Abstract
The dependence of pure gauge theories in four dimensions can be studied using a duality of large gauge theories with string theory on a certain spacetime. Via this duality, one can argue that for every , there are infinitely many vacua that are stable in the large limit. The true vacuum, found by minimizing the energy in this family, is a smooth function of except at where it jumps. This jump is associated with spontaneous breaking of symmetry. Domain walls separating adjacent vacua are described in terms of wrapped six-branes.
- Received 20 July 1998
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.2862
©1998 American Physical Society