arXiv subjects

Philip C. Argyres

Publications and source records attributed to Philip C. Argyres.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Classification of N=2 Superconformal Field Theories with Two-Dimensional Coulomb Branches, II

We continue the classification of 2-dimensional scale-invariant rigid special Kahler (RSK) geometries. This classification was begun in [hep-th/0504070] where singularities corresponding to curves of the form y^2=x^6 with a fixed canonical basis of holomorphic one forms were analyzed. Here we perform the analysis for the y^2=x^5 type singularities. (The final maximal singularity type, y^2=x^3(x-1)^3, will be analyzed in a later paper.) These singularities potentially describe the Coulomb branches of N=2 supersymmetric field theories in four dimensions. We show that there are only 13 solutions satisfying the integrability condition (enforcing the RSK geometry of the Coulomb branch) and the Z-consistency condition (requiring massless charged states at singularities). Of these solutions, one has a marginal deformation, and corresponds to the known solution for certain Sp(2) gauge theories, while the rest correspond to isolated strongly interacting conformal field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Classification of N=2 Superconformal Field Theories with Two-Dimensional Coulomb Branches

We study the classification of 2-dimensional scale-invariant rigid special Kahler (RSK) geometries, which potentially describe the Coulomb branches of N=2 supersymmetric field theories in four dimensions. We show that this classification is equivalent to the solution of a set of polynomial equations by using an integrability condition for the central charge, scale invariance, constraints coming from demanding single-valuedness of physical quantities on the Coulomb branch, and properties of massless BPS states at singularities. We find solutions corresponding to lagrangian scale invariant theories--including the scale invariant G_2 theory not found before in the literature--as well as many new isolated solutions (having no marginal deformations). All our scale-invariant RSK geometries are consistent with an interpretation as effective theories of N=2 superconformal field theories, and, where we can check, turn out to exist as quantum field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

On Superspace Chern-Simons-like Terms

We search for superspace Chern-Simons-like higher-derivative terms in the low energy effective actions of supersymmetric theories in four dimensions. Superspace Chern-Simons-like terms are those gauge-invariant terms which cannot be written solely in terms of field strength superfields and covariant derivatives, but in which a gauge potential superfield appears explicitly. We find one class of such four-derivative terms with N=2 supersymmetry which, though locally on the Coulomb branch can be written solely in terms of field strengths, globally cannot be. These terms are classified by certain Dolbeault cohomology classes on the moduli space. We include a discussion of other examples of terms in the effective action involving global obstructions on the Coulomb branch.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Higher-Derivative Terms in N=2 SUSY Effective Actions

Harmonic superspace can be used to construct higher derivative terms in N=2 supersymmetric effective actions despite the infinite redundancy in their description due to the infinite number of auxiliary fields. We are able to write down all of the 3- and 4-derivative terms on the Higgs, Coulomb, and mixed branches, modulo the possible existence of superspace Chern-Simons-like terms, which we discuss. Many of the terms we find are holomorphic, and at least one is shown to not receive quantum corrections.

hep-th↗

arXiv2003

Higher-Derivative Terms in N=2 Supersymmetric Effective Actions

We show how to systematically construct higher-derivative terms in effective actions in harmonic superspace despite the infinite redundancy in their description due to the infinite number of auxiliary fields. Making an assumption about the absence of certain superspace Chern-Simons-like terms involving vector multiplets, we write all 3- and 4-derivative terms on Higgs, Coulomb, and mixed branches. Among these terms are several with only holomorphic dependence on fields, and at least one satisfies a non-renormalization theorem. These holomorphic terms include a novel 3-derivative term on mixed branches given as an integral over 3/4 of superspace. As an illustration of our method, we search for Wess-Zumino terms in the low energy effective action of N=2 supersymmetric QCD. We show that such terms occur only on mixed branches. We also present an argument showing that the combination of space-time locality with supersymmetry implies locality in the anticommuting superspace coordinates of for unconstrained superfields.

hep-th↗

arXiv2002

The M theory lift of two O6 planes and four D6 branes

We solve for the effective actions on the Coulomb branches of a class of N=2 supersymmetric theories by finding the complex structure of an M5 brane in an appropriate background hyperkahler geometry corresponding to the lift of two O6^- orientifolds and four D6 branes to M theory. The resulting Seiberg-Witten curves are of finite genus, unlike other solutions proposed in the literature. The simplest theories in this class are the scale invariant Sp(k) theory with one antisymmetric and four fundamental hypermultiplets and the SU(k) theory with two antisymmetric and four fundamental hypermultiplets. Infinite classes of related theories are obtained by adding extra SU(k) factors with bifundamental matter and by turning on masses to flow down to various asymptotically free theories. The N=4 supersymmetric SU(k) theory can be embedded in these asymptotically free theories, allowing a derivation of a subgroup of its S duality group as an exact equivalence of quantum field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2001

