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arXiv · 1205.4142

Contact Terms, Unitarity, and F-Maximization in Three-Dimensional Superconformal Theories

Cyril Closset·Thomas T. Dumitrescu·Guido Festuccia·Zohar Komargodski·Nathan Seiberg
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Abstract

We consider three-dimensional N=2 superconformal field theories on a three-sphere and analyze their free energy F as a function of background gauge and supergravity fields. A crucial role is played by certain local terms in these background fields, including several Chern-Simons terms. The presence of these terms clarifies a number of subtle properties of F. This understanding allows us to prove the F-maximization principle. It also explains why computing F via localization leads to a complex answer, even though we expect it to be real in unitary theories. We discuss several corollaries of our results and comment on the relation to the F-theorem.

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Cyril Closset, Thomas T. Dumitrescu, Guido Festuccia, Zohar Komargodski, Nathan Seiberg. 2012-06-25. Contact Terms, Unitarity, and F-Maximization in Three-Dimensional Superconformal Theories. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep10(2012)053

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