Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Francesco Benini

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Benini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2020

Rotating Black Hole Entropy from M5-branes

We compute the superconformal index of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal theories obtained from $N$ M5-branes wrapped on a hyperbolic 3-manifold. Exploiting the 3d-3d correspondence, we use perturbative invariants of $SL(N,\mathbb{C})$ Chern-Simons theory to determine the superconformal index in the large $N$ limit, including corrections logarithmic in $N$. The leading order partition function provides a microscopic foundation for the entropy function of the dual rotating asymptotically AdS$_4$ black holes. We also verify that the supergravity one-loop contribution to the $\log N$ term coincides with the field theoretic result. We propose a 3d-3d formulation for the refined topologically twisted index, and provide strong evidence in support of its vanishing --- which agrees with the fact that the expected dual rotating magnetically-charged black hole does not exist. This provides an interesting link between gravity and a tantalizing mathematical result.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

Elliptic non-Abelian Donaldson-Thomas invariants of $\mathbb{C}^3$

We compute the elliptic genus of the D1/D7 brane system in flat space, finding a non-trivial dependence on the number of D7 branes, and provide an F-theory interpretation of the result. We show that the JK-residues contributing to the elliptic genus are in one-to-one correspondence with coloured plane partitions and that the elliptic genus can be written as a chiral correlator of vertex operators on the torus. We also study the quantum mechanical system describing D0/D6 bound states on a circle, which leads to a plethystic exponential formula that can be connected to the M-theory graviton index on a multi-Taub-NUT background. The formula is a conjectural expression for higher-rank equivariant K-theoretic Donaldson-Thomas invariants on $\mathbb{C}^3$.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

Black holes in 4d $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super-Yang-Mills

We resolve a long-standing question: does the four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=4$ SU(N) Super-Yang-Mills theory on $S^3$ at large N contain enough states to account for the entropy of rotating electrically-charged BPS black holes in AdS$_5$? Our answer is positive. We reconsider the large N limit of the superconformal index, using the Bethe Ansatz formulation, and find an exponentially large contribution which exactly reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of the black holes of Gutowski-Reall. Besides, the large N limit exhibits a complicated structure, with many competing exponential contributions and Stokes lines, hinting at new physics.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

On 2-Group Global Symmetries and Their Anomalies

In general quantum field theories (QFTs), ordinary (0-form) global symmetries and 1-form symmetries can combine into 2-group global symmetries. We describe this phenomenon in detail using the language of symmetry defects. We exhibit a simple procedure to determine the (possible) 2-group global symmetry of a given QFT, and provide a classification of the related 't Hooft anomalies (for symmetries not acting on spacetime). We also describe how QFTs can be coupled to extrinsic backgrounds for symmetry groups that differ from the intrinsic symmetry acting faithfully on the theory. Finally, we provide a variety of examples, ranging from TQFTs (gapped systems) to gapless QFTs. Along the way, we stress that the "obstruction to symmetry fractionalization" discussed in some condensed matter literature is really an instance of 2-group global symmetry.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

A Bethe Ansatz type formula for the superconformal index

Inspired by recent work by Closset, Kim and Willett, we derive a new formula for the superconformal (or supersymmetric) index of 4d N=1 theories. Such a formula is a finite sum, over the solution set of certain transcendental equations that we dub Bethe Ansatz Equations, of a function evaluated at those solutions.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

Living on the walls of super-QCD

We study BPS domain walls in four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ massive SQCD with gauge group $SU(N)$ and $F<N$ flavors. We propose a class of three-dimensional Chern-Simons-matter theories to describe the effective dynamics on the walls. Our proposal passes several checks, including the exact matching between its vacua and the solutions to the four-dimensional BPS domain wall equations, that we solve in the small mass regime. As the flavor mass is varied, domain walls undergo a second-order phase transition, where multiple vacua coalesce into a single one. For special values of the parameters, the phase transition exhibits supersymmetry enhancement. Our proposal includes and extends previous results in the literature, providing a complete picture of BPS domain walls for $F<N$ massive SQCD. A similar picture holds also for SQCD with gauge group $Sp(N)$ and $F < N+1$ flavors.

hep-th↗
arXiv2018

N=1 QED in 2+1 dimensions: Dualities and enhanced symmetries

We consider three-dimensional sQED with 2 flavors and minimal supersymmetry. We discuss various models which are dual to Gross-Neveu-Yukawa theories. The $U(2)$ ultraviolet global symmetry is often enhanced in the infrared, for instance to $O(4)$ or $SU(3)$. This is analogous to the conjectured behaviour of non-supersymmetric QED with 2 flavors. A perturbative analysis of the Gross-Neveu-Yukawa models in the $D = 4 - \varepsilon$ expansion shows that the $U(2)$ preserving superpotential deformations of the sQED (modulo tuning mass terms to zero) are irrelevant, so the fixed points with enhanced symmetry are stable. We also construct an example of $\mathcal{N} = 2$ sQED with 4 flavors that exhibits enhanced $SO(6)$ symmetry.

hep-th↗
arXiv2018

$\mathcal{N}{=}1$ dualities in 2+1 dimensions

We consider minimally supersymmetric QCD in 2+1 dimensions, with Chern-Simons and superpotential interactions. We propose an infrared $SU(N) \leftrightarrow U(k)$ duality involving gauge-singlet fields on one of the two sides. It shares qualitative features both with 3d bosonization and with 4d Seiberg duality. We provide a few consistency checks of the proposal, mapping the structure of vacua and performing perturbative computations in the $\varepsilon$-expansion.

