Coincident D-branes Research Articles

Toric duality is Seiberg duality

We study four N=1 SU(N)^6 gauge theories, with bi-fundamental chiral matter and a superpotential. In the infrared, these gauge theories all realize the low-energy world-volume description of N coincident D3-branes transverse to the complex cone over a del Pezzo surface dP_3 which is the blowup of P^2 at three generic points. Therefore, the four gauge theories are expected to fall into the same universality class--an example of a phenomenon that has been termed "toric duality." However, little independent evidence has been given that such theories are infrared-equivalent. In fact, we show that the four gauge theories are related by the N=1 duality of Seiberg, vindicating this expectation. We also study holographic aspects of these gauge theories. In particular we relate the spectrum of chiral operators in the gauge theories to wrapped D3-brane states in the AdS dual description. We finally demonstrate that the other known examples of toric duality are related by N=1 duality, a fact which we conjecture holds generally.

Two-loop [formula omitted] super-Yang–Mills effective action and interaction between D3-branes

We compute the leading low-energy term in the planar part of the 2-loop contribution to the effective action of N=4 SYM theory in 4 dimensions, assuming that the gauge group SU( N+1) is broken to SU( N)× U(1) by a constant scalar background X. While the leading 1-loop correction is the familiar c 1 F 4/| X| 4 term, the 2-loop expression starts with c 2 F 6/| X| 8. The 1-loop constant c 1 is known to be equal to the coefficient of the F 4 term in the Born–Infeld action for a probe D3-brane separated by distance | X| from a large number N of coincident D3-branes. We show that the same is true also for the 2-loop constant c 2: it matches the coefficient of the F 6 term in the D3-brane probe action. In the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence, this agreement suggests a non-renormalization of the coefficient of the F 6 term beyond two loops. Thus the result of hep-th/9706072 about the agreement between the v 6 term in the D0-brane supergravity interaction potential and the corresponding 2-loop term in the (1+0)-dimensional reduction of N=4 SYM theory has indeed a direct generalization to 1+3 dimensions, as conjectured earlier in hep-th/9709087. We also discuss the issue of gauge theory—supergravity correspondence for higher order ( F 8, etc.) terms.

Noncommutative branes from M theory

The analysis of the worldvolume effective actions of the M-theory Kaluza-Klein monopole and 9-brane suggests that it should be possible to describe non-abelian configurations of M2-branes or M5-branes if the M2-branes are transverse to the eleventh direction and the M5-branes are wrapped on it. This is determined by the fact that the Kaluza-Klein monopole and the M9-brane are constrained to move in particular isometric spacetimes. We show that the same kind of situation is implied by the analysis of the brane descent relations in M-theory. We compute some of the non-commutative couplings of the worldvolume effective actions of these non-abelian systems of M2 and M5 branes and show that they indicate the existence of configurations corresponding to N branes expanding into a higher dimensional M-brane. The reduction to Type II brings up new descriptions of coincident D-branes at strong coupling. We show that these systems have the right non-commutative charges to describe certain expanded configurations playing a role in the framework of the AdS/CFT correspondence. Finally, we discuss the realization of non-commutative brane configurations as topological solitons in non-abelian brane-antibrane systems.

Yang-Mills instantons sitting on a Ricci-flat worldspace of double D4-branes

Thus far, there seem to be no complete criteria that can settle the issue as to what the correct generalization of the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) action, describing the low-energy dynamics of the D-branes, to the non-Abelian case would be. According to recent suggestions, one might pass the issue of worldvolume solitons from an Abelian to non-Abelian setting by considering the stack of multiple, coincident D-branes and use it as a guideline to construct or censor the relevant non-Abelian version of the DBI action. In this spirit, here we are interested in the explicit construction of $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ Yang-Mills (YM) instanton solutions in the background geometry of two coincident probe D4-brane worldspaces, particularly when the metric of the target spacetime in which the probe branes are embedded is given by the Ricci-flat, magnetic extremal 4-brane solution in type IIA supergravity theory with its worldspace metric being given by that of Taub--Newman-Unti-Tamburino (NUT) and Eguchi-Hanson solutions, the two best-known gravitational instantons. Then we demonstrate that, with this YM instanton-gravitational instanton configuration on the probe D4-brane worldvolume, the energy of the probe branes attains its minimum value and hence enjoys a stable state provided one employs Tseytlin's non-Abelian DBI action for the description of multiple probe D-branes. In this way, we support the arguments in the literature in favor of Tseytlin's proposal for the non-Abelian DBI action.

