Large N orbifold field theories on the twisted torus

Abstract

We study the planar equivalence of orbifold field theories on a small three-torus with twisted boundary conditions, generalizing the analysis of hep-th/0507267. The nonsupersymmetric orbifold models exhibit different large N dynamics from their supersymmetric "parent" counterparts. In particular, a moduli space of Abelian zero modes is lifted by an $O(N^2)$ potential in the "daughter" theories. We also find disagreement between the number of discrete vacua of both theories, due to fermionic zero modes in the parent theory, as well as the values of semiclassical tunneling contributions to fermionic correlation functions, induced by fractional instantons.