Deconstruction of the Maldacena-Nunez Compactification

TL;DR

This work shows that the large $N$ limit of the Higgsed ${ m cal N}=1^*$ U($N$) gauge theory is classically equivalent to the Maldacena–Núñez twisted compactification of a six-dimensional gauge theory on $S^2$. By explicit matching of actions and spectra, the authors establish a deconstruction framework in which a four-dimensional theory reproduces the six-dimensional physics, with a lattice spacing set by $R/N$ and a continuum limit at fixed $rac{g_{ym}^2}{N}$, related by S-duality. The resulting six-dimensional action, including its KK spectrum, is shown to coincide with the MN action when reorganized into ${ m cal N}=1$ multiplets, thereby linking 4D gauge dynamics to higher-dimensional twisted compactifications. The analysis further suggests a pathway to deconstruct Little String Theory on NS5-brane worldvolumes, via a multi-representation Higgs vacuum and the corresponding continuum limit. Overall, the work provides a concrete, non-perturbative bridge between a 4D gauge theory and a higher-dimensional twisted compactification, with implications for UV completions and string/gauge dualities.

Abstract

We demonstrate a classical equivalence between the large-N limit of the Higgsed N=1* SUSY U(N) Yang-Mills theory and the Maldacena-Nunez twisted compactification of a six dimensional gauge theory on a two-sphere. A direct comparison of the actions and spectra of the two theories reveals them to be identical. We also propose a gauge theory limit which should describe the corresponding spherical compactification of Little String Theory.