and magnetic D3-branes is an orbifold of N=4 SYM.

Abstract

We study a ${{\IZ}}_2$ orbifold of Type 0B string theory by reflection of six of the coordinates (this theory may also be thought of as a ${{\IZ}}_4$ orbifold of Type IIB string theory by a rotation by $\pi$ in three independent planes). We show that the only massless mode localized on the fixed fourplane $\IR^{3,1}$ is a U(1) gauge field. After introducing D3-branes parallel to the fixed fourplane we find non-supersymmetric non-abelian gauge theories on their worldvolume. One of our results is that the theory on equal numbers of electric and magnetic D3-branes placed at the fourplane is the ${{\IZ}}_4$ orbifold of ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory by the center of its R-symmetry group.