A note on superconformal N = 2 theories and orientifolds

We construct the T-duals of certain type IIA brane configurations with one compact dimension (elliptic models) which contain orientifold planes. These configurations realize four-dimensional N = 2 finite field theories. For elliptic models with two negatively charged orientifold six-planes, the T-duals are given by D3-branes at singularities in the presence of O7-planes and D7-branes. For elliptic models with two oppositely charged orientifold planes, the T-duals are D3-branes at a different kind of orientifold singularities, which do not require D7-branes. We construct the adequate orientifold groups, and show that the cancellation of twisted tadpoles is equivalent to the finiteness of the corresponding field theory. One family of models contains orthogonal and symplectic gauge factors at the same time. These new orientifolds can also be used to define some six-dimensional RG fixed points which have been discussed from the type IIA brane configuration perspective. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.