Discrete gauging and Hasse diagrams

We analyse the Higgs branch of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SQCD gauge theories with non-connected gauge groups $\widetilde{\mathrm{SU}}(N) = \mathrm{SU}(N) \rtimes_{I,II} \mathbb{Z}_2$ whose study was initiated in arXiv:1804.01108. We derive the Hasse diagrams corresponding to the Higgs mechanism using adapted characters for representations of non-connected groups. We propose 3d $\mathcal{N}=4$ magnetic quivers for the Higgs branches in the type $I$ discrete gauging case, in the form of recently introduced wreathed quivers, and provide extensive checks by means of Coulomb branch Hilbert series computations

Discrete gauge theories of charge conjugation

We define gauge theories whose gauge group includes charge conjugation as well as standard $\mathrm{SU}(N)$ transformations. When combined, these transformations form a novel type of group with a semidirect product structure. For $N$ even, we show that there are exactly two possible such groups which we dub $\widetilde{\mathrm{SU}}(N)_{\mathrm{I,II}}$. We construct the transformation rules for the fundamental and adjoint representations, allowing us to explicitly build four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric gauge theories based on $\widetilde{\mathrm{SU}}(N)_{\mathrm{I,II}}$ and understand from first principles their global symmetry. We compute the Haar measure on the groups, which allows us to quantitatively study the operator content in protected sectors by means of the superconformal index. In particular, we find that both types of $\widetilde{\mathrm{SU}}(N)_{\mathrm{I,II}}$ groups lead to non-freely generated Coulomb branches

Correlation functions in scalar field theory at large charge

We compute general higher-point functions in the sector of large charge operators ϕn,ϕ¯¯¯n at large charge in O(2) (ϕ¯¯¯ϕ)2 theory. We find that there is a special class of "extremal" correlators having only one insertion of ϕ¯¯¯n that have a remarkably simple form in the double-scaling limit n →∞ at fixed g n2 ≡ λ, where g ~ ϵ is the coupling at the O(2) Wilson-Fisher fixed point in 4 − ϵ dimensions. In this limit, also non-extremal correlators can be computed. As an example, we give the complete formula for ⟨ϕ(x1)nϕ(x2)nϕ¯¯¯(x3)nϕ¯¯¯(x4)n⟩, which reveals an interesting structure

Brain Webs for Brane Webs

We propose a new technique for classifying 5d Superconformal Field Theories arising from brane webs in Type IIB String Theory, using technology from Machine Learning to identify different webs giving rise to the same theory. We concentrate on webs with three external legs, for which the problem is analogous to that of classifying sets of 7-branes. Training a Siamese Neural Network to determine equivalence between any two brane webs shows an improved performance when webs are considered equivalent under a weaker set of conditions. Thus, Machine Learning teaches us that the conjectured classification of 7-brane sets is not complete, which we confirm with explicit examples.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure

The Hitchhiker's Guide to 4d N=2\mathcal{N}=2 Superconformal Field Theories

Superconformal field theory with $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry in four dimensional spacetime provides a prime playground to study strongly coupled phenomena in quantum field theory. Its rigid structure ensures valuable analytic control over non-perturbative effects, yet the theory is still flexible enough to incorporate a large landscape of quantum systems. Here we aim to offer a guidebook to fundamental features of the 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories and basic tools to construct them in string/M-/F-theory. The content is based on a series of lectures at the Quantum Field Theories and Geometry School (https://sites.google.com/view/qftandgeometrysummerschool/home) in July 2020.Comment: v3: Improved discussion, fixed typos, added references v2: Typos fixed and added references. v1: 96 pages. Based on a series of lectures at the Quantum Field Theories and Geometry School in July 202

Non-invertible symmetries from discrete gauging and completeness of the spectrum

Abstract We study global 1- and (d − 2)-form symmetries for gauge theories based on disconnected gauge groups which include charge conjugation. For pure gauge theories, the 1-form symmetries are shown to be non-invertible. In addition, being the gauge groups disconnected, the theories automatically have a ℤ2 global (d − 2)-form symmetry. We propose String Theory embeddings for gauge theories based on these groups. Remarkably, they all automatically come with twist vortices which break the (d − 2)-form global symmetry. This is consistent with the conjectured absence of global symmetries in Quantum Gravity

Disconnected gauge groups in the infrared

Gauging a discrete 0-form symmetry of a QFT is a procedure that changes the global form of the gauge group but not its perturbative dynamics. In this work, we study the Seiberg-Witten solution of theories resulting from the gauging of charge conjugation in 4d N = 2 theories with SU(N) gauge group and fundamental hypermultiplets. The basic idea of our procedure is to identify the ℤ2 action at the level of the SW curve and perform the quotient, and it should also be applicable to non-lagrangian theories. We study dynamical aspects of these theories such as their moduli space singularities and the corresponding physics; in particular, we explore the complex structure singularity arising from the quotient procedure. We also discuss some implications of our work in regards to three problems: the geometric classification of 4d SCFTs, the study of non-invertible symmetries from the SW geometry, and the String Theory engineering of theories with disconnected gauge groups