We introduce a new class of non-compact backgrounds of Type IIB string theory preserving eight supercharges by combining S-folds and non-perturbative 7-branes wrapping orbifolds, and study the four-dimensional superconformal field theories arising at low energy on D3-branes probing them. We draw a precise correspondence between this setup and the torus compactification of six-dimensional orbi-instanton theories with a Stiefel-Whitney twist, and use it to determine the main features of such strongly-coupled systems, like central charges, spectra of Coulomb-branch operators, networks of Higgs-branch flows. Finally, with the aim to improve our understanding of the landscape of N = 2 superconformal field theories, and possibly to extend their classification beyond rank two, we provide a detailed catalogue of all the rank-three theories that our framework gives access to.
Giacomelli, S., Savelli, R., Zoccarato, G. (2025). $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 Orbi-S-Folds. JOURNAL OF HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS, 2025(1) [10.1007/jhep01(2025)059].
$$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 Orbi-S-Folds
Savelli, Raffaele
;Zoccarato, Gianluca
2025-01-01
Abstract
We introduce a new class of non-compact backgrounds of Type IIB string theory preserving eight supercharges by combining S-folds and non-perturbative 7-branes wrapping orbifolds, and study the four-dimensional superconformal field theories arising at low energy on D3-branes probing them. We draw a precise correspondence between this setup and the torus compactification of six-dimensional orbi-instanton theories with a Stiefel-Whitney twist, and use it to determine the main features of such strongly-coupled systems, like central charges, spectra of Coulomb-branch operators, networks of Higgs-branch flows. Finally, with the aim to improve our understanding of the landscape of N = 2 superconformal field theories, and possibly to extend their classification beyond rank two, we provide a detailed catalogue of all the rank-three theories that our framework gives access to.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.