On the Classification of 6D SCFTs and Generalized ADE Orbifolds

Dec 19, 2013
49 pages
Published in:
  • JHEP 05 (2014) 028,
  • JHEP 06 (2015) 017 (erratum)
  • Published: 2014
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Abstract: (arXiv)
We study (1,0) and (2,0) 6D superconformal field theories (SCFTs) that can be constructed in F-theory. Quite surprisingly, all of them involve an orbifold singularity C^2 / G with G a discrete subgroup of U(2). When G is a subgroup of SU(2), all discrete subgroups are allowed, and this leads to the familiar ADE classification of (2,0) SCFTs. For more general U(2) subgroups, the allowed possibilities for G are not arbitrary and are given by certain generalizations of the A- and D-series. These theories should be viewed as the minimal 6D SCFTs. We obtain all other SCFTs by bringing in a number of E-string theories and/or decorating curves in the base by non-minimal gauge algebras. In this way we obtain a vast number of new 6D SCFTs, and we conjecture that our construction provides a full list.
Note:
  • v3: 47 pages, 3 figures, clarifications added, typos corrected, references added, and Mathematica file updated
  • F-Theory
  • Differential and Algebraic Geometry
  • Field Theories in Higher Dimensions
  • field theory: conformal
  • orbifold: singularity
  • algebra: gauge
  • U(2)
  • nonminimal
  • F-theory
  • SU(2)