Index for Three Dimensional Superconformal Field Theories and Its Applications

We review aspects of superconformal indices in three dimension. Three dimensional superconformal indices can be exactly computed by using localization method including monopole contribution, and can be applied to provide evidences for mirror duality, AdS_4/CFT_3 correspondence and global symmetry enhancement of strongly coupled gauge theories. After reviewing, we discuss the possibility of global symmetry enhancement in a finite rank of gauge group.Comment: 14 pages, Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference Quantum Theory and Symmetries (QTS-7) in Prague, Czech Republic, August, 2011; v2: minor modifications, discussion of supersymmetry enhancement of abelian ABJM theory by using an index were adde

On a modular property of N=2 superconformal theories in four dimensions

In this note we discuss several properties of the Schur index of N=2 superconformal theories in four dimensions. In particular, we study modular properties of this index under SL(2,Z) transformations of its parameters.Comment: 23 page, 2 figure

Relation between the 4d superconformal index and the S^3 partition function

A relation between the 4d superconformal index and the S^3 partition function is studied with focus on the 4d and 3d actions used in localization. In the case of vanishing Chern-Simons levels and round S^3 we explicitly show that the 3d action is obtained from the 4d action by dimensional reduction up to terms which do not affect the exact results. By combining this fact and a recent proposal concerning a squashing of S^3 and SU(2) Wilson line, we obtain a formula which gives the partition function depending on the Weyl weight of chiral multiplets, real mass parameters, FI parameters, and a squashing parameter as a limit of the index of a parent 4d theory.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX; v2: comments added; v3: minor corrections, version published in JHE

Exceptional Indices

Recently a prescription to compute the superconformal index for all theories of class S was proposed. In this paper we discuss some of the physical information which can be extracted from this index. We derive a simple criterion for the given theory of class S to have a decoupled free component and for it to have enhanced flavor symmetry. Furthermore, we establish a criterion for the "good", the "bad", and the "ugly" trichotomy of the theories. After interpreting the prescription to compute the index with non-maximal flavor symmetry as a residue calculus we address the computation of the index of the bad theories. In particular we suggest explicit expressions for the superconformal index of higher rank theories with E_n flavor symmetry, i.e. for the Hilbert series of the multi-instanton moduli space of E_n.Comment: 33 pages, 11 figures, v2: minor correction

An E7 Surprise

We explore some curious implications of Seiberg duality for an SU(2) four-dimensional gauge theory with eight chiral doublets. We argue that two copies of the theory can be deformed by an exactly marginal quartic superpotential so that they acquire an enhanced E7 flavor symmetry. We argue that a single copy of the theory can be used to define an E7-invariant superconformal boundary condition for a theory of 28 five-dimensional free hypermultiplets. Finally, we derive similar statements for three-dimensional gauge theories such as an SU(2) gauge theory with six chiral doublets or Nf=4 SQED.Comment: 27 page

Network and Seiberg Duality

We define and study a new class of 4d N=1 superconformal quiver gauge theories associated with a planar bipartite network. While UV description is not unique due to Seiberg duality, we can classify the IR fixed points of the theory by a permutation, or equivalently a cell of the totally non-negative Grassmannian. The story is similar to a bipartite network on the torus classified by a Newton polygon. We then generalize the network to a general bordered Riemann surface and define IR SCFT from the geometric data of a Riemann surface. We also comment on IR R-charges and superconformal indices of our theories.Comment: 28 pages, 28 figures; v2: minor correction

M5-branes from gauge theories on the 5-sphere

We use the 5-sphere partition functions of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories to explore the (2,0) superconformal theory on S^5 x S^1. The 5d theories can be regarded as Scherk-Schwarz reductions of the 6d theory along the circle. In a special limit, the perturbative partition function takes the form of the Chern-Simons partition function on S^3. With a simple non-perturbative completion, it becomes a 6d index which captures the degeneracy of a sector of BPS states as well as the index version of the vacuum Casimir energy. The Casimir energy exhibits the N^3 scaling at large N. The large N index for U(N) gauge group also completely agrees with the supergravity index on AdS_7 x S^4.Comment: 44 pages, 1 figure, v4: ref added, clarified weak/strong coupling behaviors of large N free energy, minor improvements, version to be published in JHE

SQCD: A Geometric Apercu

We take new algebraic and geometric perspectives on the old subject of SQCD. We count chiral gauge invariant operators using generating functions, or Hilbert series, derived from the plethystic programme and the Molien-Weyl formula. Using the character expansion technique, we also see how the global symmetries are encoded in the generating functions. Equipped with these methods and techniques of algorithmic algebraic geometry, we obtain the character expansions for theories with arbitrary numbers of colours and flavours. Moreover, computational algebraic geometry allows us to systematically study the classical vacuum moduli space of SQCD and investigate such structures as its irreducible components, degree and syzygies. We find the vacuum manifolds of SQCD to be affine Calabi-Yau cones over weighted projective varieties.Comment: 49 pages, 1 figur

Exploring Curved Superspace

We systematically analyze Riemannian manifolds M that admit rigid supersymmetry, focusing on four-dimensional N=1 theories with a U(1)_R symmetry. We find that M admits a single supercharge, if and only if it is a Hermitian manifold. The supercharge transforms as a scalar on M. We then consider the restrictions imposed by the presence of additional supercharges. Two supercharges of opposite R-charge exist on certain fibrations of a two-torus over a Riemann surface. Upon dimensional reduction, these give rise to an interesting class of supersymmetric geometries in three dimensions. We further show that compact manifolds admitting two supercharges of equal R-charge must be hyperhermitian. Finally, four supercharges imply that M is locally isometric to M_3 x R, where M_3 is a maximally symmetric space.Comment: 39 pages; minor change