ADE classification

Abstract: This paper lays groundwork for the detailed study of the non-trivial renormalization group flow connecting supersymmetric fixed points in four dimensions using string theory on AdS spaces. Specifically, we consider D3-branes placed at singularities of Calabi-Yau threefolds which generalize the conifold singularity and have an ADE classification. The = 1 superconformal theories dictating their low-energy dynamics are infrared fixed points arising from deforming the corresponding ADE = 2 superconformal field theories by mass terms for adjoint chiral fields. We probe the geometry with a single D3-brane and discuss the near-horizon supergravity solution for a large number N of coincident D3-branes.

Abstract: The goal of this paper is to classify ``finite subgroups in U_q sl(2)'' where $q=e^{\pi\i/l}$ is a root of unity. We propose a definition of such a subgroup in terms of the category of representations of U_q sl(2); we show that this definition is a natural generalization of the notion of a subgroup in a reductive group, and that it is also related with extensions of the chiral (vertex operator) algebra corresponding to sl^(2) at level k=l-2. We show that ``finite subgroups in U_q sl(2)'' are classified by Dynkin diagrams of types A_n, D_{2n}, E_6, E_8 with Coxeter number equal to $l$, give a description of this correspondence similar to the classical McKay correspondence, and discuss relation with modular invariants in (sl(2))_k conformal field theory.

Abstract: This paper lays groundwork for the detailed study of the non-trivial renormalization group flow connecting supersymmetric fixed points in four dimensions using string theory on AdS spaces. Specifically, we consider D3-branes placed at singularities of Calabi-Yau threefolds which generalize the conifold singularity and have an ADE classification. The $\mathcal{N}=1$ superconformal theories dictating their low-energy dynamics are infrared fixed points arising from deforming the corresponding ADE $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories by mass terms for adjoint chiral fields. We probe the geometry with a single $D3$-brane and discuss the near-horizon supergravity solution for a large number $N$ of coincident $D3$-branes.