Remarks on noncommutative open string theory:Vduality and holography

In this paper we study the interplay of electric and magnetic backgrounds in determining the decoupling limit of coincident D-branes towards a noncommutative Yang-Mills (NCYM) or open string (NCOS) theory. No decoupling limit has been found for NCYM with space-time noncommutativity. It is suggested that there is a new duality, which we call V-duality, which acts on NCOS with both space-space and space-time noncommutativity, resulting from decoupling in Lorentz-boost related backgrounds. We also show that the holographic correspondence, previously suggested by Li and Wu, between NCYM and its supergravity dual can be generalized to NCOS as well.

D-branes and strings as non-commutative solitons

The non-commutative geometry of a large auxiliary $B$-field simplifies the construction of D-branes as solitons in open string field theory. Similarly, fundamental strings are constructed as localized flux tubes in the string field theory. Tensions are determined exactly using general properties of non-BPS branes, and the non-Abelian structure of gauge fields on coincident D-branes is recovered.

Running gauge coupling and quark-antiquark potential in non-SUSY gauge theory at finite temperature from type IIB supergravity-CFT correspondence

We discuss the non-constant dilaton deformed ${\rm AdS}_5\times{\rm S}_5$ solutions of IIB supergravity where AdS sector is described by black hole. The investigation of running gauge coupling (exponent of dilaton) of non-SUSY gauge theory at finite temperature is presented for different regimes (high or low T, large radius expansion). Running gauge coupling shows power-like behavior on temperature with stable fixed point. The quark-antiquark potential at finite T is found and possibility of confinement is established. It is shown that non-constant dilaton affects the potential, sometimes reversing its behavior if we compare it with the constant dilaton case (${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory). Thermodynamics of obtained backgrounds is studied. In particular, next-to-leading term to free energy F is evaluated as $F=-{\tilde V_3 \over 4\pi^2}({N^2 (\pi T)^4 \over 2} + {5c^2 \over 768 g_{YM}^6 N{\alpha'}^6 (\pi T)^4})$. Here $\tilde V_3$ is the volume of the space part in the boundary of AdS, c is the parameter coming from the non-constant dilaton and N is the number of the coincident D3-branes.

Absorption of dilaton partial waves by D3-branes

We calculate the leading term in the low-energy absorption cross section for an arbitrary partial wave of the dilaton field by a stack of many coincident D3-branes. We find that it precisely reproduces the semiclassical absorption cross section of a 3-brane geometry, including all numerical factors. The crucial ingredient in making the correspondence is the identification of the precise operators on the D3-brane world-volume which couple to the dilaton field and all its derivatives. The needed operators are related through T-duality and the IIA/M-theory correspondence to the recently determined M(atrix) theory expressions for multiple moments of the 11D supercurrent. These operators have a characteristic symmetrized trace structure which plays a key combinatorial role in the analysis for the higher partial waves. The results presented here give new evidence for an infinite family of non-renormalization theorems which are believed to exist for two-point functions in N=4 gauge theory in four dimensions.

Asymptotic freedom and infrared behavior in the type 0 string approach to gauge theory

In a recent paper we considered the type 0 string theories, obtained from the ten-dimensional closed NSR string by a GSO projection which excludes space-time fermions, and studied the low-energy dynamics of N coincident D-branes. This led us to conjecture that the four-dimensional SU( N) gauge theory coupled to six adjoint massless scalars is dual to a background of type 0 theory carrying N units of R-R 5-form flux and involving a tachyon condensate. The tachyon background leads to a “soft breaking” of conformal invariance, and we derived the corresponding renormalization group equation. Minahan has subsequently found its asymptotic solution for weak coupling and showed that the coupling exhibits logarithmic flow, as expected from the asymptotic freedom of the dual gauge theory. We study this solution in more detail and identify the effect of the 2-loop beta function. We also demonstrate the existence of a fized point at infinite coupling. Just like the fixed point at zero coupling, it is characterized by the AdS 5 × S 5 Einstein frame metric. We argue that there is a RG trajectory extending all the way from the zero coupling fixed point in the UV to the infinite coupling fixed point in the IR.

