Phases of supersymmetric gauge theories from M-theory on G₂ manifolds

الأصل · EN

We consider M-theory on compact spaces of G₂ holonomy constructed as orbifolds of the form (CY x S¹)/Z₂ with fixed point set Σon the CY. This describes N=1 SU(2) gauge theories with b₁(Σ) chiral multiplets in the adjoint. For b₁=0, it generalizes to compact manifolds the study of the phase transition from the non-Abelian to the confining phase through geometrical S³ flops. For b₁=1, the non-Abelian and Coulomb phases are realized, where the latter arises by desingularization of the fixed point set, while an S² x S¹ flop occurs. In addition, an extremal transition between G₂ spaces can take place at conifold points of the CY moduli space where unoriented membranes wrapped on CP¹ and RP² become massless.