New G2-conifolds in M-theory and their field theory interpretation

A recent theorem of Foscolo-Haskins-Nordström [1] which constructs complete G -holonomy orbifolds from circle bundles over Calabi-Yau cones can be utilised to construct and investigate a large class of generalisations of the M-theory flop transition. We see that in many cases a UV perturbative gauge theory appears to have an infrared dual described by a smooth G -holonomy background in M-theory. Various physical checks of this proposal are carried out affirmatively. 2