Supersymmetric Gauge Theories with Classical Groups via M Theory Fivebrane

Abstract

We study the moduli space of vacua of four dimensional N=1 and N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories with the gauge groups $Sp(2 N_c)$, $SO(2 N_c)$ and $SO(2 N_c +1)$ using the M theory fivebrane. Higgs branches of the N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories are interpreted in terms of the M theory fivebrane and the type IIA $s$-rule is realized in it. In particular we construct the fivebrane configuration which corresponds to a special Higgs branch root. This root is analogous to the baryonic branch root in the $SU(N_c)$ theory which remains as a vacuum after the adjoint mass perturbation to break N=2 to N=1. Furthermore we obtain the monopole condensations and the meson vacuum expectation values in the confining phase of N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories using the fivebrane technique. These are in complete agreement with the field theory results for the vacua in the phase with a single confined photon.