N=(4,4) Gauged Linear Sigma Models for Defect Five-branes

Abstract

We study two-dimensional ${\cal N}=(4,4)$ gauged linear sigma model (GLSM). Its low energy effective theory is a nonlinear sigma model whose target space gives rise to a configuration of five-branes in string theory. In this article we focus on sigma models for NS5-branes, KK5-branes and an exotic $5^2_2$-brane. In particular, we carefully analyze the GLSM for an exotic $5^2_2$-brane whose background configuration is multi-valued. The exotic $5^2_2$-brane is a concrete example of nongeometric configuration in string theory. We find that the exotic feature originates from the string winding coordinate in a very clear way. In order to complete this analysis, we propose a duality transformation formula which converts an ${\cal N}=(2,2)$ chiral superfield in F-term to a twisted chiral superfield coupled to an unconstrained complex superfield. This article is a short review based on arXiv:1304.4061 in collaboration with Shin Sasaki.