Supergravity duals of supersymmetric four dimensional gauge theories

TL;DR

The article surveys how AdS/CFT extends to four-dimensional gauge theories with less than maximal supersymmetry, emphasizing two primary approaches: deforming known conformal duals and engineering nonconformal theories with wrapped or fractional branes. It systematizes the construction of holographic duals, analyzes RG flows via warped geometries and 5D gauged supergravities, and discusses the challenges posed by IR singularities, including enhançon mechanisms and SW-curve guidance. Specific focus is given to N=2 and N=1 theories, providing detailed accounts of wrapped five-brane and fractional-brane realizations, the emergence of confinement and chiral symmetry breaking, gaugino condensates, domain walls, and Seiberg duality cascades (e.g., KS and MN constructions). The work highlights both the predictive power of holography in qualitative aspects of strongly coupled dynamics and the limitations set by the need for full string-theoretic treatments to capture realistic, decoupled gauge theories.

Abstract

This article contains an overview of some recent attempts at understanding supergravity and string duals of four dimensional gauge theories using the AdS/CFT correspondence. We discuss the general philosophy underlying the various ways to realize Super Yang-Mills theories in terms of systems of branes. We then review some of the existing duals for N=2 and N=1 theories. We also discuss differences and similarities with realistic theories.

Figures (1)

• Figure 1: Type IIB and IIA picture for physical and fractional branes.