arXiv subjects

Mario Martone

Publications and source records attributed to Mario Martone.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Classification of all $\mathcal{N}\geq 3$ moduli space orbifold geometries at rank 2

We classify orbifold geometries which can be interpreted as moduli spaces of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}\geq 3$ superconformal field theories up to rank 2 (complex dimension 6). The large majority of the geometries we find correspond to moduli spaces of known theories or discretely gauged version of them. Remarkably, we find 6 geometries which are not realized by any known theory, of which 3 have an $\mathcal{N}=2$ Coulomb branch slice with a non-freely generated coordinate ring, suggesting the existence of new, exotic $\mathcal{N}=3$ theories.

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arXiv2020

More on $\mathcal{N} =2$ S-folds

We carry out a systematic study of 4d $\mathcal{N} = 2$ preserving S-folds of F-theory 7-branes and the worldvolume theories on D3-branes probing them. They consist of two infinite series of theories, which we denote following the original papers by $\mathcal{S}^{(r)}_{G,\ell}$ for $\ell = 2,3,4$ and $\mathcal{T}^{(r)}_{G,\ell}$ for $\ell = 2,3,4,5,6$. Their distinction lies in the discrete torsion carried by the S-fold and in the difference in the asymptotic holonomy of the gauge bundle on the 7-brane. We study various properties of these theories, using diverse field theoretical and string theoretical methods.

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arXiv2020

The Singularity Structure of Scale-Invariant Rank-2 Coulomb Branches

We compute the spectrum of scaling dimensions of Coulomb branch operators in 4d rank-2 $\mathcal{N}{=}2$ superconformal field theories. Only a finite rational set of scaling dimensions is allowed. It is determined by using information about the global topology of the locus of metric singularities on the Coulomb branch, the special Kähler geometry near those singularities, and electric-magnetic duality monodromies along orbits of the $\rm\, U(1)_R$ symmetry. A set of novel topological and geometric results are developed which promise to be useful for the study and classification of Coulomb branch geometries at all ranks.

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arXiv2020

Towards a classification of rank $r$ $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs Part II: special Kahler stratification of the Coulomb branch

We study the stratification of the singular locus of four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ Coulomb branches. We present a set of self-consistency conditions on this stratification which can be used to extend the classification of scale-invariant rank 1 Coulomb branch geometries to two complex dimensions, and beyond. The calculational simplicity of the arguments presented here stems from the fact that the main ingredients needed -- the rank 1 deformation patterns and the pattern of inclusions of rank 2 strata -- are discrete topological data which satisfy strong self-consistency conditions through their relationship to the central charges of the SCFT. This relationship of the stratification data to the central charges is used here, but is derived and explained in a companion paper by one of the authors. We illustrate the use of these conditions by re-analyzing many previously-known examples of rank 2 SCFTs, and also by finding examples of new theories. The power of these conditions stems from the fact that for Coulomb branch stratifications a conjecturally complete list of physically allowed "elementary slices" is known. By contrast, constraining the possible elementary slices of symplectic singularities relevant for Higgs branch stratifications remains an open problem.

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arXiv2020

Towards the classification of rank-$r$ $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs. Part I: twisted partition function and central charge formulae

We derive explicit formulae to compute the $a$ and $c$ central charges of four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) directly from Coulomb branch related quantities. The formulae apply at arbitrary rank. We also discover general properties of the low-energy limit behavior of the flavor symmetry of $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs which culminate with our $\mathcal{N}=2$ UV-IR simple flavor condition. This is done by determining precisely the relation between the integrand of the partition function of the topologically twisted version of the 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs and the singular locus of their Coulomb branches. The techniques developed here are extensively applied to many rank-2 SCFTs, including new ones, in a companion paper.

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arXiv2020

The constraining power of Coulomb Branch Geometry: lectures on Seiberg-Witten theory

The constraining mathematical structure of the Coulomb branch of four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric theories is discussed. The presentation follows a somewhat different route from other excellent reviews on the subject and it is geared towards using this tool to classify four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories. This is the writeup of the lectures given at the Winter School "YRISW 2020" to appear in a special issue of JPhysA.

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arXiv2020

Construction and classification of Coulomb branch geometries

We give a non-technical summary of the classification program, very dear to the hearts of both authors, of four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) based on the study of their Coulomb branch geometries. We outline the main ideas behind this program, review the most important results thus far obtained, and the prospects for future results. This contribution will appear in the volume "the Pollica perspective on the (super)-conformal world" but we decided to also make it available separately in the hope that it could be useful to those who are interested in obtaining a quick grasp of this rapidly developing program.

