Higher Dimensional Geometries from Matrix Brane constructions

Matrix descriptions of even dimensional fuzzy spherical branes $S^{2k}$ in Matrix Theory and other contexts in Type II superstring theory reveal, in the large $N$ limit, higher dimensional geometries $SO(2k+1)/U(k)$, which have an interesting spectrum of $SO(2k+1)$ harmonics and can be up to 20 dimensional, while the spheres are restricted to be of dimension less than 10. In the case $k=2$, the matrix description has two dual field theory formulations. One involves a field theory living on the non-commutative coset $SO(5)/U(2)$ which is a fuzzy $S^2$ fibre bundle over a fuzzy $S^4$. In the other, there is a U(n) gauge theory on a fuzzy $S^4$ with ${\cal O}(n^3)$ instantons. The two descriptions can be related by exploiting the usual relation between the fuzzy two-sphere and U(n) Lie algebra. We discuss the analogous phenomena in the higher dimensional cases, developing a relation between fuzzy $SO(2k)/U(k)$ cosets and unitary Lie algebras.Comment: 28 pages (Harvmac big) ; version 2 : minor typos fixed and ref. adde

Large-small dualities between periodic collapsing/expanding branes and brane funnels

We consider space and time dependent fuzzy spheres $S^{2p}$ arising in $D1-D(2p+1)$ intersections in IIB string theory and collapsing D(2p)-branes in IIA string theory. In the case of $S^2$, where the periodic space and time-dependent solutions can be described by Jacobi elliptic functions, there is a duality of the form $r$ to ${1 \over r}$ which relates the space and time dependent solutions. This duality is related to complex multiplication properties of the Jacobi elliptic functions. For $S^4$ funnels, the description of the periodic space and time dependent solutions involves the Jacobi Inversion problem on a hyper-elliptic Riemann surface of genus 3. Special symmetries of the Riemann surface allow the reduction of the problem to one involving a product of genus one surfaces. The symmetries also allow a generalisation of the $r$ to ${1 \over r}$ duality. Some of these considerations extend to the case of the fuzzy $S^6$.Comment: Latex, 50 pages, 2 figures ; v2 : a systematic typographical error corrected + minor change

Domain walls between gauge theories

Noncommutative U(N) gauge theories at different N may be often thought of as different sectors of a single theory: the U(1) theory possesses a sequence of vacua labeled by an integer parameter N, and the theory in the vicinity of the N-th vacuum coincides with the U(N) noncommutative gauge theory. We construct noncommutative domain walls on fuzzy cylinder, separating vacua with different gauge theories. These domain walls are solutions of BPS equations in gauge theory with an extra term stabilizing the radius of the cylinder. We study properties of the domain walls using adjoint scalar and fundamental fermion fields as probes. We show that the regions on different sides of the wall are not disjoint even in the low energy regime -- there are modes penetrating from one region to the other. We find that the wall supports a chiral fermion zero mode. Also, we study non-BPS solution representing a wall and an antiwall, and show that this solution is unstable. We suggest that the domain walls emerge as solutions of matrix model in large class of pp-wave backgrounds with inhomogeneous field strength. In the M-theory language, the domain walls have an interpretation of a stack of branes of fingerstall shape inserted into a stack of cylindrical branes.Comment: Final version; minor corrections; to appear in Nucl.Phys.