A Note on Seiberg Duality for $N_f<N_c$

Abstract

We consider SQCD for $N_f<N_c$. We use a brane configuration in type IIA string theory to propose a Seiberg dual. The brane configuration that realises the magnetic theory contains $N_f$ branes and $N_c-N_f$ \textit{anti}-branes, leading to an $SU(N_c-N_f)$ gauge theory with $N_f$ flavours. The potential between the branes triggers a RG flow and we argue that the IR theory realises the Affleck-Dine-Seiberg superpotential. We use both field theory arguments, in particular anomaly matching, and a lift of the type IIA brane configuration to M-theory, in order to support our proposal.

v1: 13 pages, 3 figures