15019096
N = 8 BPS black holes preserving 1/8 supersymmetry
In the context of N = 8 supergravity we consider BPS black holes that preserve 1/8 supersymmetry. It was shown in a previous paper that, modulo U-duality transformations of E7(7), the most general solution of this type can be reduced to a black hole of the STU model. In this paper we analyse this solution in detail, considering in particular its embedding in one of the possible special Kahler manifolds compatible with the consistent truncations to N = 2 supergravity, this manifold being the moduli space of the T6/3 orbifold, that is SU(3,3)/SU(3) × U(3). This construction requires a crucial use of the solvable Lie algebra formalism. Once the group-theoretical analysis is done, starting from a static, spherically symmetric ansatz, we find an exact solution for all the scalars (both dilaton- and axion-like) and for gauge fields, together with their already known charge-dependent fixed values, which yield a U-duality-invariant entropy. We also give a complete translation dictionary between the solvable Lie algebra and the special Kahler formalisms in order to allow a more immediate comparison with other papers on similar issues. Although the explicit solution is given in a simplified case where the equations turn out to be more manageable, it encodes all the features of the more general one, namely it has non-vanishing entropy and the scalar fields have a non-trivial radial dependence.
119203512
Dynamical completions of generalized O’Raifeartaigh models
A bstractWe present gauge theory completions of Wess-Zumino models admitting supersymmetry breaking vacua with spontaneously broken R-symmetry. Our models are simple deformations of generalized ITIY models, a supersymmetric theory with gauge group Sp(N), N +1 flavors plus singlets, with a modified tree level superpotential which explicitly breaks (part of) the global symmetry. Depending on the nature of the deformation, we obtain effective O’Raifeartaigh-like models whose pseudomoduli space is locally stable in a neighborhood of the origin of field space, or in a region not including it. Hence, once embedded in direct gauge mediation scenarios, our models can give low energy spectra with either suppressed or unsuppressed gaugino mass.
11360961
Fractional branes and N=1 gauge theories
We discuss fractional D3-branes on the orbifold C^3/Z_2*Z_2. We study the open and the closed string spectrum on this orbifold. The corresponding N=1 theory on the brane has, generically, a U(N_1)*U(N_2)*U(N_3)*U(N_4) gauge group with matter in the bifundamental. In particular, when only one type of brane is present, one obtains pure N=1 Yang-Mills. We study the coupling of the branes to the bulk fields and present the corresponding supergravity solution, valid at large distances. By using a probe analysis, we are able to obtain the Wilsonian beta-function for those gauge theories that possess some chiral multiplet. Although, due to the lack of moduli, the probe technique is not directly applicable to the case of pure N=1 Yang-Mills, we point out that the same formula gives the correct result also for this case.
5405891
Gauge theory description of compactified pp-waves
We find a new Penrose limit of AdS5 × S 5 that gives the maximally symmetric pp-wave background of Type IIB string theory in a coordinate system that has a manifest space-like isometry. This induces a new pp-wave/gauge-theory duality which on the gauge theory side involves a novel scaling limit of N = 4 SYM theory. The new Penrose limit, when applied to AdS5 ×S 5 /ZM, yields a pp-wave with a space-like circle. The dual gauge theory description involves a triple scaling limit of an N = 2 quiver gauge theory. We present in detail the map between gauge theory operators and string theory states including winding states, and verify agreement between the energy eigenvalues obtained from string theory and those computed in gauge theory, at least to one-loop order in the planar limit. We furthermore consider other related new Penrose limits and explain how these limits can be understood as part of a more general framework.
8372258
The Generating solution of regular N=8 BPS black holes
In this paper we construct the five-parameter generating solution of N = 8 BPS regular supergravity black holes as a five-parameter solution of the N = 2 STU model. Our solution has a simpler form with respect to previous constructions which have already appeared in the literature and moreover, through the embedding [SL(2)]3 SU(3,3) E7(7) discussed in previous papers, the action of the U-duality group is well defined. This allows us to reproduce via U-duality rotations any other solution, such as those corresponding to R-R black holes whose microscopic description is given by intersecting D-branes.
16559651
N=2 cascade revisited and the enhancon bearings
Supergravity backgrounds with varying fluxes generated by fractional branes at nonisolated Calabi-Yau singularities had escaped a precise dual field theory interpretation so far. In the present work, considering the prototypical example of such models, the CxC{sup 2}/Z{sub 2} orbifold, we propose a solution for this problem, and show that the known cascading solution corresponds to a vacuum on the Coulomb branch of the corresponding quiver gauge theory involving a sequence of strong coupling transitions reminiscent of the baryonic root of N=2 supersymmetric quantum chromodynamics . We also find a slight modification of this cascading vacuum which upon mass deformation is expected to flow to the Klebanov-Strassler cascade. Finally, we discuss an infinite class of vacua on the Coulomb branch whose renormalization group flows include infinitely coupled conformal regimes, and explain their gravitational manifestation in terms of new geometric structures that we dub enhancon bearings. Repulson-free backgrounds dual to all the vacua we analyze are explicitly provided.
54042308
Accidents in (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg theories
A bstractWe study the role of accidental symmetries in two-dimensional (0,2) superconformal field theories obtained by RG flow from (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg theories. These accidental symmetries are ubiquitous, and, unlike in the case of (2,2) theories, their identification is key to correctly identifying the IR fixed point and its properties. We develop a number of tools that help to identify such accidental symmetries in the context of (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg models and provide a conjecture for a toric structure of the SCFT moduli space in a large class of models. We also give a self-contained discussion of aspects of (0,2) conformal perturbation theory.
43843434
Worldsheet instantons and (0,2) linear models
A bstractWe study the stability of heterotic compactifications described by (0,2) gauged linear sigma models with respect to worldsheet instanton corrections to the space-time superpotential following the work of Beasley and Witten [1]. We show that generic models elude the vanishing theorem proved there, and may not determine supersymmetric heterotic vacua. We then construct a subclass of linear models for which a vanishing theorem holds, generating an extensive list of consistent heterotic backgrounds.
28988576
Hybrid conformal field theories
A bstractWe describe a class of (2,2) superconformal field theories obtained by fibering a Landau-Ginzburg orbifold CFT over a compact Kähler base manifold. While such models are naturally obtained as phases in a gauged linear sigma model, our construction is independent of such an embedding. We discuss the general properties of such theories and present a technique to study the massless spectrum of the associated heterotic compactification. We test the validity of our method by applying it to hybrid phases of linear models and comparing spectra among the phases.
118374856
Massless spectrum for hybrids CFTs
We describe a class of theories obtained by fibering a Landau-Ginburg orbifold over a compact Kaehler base. While such theories are often described as phases of some GLSM, our description is independent of such an embedding. We provide a method for computing the massless spectrum. This note is based on the longer paper arXiv:1307.7063.