We consider type IIA brane configurations, similar to those that realize $SO(2N)$ supersymmetric QCD, that include orientifold planes and antibranes. Such brane configurations lead to $Sp(2N)$ field theories that become supersymmetric in the large-$N$ limit and break supersymmetry upon the inclusion of $1/N$ corrections. We argue that this class of field theories admits Seiberg duality and interpret the potential between branes and orientifolds as field theory phenomena. In particular, we find in the magnetic theory a meson potential that leads to dynamical symmetry breaking and a meson condensate similar to the anticipated quark condensate in QCD.

• Received 21 May 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.89.125025