hep-th↗
arXiv2018

Three-dimensional dualities with bosons and fermions

We propose new infinite families of non-supersymmetric IR dualities in three space-time dimensions, between Chern-Simons gauge theories (with classical gauge groups) with both scalars and fermions in the fundamental representation. In all cases we study the phase diagram as we vary two relevant couplings, finding interesting lines of phase transitions. In various cases the dualities lead to predictions about multi-critical fixed points and the emergence of IR quantum symmetries. For unitary groups we also discuss the coupling to background gauge fields and the map of simple monopole operators.

hep-th↗
arXiv2018

Black hole entropy in massive Type IIA

We study the entropy of static dyonic BPS black holes in AdS$_4$ in 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ gauged supergravities with vector and hyper multiplets, and how the entropy can be reproduced with a microscopic counting of states in the AdS/CFT dual field theory. We focus on the particular example of BPS black holes in AdS$_4 \times S^6$ in massive Type IIA, whose dual three-dimensional boundary description is known and simple. To count the states in field theory we employ a supersymmetric topologically twisted index, which can be computed exactly with localization techniques. We find perfect match at leading order.

hep-th↗
arXiv2017

Supersymmetric partition functions on Riemann surfaces

We present a compact formula for the supersymmetric partition function of 2d N=(2,2), 3d N=2 and 4d N=1 gauge theories on $Σ_g \times T^n$ with partial topological twist on $Σ_g$, where $Σ_g$ is a Riemann surface of arbitrary genus and $T^n$ is a torus with n=0,1,2, respectively. In 2d we also include certain local operator insertions, and in 3d we include Wilson line operator insertions along $S^1$. For genus g=1, the formula computes the Witten index. We present a few simple Abelian and non-Abelian examples, including new tests of non-perturbative dualities. We also show that the large N partition function of ABJM theory on $Σ_g \times S^1$ reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of BPS black holes in AdS$_4$ whose horizon has $Σ_g$ topology.

hep-th↗
arXiv2017

SUSY monopole potentials in 2+1 dimensions

Gauge theories in 2+1 dimensions can admit monopole operators in the potential. Starting with the theory without monopole potential, if the monopole potential is relevant there is an RG flow to the monopole-deformed theory. Here, focusing on U(Nc) SQCD with Nf flavors and N=2 supersymmetry, we show that even when the monopole potential is irrelevant, the monopole-modified theory Tm can exist and enjoy Seiberg-like dualities. We provide a renormalizable UV completion of Tm and an electric-magnetic dual description Tm'. We subject our proposal to various consistency checks such as mass deformations and three-sphere partition functions checks. We observe that Tm is the S-duality wall of 4D N=2 SQCD. We also consider monopole-deformed theories with Chern-Simons couplings and their duals.

hep-th↗
arXiv2017

Comments on Global Symmetries, Anomalies, and Duality in (2+1)d

We analyze in detail the global symmetries of various (2+1)d quantum field theories and couple them to classical background gauge fields. A proper identification of the global symmetries allows us to consider all non-trivial bundles of those background fields, thus finding more subtle observables. The global symmetries exhibit interesting 't Hooft anomalies. These allow us to constrain the IR behavior of the theories and provide powerful constraints on conjectured dualities.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2016

Chern-Simons-matter dualities with $SO$ and $USp$ gauge groups

In the last few years several dualities were found between the low-energy behaviors of Chern-Simons-matter theories with unitary gauge groups coupled to scalars, and similar theories coupled to fermions. In this paper we generalize those dualities to orthogonal and symplectic gauge groups. In particular, we conjecture dualities between $SO(N)_k$ Chern-Simons theories coupled to $N_f$ real scalars in the fundamental representation, and $SO(k)_{-N+N_f/2}$ coupled to $N_f$ real (Majorana) fermions in the fundamental. For $N_f=0$ these are just level-rank dualities of pure Chern-Simons theories, whose precise form we clarify. They lead us to propose new gapped boundary states of topological insulators and superconductors. For $k=1$ we get an interesting low-energy duality between $N_f$ free Majorana fermions and an $SO(N)_1$ Chern-Simons theory coupled to $N_f$ scalar fields (with $N_f \leq N-2$).

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2016

Supersymmetric localization in two dimensions

This is an introductory review to localization techniques in supersymmetric two-dimensional gauge theories. In particular we describe how to construct Lagrangians of N=(2,2) theories on curved spaces, and how to compute their partition functions and certain correlators on the sphere, the hemisphere and other curved backgrounds. We also describe how to evaluate the partition function of N=(0,2) theories on the torus, known as the elliptic genus. Finally we summarize some of the applications, in particular to probe mirror symmetry and other non-perturbative dualities.

hep-th↗
arXiv2016

Exact microstate counting for dyonic black holes in AdS4

We present a counting of microstates of a class of dyonic BPS black holes in AdS$_4$ which precisely reproduces their Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. The counting is performed in the dual boundary description, that provides a non-perturbative definition of quantum gravity, in terms of a twisted and mass-deformed ABJM theory. We evaluate its twisted index and propose an extremization principle to extract the entropy, which reproduces the attractor mechanism in gauged supergravity.

hep-th↗
arXiv2016

Two-dimensional SCFTs from D3-branes

We find a large class of two-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ SCFTs obtained by compactifying four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ quiver gauge theories on a Riemann surface. We study these theories using anomalies and $c$-extremization. The gravitational duals to these fixed points are new AdS$_3$ solutions of IIB supergravity which we exhibit explicitly. Along the way we uncover a universal relation between the conformal anomaly coefficients of four-dimensional and two-dimensional SCFTs connected by an RG flow across dimensions. We also observe an interesting novel phenomenon in which the superconformal R-symmetry mixes with baryonic symmetries along the RG flow.

hep-th↗