2d (0,2) Gauge Theories from Branes: Recent Progress in Brane Brick Models

Abstract: We discuss the realization of $2d$ $(0,2)$ gauge theories in terms of branes focusing on Brane Brick Models, which are T-dual to D1-branes probing toric Calabi-Yau 4-folds. These brane setups fully encode the infinite class of $2d$ $(0,2)$ quiver gauge theories on the worldvolume of the D1-branes and substantially streamline their connection to the probed geometries. We review various methods for efficiently generating Brane Brick Models. These algorithms are then used to construct $2d$ $(0,2)$ gauge theories for the cones over all the smooth Fano 3-folds and two infinite families of Sasaki-Einstein 7-manifolds with known metrics. This note is based on the author's talk at the Gauged Linear Sigma Models @ 30 conference at the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics.