Unraveling T duality: Magnetic quivers in rank-zero little string theories

Abstract

An intriguing class of 6D supersymmetric theories are known as little strings theories, which exhibit a rich network of T-dualities. A robust feature of these theories are their Higgs branches. Focusing on the little string theories that are realized on a single curve of zero self-intersection, we utilize brane systems to derive the magnetic quivers. Using a variety of techniques (including branching rules, brane dynamics, F-theory geometry, quiver subtraction, and the decay and fission algorithm), we detail the Higgs branch Hasse diagram and determine the transverse slices for every elementary Higgs branch RG-flow. Building on these insights, we pursue two directions: first, we infer potential T-dual models by linking changes in 2-group structure constants along Higgs branch RG-flows to the RG-flow transition types encoded in the Hasse diagram. Second, we conjecture an algorithm for the non-Abelian flavor symmetry of the compactified little string theory by inspecting the magnetic quivers of all T-dual frames. Published by the American Physical Society 2024