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arXiv2019

On the moduli spaces of 4d $\mathcal{N} = 3$ SCFTs I: triple special Kähler structure

We initiate a systematic analysis of moduli spaces of vacua of four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=3$ SCFTs. Our analysis is based on the one hand on the properties of $\mathcal{N}=3$ chiral rings --- which we review in detail and contrast with chiral rings of theories with less supersymmetry --- and on the other hand on constraints coming from low-energy supersymmetry. This leads us to introduce a new type of geometric structure, which characterizes $\mathcal{N}=3$ SCFT moduli spaces, and that we call $triple\ special\ Kähler$ (TSK). A rank-$n$ TSK moduli space has complex dimension $3n$, and is singular at complex co-dimension 3 subspaces where charged states become massless. The structure of singularities defines a stratification of the TSK space in terms of lower-dimensional TSK manifolds.

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arXiv2019

On the BPS Spectrum of the Rank-1 Minahan-Nemeschansky Theories

The F-theory realization of the rank-1 Minahan Nemeschansky (MN) $E_6$, $E_7$ and $E_8$ theories leads to a description of the BPS states on the Coulomb branch in terms of Type IIB $(p,q)$-string networks. Subject to a simple ansatz for the types of networks which can occur, we study the representations of the flavor symmetry group which occur in the BPS spectrum. The results we find for the $E_6$ and $E_7$ theories are in perfect agreement with previous calculations by other methods (in particular, we find that arbitrarily large representations occur), but our scheme is easier to implement and more computationally efficient. The string network picture also gives a possible explanation of the experimental observation that in rank-1 MN theories, BPS states whose charge is $n$ times a primitive charge occur with BPS index divisible by $(-1)^{n+1} n$.

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arXiv2018

Coulomb branches with complex singularities

We construct 4d superconformal field theories (SCFTs) whose Coulomb branches have singular complex structures. This implies, in particular, that their Coulomb branch coordinate rings are not freely generated. Our construction also gives examples of distinct SCFTs which have identical moduli space (Coulomb, Higgs, and mixed branch) geometries. These SCFTs thus provide an interesting arena in which to test the relationship between moduli space geometries and conformal field theory data. We construct these SCFTs by gauging certain discrete global symmetries of $\mathcal N=4$ superYang-Mills (sYM) theories. In the simplest cases, these discrete symmetries are outer automorphisms of the sYM gauge group, and so these theories have lagrangian descriptions as $\mathcal N=4$ sYM theories with disconnected gauge groups.

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arXiv2018

Geometric constraints on the space of N=2 SCFTs III: enhanced Coulomb branches and central charges

This is the third in a series of three papers on the systematic analysis of rank 1 four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs. In the first two papers we developed and carried out a strategy for classifying and constructing physical planar rank-1 Coulomb branch geometries of $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs. Here we describe general features of the Higgs and mixed branch geometries of the moduli space of these SCFTs, and use this, along with their Coulomb branch geometry, to compute their conformal and flavor central charges. We conclude with a summary of the state of the art for rank-1 $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs.

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arXiv2018

Scaling dimensions of Coulomb branch operators of 4d N=2 superconformal field theories

Under reasonable assumptions about the complex structure of the set of singularities on the Coulomb branch of $\mathcal N=2$ superconformal field theories, we present a relatively simple and elementary argument showing that the scaling dimension, $Δ$, of a Coulomb branch operator of a rank $r$ theory is allowed to take values in a finite set of rational numbers$Δ\in \big[\frac{n}{m}\big|n,m\in\mathbb N, 0<m\le n, gcd(n,m)=1,\ φ(n)\le2r\big]$ where $φ(n)$ is the Euler totient function. The maximal dimension grows superlinearly with rank as $Δ_\text{max} \sim r \ln\ln r$. This agrees with the recent result of Caorsi and Cecotti.

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arXiv2017

Collider Signatures of Flavorful Higgs Bosons

Motivated by our limited knowledge of the Higgs couplings to first two generation fermions, we analyze the collider phenomenology of a class of two Higgs doublet models (2HDMs) with a non-standard Yukawa sector. One Higgs doublet is mainly responsible for the masses of the weak gauge bosons and the third generation fermions, while the second Higgs doublet provides mass for the lighter fermion generations. The characteristic collider signatures of this setup differ significantly from well-studied 2HDMs with natural flavor conservation, flavor alignment, or minimal flavor violation. New production mechanisms for the heavy scalar, pseudoscalar, and charged Higgs involving second generation quarks can become dominant. The most interesting decay modes include H/A -> cc, tc, μμ, τμ and H+ -> cb, cs, μν. Searches for low mass di-muon resonances are currently among the best probes of the heavy Higgs bosons in this setup.

