S -folds, string junctions, and 4D N =2 SCFTs
Abstract
S -folds are a nonperturbative generalization of orientifold 3-planes which figure prominently in the construction of four-dimensional (4D) N =3 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) and have also recently been used to realize examples of 4D N =2 SCFTs. In this paper, we develop a general procedure for reading off the flavor symmetry experienced by D3-branes probing 7-branes in the presence of an S -fold. We develop an S -fold generalization of orientifold projection which applies to nonperturbative string junctions. This procedure leads to a different 4D flavor symmetry algebra depending on whether the S -fold supports discrete torsion. We also show that this same procedure allows us to read off admissible representations of the flavor symmetry in the associated 4D N =2 SCFTs. Furthermore, this provides a prescription for how to define F-theory in the presence of S -folds with discrete torsion.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- April 2021
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.103.086013
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2009.10090
- Bibcode:
- 2021PhRvD.103h6013H
- Keywords:
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- High Energy Physics - Theory
- E-Print:
- 49 pages, 9 figures