Little String Theories in Heterotic Backgrounds ⋆

We study Little String Theories (LST) with N = (1, 0) supersymmetry arising, in a suitable double scaling limit, from 5-branes in heterotic string theory or in the heterotic-like type II/(−) F L × shift. The limit in question, previously studied in the type II case, is such that the resulting holographically dual pairs, i.e. bulk string theory and LST can be considered to be weakly coupled. In particular, the internal (2, 2) SCFT on the string theory side is non-singular and given by SL(2)/U (1) × SU (2)/U (1) coset. In the type II orbifold case, we determine the orbifold action on the internal SCFT and construct the boundary states describing the non-BPS massive states of a completely broken SO gauge theory, in agreement with the dual picture of D5-branes in type II/Ω × shift. We also describe a different orbifold action which gives rise to a Sp gauge theory with (1, 1) supersymmetry. In both the heterotic SO(32) and E 8 × E 8 cases, we determine the gauge bundles which correspond to the above SCFT and break down the gauge groups to SU (2) × SO(28) and E 7 × E 8 respectively. The double scaling limit in this case involves taking small instanton together with small string coupling constant limit. We determine the spectrum of chiral gauge invariant operators with the corresponding global symmetry charges on the LST side and compare with the massless excitations on the string theory side, finding agreement for multiplicities and global charges.