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arXiv2017

Pre-ADS Superpotential from Confined Monopoles

According to the standard lore only single monopoles contribute to the superpotential on the Coulomb branch of 3D ${\mathcal N}=2$ SUSY gauge theories. However we argue that multi-monopole configurations can also generate superpotential terms in the presence of squark VEVs on the mixed Higgs-Coulomb branch. The new ingredient is the confinement of monopoles via Nielsen-Olesen flux tubes. Such confined multi-monopoles will yield a pre-ADS superpotential which depends both on the local Coulomb moduli and matter superfields but has no fractional powers. Once the lifted moduli are integrated out the familiar ADS superpotential is obtained. Our results demonstrate the important role multi-monopoles can play in generating non-perturbative effects and also sheds light on the still somewhat mysterious dynamical origin of the general 4D ADS superpotential.

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arXiv2017

Geometric constraints on the space of N=2 SCFTs I: physical constraints on relevant deformations

We initiate a systematic study of four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) based on the analysis of their Coulomb branch geometries. Because these SCFTs are not uniquely characterized by their scale-invariant Coulomb branch geometries we also need information on their deformations. We construct all inequivalent such deformations preserving $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry and additional physical consistency conditions in the rank 1 case. These not only include all the ones previously predicted by S-duality, but also 16 additional deformations satisfying all the known $\mathcal{N}=2$ low energy consistency conditions. All but two of these additonal deformations have recently been identified with new rank 1 SCFTs; these identifications are briefly reviewed. Some novel ingredients which are important for this study include: a discussion of RG-flows in the presence of a moduli space of vacua; a classification of local $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry-preserving deformations of unitary $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs; and an analysis of charge normalizations and the Dirac quantization condition on Coulomb branches. This paper is the first in a series of three. The second paper, 1601.00011, gives the details of the explicit construction of the Coulomb branch geometries discussed here, while the third, 1609.04404, discusses the computation of central charges of the associated SCFTs.

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arXiv2017

Geometric constraints on the space of N=2 SCFTs II: Construction of special Kähler geometries and RG flows

This is the second in a series of three papers on systematic analysis of rank 1 Coulomb branch geometries of four dimensional $\mathcal{N}$=2 SCFTs. In the first paper we developed a strategy for classifying physical rank-1 CB geometries of $\mathcal{N}$=2 SCFTs. Here we show how to carry out this strategy computationally to construct the Seiberg-Witten curves and one-forms for all the rank-1 SCFTs. Explicit expressions are given for all cases, with the exception of the $N_f$=4 SU(2) gauge theory and the En SCFTs which were previously constructed. Our classification includes all known rank-1 theories plus a new one with an abelian flavor group, plus nine additional theories whose existence is more speculative. Four of those, reported in our first paper, depend on the assumption of new frozen rank-1 SCFTs. Here we also also show that the assumption of the existence of certain rank-0 $\mathcal{N}$=2 SCFTs leads to five additional consistent rank-1 CB geometries.

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arXiv2017

Seiberg-Witten geometries for Coulomb branch chiral rings which are not freely generated

Coulomb branch chiral rings of $\mathcal N=2$ SCFTs are conjectured to be freely generated. While no counter-example is known, no direct evidence for the conjecture is known either. We initiate a systematic study of SCFTs with Coulomb branch chiral rings satisfying non-trivial relations, restricting our analysis to rank 1. The main result of our study is that (rank-1) SCFTs with non-freely generated CB chiral rings when deformed by relevant deformations, always flow to theories with non-freely generated CB rings. This implies that if they exist, they must thus form a distinct subset under RG flows. We also find many interesting characteristic properties that these putative theories satisfy which may behelpful in proving or disproving their existence using other methods.

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arXiv2016

4d $\mathcal{N}$=2 theories with disconnected gauge groups

In this paper we present a beautifully consistent web of evidence for the existence of interacting 4d rank-1 $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs obtained from gauging discrete subgroups of global symmetries of other existing 4d rank-1 $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs. The global symmetries that can be gauged involve a non-trivial combination of discrete subgroups of the $U(1)_R$, low-energy EM duality group $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$, and the outer automorphism group of the flavor symmetry algebra, Out($F$). The theories that we construct are remarkable in many ways: (i) two of them have exceptional $F_4$ and $G_2$ flavor groups; (ii) they substantially complete the picture of the landscape of rank-1 $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs as they realize all but one of the remaining consistent rank-1 Seiberg-Witten geometries that we previously constructed but were not associated to known SCFTs; and (iii) some of them have enlarged $\mathcal{N}=3$ SUSY, and have not been previously constructed. They are also examples of SCFTs which violate the Shapere-Tachikawa relation between the conformal central charges and the scaling dimension of the Coulomb branch vev. We propose a modification of the formulas computing these central charges from the topologically twisted Coulomb branch partition function which correctly compute them for discretely gauged theories.

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