Brane webs and $O5$-planes

Abstract: We explore the properties of five-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories living on $5$-brane webs in orientifold $5$-plane backgrounds. This allows constructing quiver gauge theories with alternating $USp(2N)$ and $SO(N)$ gauge groups with fundamental matter, and thus leads to the existence of new $5d$ fixed point theories. The web description can be further used to study non-perturbative phenomena such as enhancement of symmetry and duality. We further suggest that one can use these systems to engineer $5d$ $SO$ group with spinor matter. We present evidence for this claim.