D-branes and dual gauge theories in type 0 strings

We consider the type 0 theories, obtained from the closed NSR string by a diagonal GSO projection which excludes space-time fermions, and study the D-branes in these theories. The low-energy dynamics of N coincident D-branes is governed by a U( N) gauge theory coupled to adjoint scalar fields. It is tempting to look for the type 0 string duals of such bosonic gauge theories in the background of the R-R charged p-brane classical solutions. This results in a picture analogous to the one recently proposed by Polyakov (hep-th/9809057). One of the serious problems that needs to be resolved is the closed string tachyon mode which couples to the D-branes and appears to cause an instability. We study the tachyon terms in the type 0 effective action and argue that the background R-R flux provides a positive shift of the (mass) 2 of the tachyon. Thus, for sufficiently large flux, the tachyonic instability may be cured, removing the most basic obstacle to constructing the type 0 duals of non-supersymmetric gauge theories. We further find that the tachyon acquires an expectation value in the presence of the R-R flux. This effect is crucial for breaking the conformal invariance in the dual description of the 3 + 1-dimensional non-supersymmetric gauge theory.

Baryons and domain walls in an N=1 superconformal gauge theory

Coincident D3-branes placed at a conical singularity are related to string theory on $AdS_5\times X_5$, for a suitable five-dimensional Einstein manifold $X_5$. For the example of the conifold, which leads to $X_5=T^{1,1}=(SU(2)\times SU(2))/U(1)$, the infrared limit of the theory on $N$ D3-branes was constructed recently. This is ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric $SU(N)\times SU(N)$ gauge theory coupled to four bifundamental chiral superfields and supplemented by a quartic superpotential which becomes marginal in the infrared. In this paper we consider D3-branes wrapped over the 3-cycles of $T^{1,1}$ and identify them with baryon-like chiral operators built out of products of $N$ chiral superfields. The supergravity calculation of the dimensions of such operators agrees with field theory. We also study the D5-brane wrapped over a 2-cycle of $T^{1,1}$, which acts as a domain wall in $AdS_5$. We argue that upon crossing it the gauge group changes to $SU(N)\times SU(N+1)$. This suggests a construction of supergravity duals of ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric $SU(N_1)\times SU(N_2)$ gauge theories.

Tachyon condensation on the brane antibrane system

A coincident D-brane - anti-D-brane pair has a tachyonic mode. We present an argument showing that at the classical minimum of the tachyonic potential the negative energy density associated with the potential exactly cancels the sum of the tension of the brane and the anti-brane, thereby giving a configuration of zero energy density and restoring space-time supersymmetry.

A note on enhanced gauge symmetries in M- and string theory

Two different mechanisms exist in non-perturbative String / M- theory for enhanced SU(N) (SO(2N)) gauge symmetries. It can appear in type IIA string theory or M-theory near an $A_{N-1}$ (D_N) type singularity where membrnes wrapped around two cycles become massless, or it can appear due to coincident D-branes (and orientifold planes) where open strings stretched between D-branes become massless. In this paper we exhibit the relationship between these two mechanisms by displaying a configuration in M-theory, which, in one limit, can be regarded as membranes wrapped around two cycles with $A_{N-1}$ (D_N) type intersection matrix, and in another limit, can be regarded as open strings stretched between N Dirichlet 6-branes (in the presence of an orientifold plane).

D-branes in a topologically nontrivial $B$-field

We study global worldsheet anomalies for open strings ending on several coincident D-branes in the presence of a B-field. We show that cancellation of anomalies is made possible by a correlation between the t'Hooft magnetic flux on the D-branes and the topological class of the B-field. One application of our results is a proper understanding of the geometric nature of the gauge field living on D-branes: rather than being a connection on a vector bundle, it is a connection on a module over a certain noncommutative algebra. Our argument works for a general closed string background. We also explain why in the presence of a topologically nontrivial B-field whose curvature is pure torsion D-branes represent classes in a twisted K-theory, as conjectured by E. Witten.