Phases of U (Nc) QCD3 from type 0 strings and Seiberg duality

Abstract

We propose an embedding of U(Nc) QCD3 with a Chern-Simons term in string theory. The UV gauge theory lives on the worldvolume of a Hanany-Witten brane configuration in type 0B string theory in the presence of Sagnotti’s O′3 orientifold. We use the brane configuration to propose a magnetic Seiberg dual. We identify various phases of the magnetic theory with conjectured phases of QCD3. In particular the symmetry breaking and bosonization phases are both associated with condensation of the dual squark field. We also discuss the abelian theory without Chern-Simons term and argue that flavour symmetry is not broken. Finally, we also predict novel type 0B string dynamics from QCD dynamics.