The Zk×Dk′Z_k \times D_{k'} Brane Box Model

An example of a non-Abelian Brane Box Model, namely one corresponding to a $Z_k \times D_{k'}$ orbifold singularity of \C^3, is constructed. Its self-consistency and hence equivalence to geometrical methods are subsequently shown. It is demonstrated how a group-theoretic twist of the non-Abelian group circumvents the problem of inconsistency that arise from na\"{\i}ve attempts at the construction.Comment: 27 Pages and 4 Figure

Counting Gauge Invariants: the Plethystic Program

We propose a programme for systematically counting the single and multi-trace gauge invariant operators of a gauge theory. Key to this is the plethystic function. We expound in detail the power of this plethystic programme for world-volume quiver gauge theories of D-branes probing Calabi-Yau singularities, an illustrative case to which the programme is not limited, though in which a full intimate web of relations between the geometry and the gauge theory manifests herself. We can also use generalisations of Hardy-Ramanujan to compute the entropy of gauge theories from the plethystic exponential. In due course, we also touch upon fascinating connections to Young Tableaux, Hilbert schemes and the MacMahon Conjecture.Comment: 51 pages, 2 figures; refs updated, typos correcte

Discrete Torsion, Covering Groups and Quiver Diagrams

Without recourse to the sophisticated machinery of twisted group algebras, projective character tables and explicit values of 2-cocycles, we here present a simple algorithm to study the gauge theory data of D-brane probes on a generic orbifold G with discrete torsion turned on. We show in particular that the gauge theory can be obtained with the knowledge of no more than the ordinary character tables of G and its covering group G*. Subsequently we present the quiver diagrams of certain illustrative examples of SU(3)-orbifolds which have non-trivial Schur Multipliers. The paper serves as a companion to our earlier work (arXiv:hep-th/0010023) and aims to initiate a systematic and computationally convenient study of discrete torsion.Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures, some errors correcte