Junctions, Edge Modes, and G(2) - Holonomy Orbifolds

Authors: Bobby Samir Acharya, Michele Del Zotto, Jonathan J. Heckman, Max Hubner, Ethan Torres Preprint number: UUITP-07/23 One of the general strategies for realizing a wide class of interacting QFTs is via junctions and intersections of higher-dimensional bulk theories. In the context of string/M-theory, this includes many D>4 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) coupled to an IR free bulk. Gauging the flavor symmetries of these theories and allowing position dependent gauge couplings provides a general strategy for realizing novel higher-dimensional junctions of theories coupled to localized edge modes. Here, we show that M-theory on singular, asymptotically conical G(2)-holonomy orbifolds provides a general template for realizing strongly coupled 5D bulk theories with 4D N=1 edge modes. This geometric approach also shows how bulk generalized symmetries are inherited in the boundary system.