Related papers: A Relation Between N=8 Gauge Theories in Three Dim…

By coupling {\cal N}=8 superconformal matter to {\cal N}=8 superconformal Chern-Simons gravity in three dimensions we obtain theories with novel terms in the scalar potential leading to AdS_3 solutions and superconformal symmetry breaking.…

We propose that the ten-dimensional $E_8\times E_8$ heterotic string is related to an eleven-dimensional theory on the orbifold ${\bf R}^{10}\times {\bf S}^1/{\bf Z}_2$ in the same way that the Type IIA string in ten dimensions is related…

We study some aspects of the strong coupling dynamics of Dirichlet six branes, anti- six branes, and orientifold planes by using the equivalence of type IIA string theory and M-theory on S^1. In the strong coupling limit there exists static…

We give simple arguments for new non-renormalization theorems on higher derivative couplings of gauge theories to supergravity, with sixteen supersymmetries, by considerations of brane-bulk superamplitudes. This leads to some exact results…

In [arXiv:0808.1677] 3 dimensional field theories are proposed to on-shell represent N=8 SUSY algebra and SO(7) or SO(4)xSO(4) subgroups of full SO(8) automorphism. They are theories of 8 scalar and 8 spinor matrix fields with Yukawa,…

We study brane configurations that give rise to large-N gauge theories with eight supersymmetries and no hypermultiplets. These configurations include a variety of wrapped, fractional, and stretched branes or strings. The corresponding…

A numerical study of the string tension and of the masses of the lowest-lying glueballs is performed in SU($N$) gauge theories for $2 \le N \le 8$ in D=3+1 and $2 \le N \le 6$ in D=2+1. It is shown that for the string tension a smooth $N…

We construct the three-loop four-point amplitude of N=8 supergravity using the unitarity method. The amplitude is ultraviolet finite in four dimensions. Novel cancellations, not predicted by traditional superspace power-counting arguments,…

Gravity duals for little string theories --- which give rise to four-dimensional theories that undergo permanent confinement in the infrared --- have not been studied in great detail. We address this question in the framework of heterotic…

We give a detailed analysis of the superconformal fixed points of four-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric Spin(10) gauge theory with two spinors and vectors by using a-maximization procedure.

We analyze M theory fivebrane in order to study the moduli space of vacua of N=1 supersymmetric $Sp(N_c)$ gauge theories with $N_f$ flavors in four dimensions. We show how the N=2 Higgs branch can be encoded in M theory by studying the…

We consider the four dimensional scale invariant N=2 SU quiver gauge theories with USp(2N) ends or SU(2N) ends with antisymmetric matter representations. We argue that these theories are realized as six dimensional A_{2N-1} (0,2) theories…

We review a duality procedure that relates standard matter-coupled N=1 supergravity to dual formulations in which auxiliary fields are replaced by field-strengths of gauge three-forms. As examples, we consider the dualization of the rigid…

Starting from an N=1 supersymmetric electric gauge theory with the gauge group Sp(N_c) x SO(2N_c') with fundamentals for the first gauge group factor and a bifundamental, we apply Seiberg dual to the symplectic gauge group only and arrive…

We study deformations of dualities in finite N=2 supersymmetric QCD. Adding mass terms for some quarks and the adjoint matter to the finite N=2 theory, which is known to have dual descriptions, the correspondence of gauge invariant…

We discuss some aspects of the physics of branes in the presence of orientifolds and the corresponding worldvolume gauge dynamics. We show that at strong coupling orientifolds sometimes turn into bound states of orientifolds and branes, and…

In this paper we study K3 compactification of ten-dimensional massive type IIA theory with all possible Ramond-Ramond background fluxes turned on. The resulting six-dimensional theory is a new massive (gauged) supergravity with an action…

An overview of matter-coupled ${\cal N}=2$ supergravity theories with 8 real supercharges, in 4,5 and 6 dimensions is given. The construction of the theories by superconformal methods is explained from basic principles. Special geometry is…

We study (non-renormalizable) five dimensional supersymmetric field theories. The theories are parametrized by quark masses and a gauge coupling. We derive the metric on the Coulomb branch exactly. We use stringy considerations to learn…

We conjecture the existence of two new non-gravitational six-dimensional string theories, defined as the decoupling limit of NS5-branes in the background of near-critical electrical two- and three-form RR fields. These theories are…