Supersymmetry and Strongly Coupled Gauge Theories

I briefly review how supersymmetry helps in the extraction of exact nonperturbative information from field theories, and then discuss some open problems in strongly coupled gauge theories. (Talk given at ``30 Years of Supersymmetry'' symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 15, 2000.)

hep-th↗

arXiv2001

String Webs from Field Theory

The spectrum of stable electrically and magnetically charged supersymmetric particles can change discontinuously as one changes the vacuum on the Coulomb branch of gauge theories with extended supersymmetry in four dimensions. We show that this decay process can be understood and is well described by semiclassical field configurations purely in terms of the low energy effective action on the Coulomb branch even when it occurs at strong coupling. The resulting picture of the stable supersymmetric spectrum is a generalization of the ``string web'' picture of these states found in string constructions for certain theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2001

String Webs and the Decay of Supersymmetric Particles

The spectrum of stable electrically and magnetically charged supersymmetric particles can change discontinuously due to the decay of these particles as the vacuum on the Coulomb branch is varied. We show that this decay process is well described by semi-classical field configurations purely in terms of the low energy effective action on the Coulomb branch even when it occurs at strong coupling. The resulting picture of the stable supersymmetric spectrum is a generalization of the ``string web'' picture of these states found in string constructions of certain theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2000

Comparing Instanton Contributions with Exact Results in N=2 Supersymmetric Scale Invariant Theories

We discuss the general issues and ambiguities involved in matching the exact results for the low energy effective action of scale invariant N=2 supersymmetric QCD to those obtained by instanton methods. We resolve the reported disagreements and verify agreement between an infinite series of coefficients in the low energy effective actions calculated in the two approaches. In particular, we show that the exact low-energy effective couplings for SU(N) for all N with 2N fundamental hypermultiplets agree at a special vacuum on the Coulomb branch where a large unbroken discrete global symmetry makes the matching of parameters relatively straightforward.

hep-th↗

arXiv2000

On Inherited Duality in N=1 d=4 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

Four-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories with two adjoints and a quartic superpotential are believed, from AdS/CFT duality, to have SL(2,Z) invariance. In this note we review an old, unpublished argument for this property, based solely on field theory. The technique involves a complexified flavor rotation which deforms an N=2 supersymmetric gauge theory with matter to an N=1 theory, leaving all holomorphic invariants unchanged. We apply this to the N=1 gauge theory with two massless adjoints and show that it has the same auxiliary torus as that of N=4 gauge theory, from which SL(2,Z) invariance follows. In an appendix, we check that our arguments are consistent with earlier work on the SU(2) case. Our technique is general and applies to many other N=1 theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

New S-dualities in N=2 supersymmetric SU(2) x SU(2) gauge theory

New S-dualities in a scale invariant N=2 gauge theory with SU(2) x SU(2) gauge group are derived from embeddings of the theory in two different larger asymptotically free theories. The true coupling space of the scale invariant theory is a 20-fold identification of the coupling space found in the M- and string-theory derivations of the low energy effective action, implying a larger S-duality group. Also, this coupling space is different from the naively expected direct product of two SL(2,Z) fundamental domains, as it contains a different topology of fixed points.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Black Holes and Sub-millimeter Dimensions

Recently, a new framework for solving the hierarchy problem was proposed which does not rely on low energy supersymmetry or technicolor. The fundamental Planck mass is at a TeV and the observed weakness of gravity at long distances is due the existence of new sub-millimeter spatial dimensions. In this letter, we study how the properties of black holes are altered in these theories. Small black holes---with Schwarzschild radii smaller than the size of the new spatial dimensions---are quite different. They are bigger, colder, and longer-lived than a usual $(3+1)$-dimensional black hole of the same mass. Furthermore, they primarily decay into harmless bulk graviton modes rather than standard-model degrees of freedom. We discuss the interplay of our scenario with the holographic principle. Our results also have implications for the bounds on the spectrum of primordial black holes (PBHs) derived from the photo-dissociation of primordial nucleosynthesis products, distortion of the diffuse gamma-ray spectrum, overclosure of the universe, gravitational lensing, as well as the phenomenology of black hole production. For example, the bound on the spectral index of the primordial spectrum of density perturbations is relaxed from 1.25 to 1.45-1.60 depending on the epoch of the PBH formation. In these scenarios PBHs provide interesting dark matter candidates; for 6 extra dimensions MACHO candidates with mass $\sim 0.1M_\odot$ can arise. For 2 or 3 extra dimensions PBHs with mass $\sim 2000 M_\odot$ can occur and may act as both dark matter and seeds for early galaxy and QSO formation.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

The Nonperturbative Gauge Coupling of N=2 Supersymmetric Theories

We argue that the topology of the quantum coupling space and the low energy effective action on the Coulomb branch of scale invariant N=2 SU(n) gauge theories pick out a preferred nonperturbative definition of the gauge coupling up to non-singular holomorphic reparametrizations.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Deriving N=2 S-dualities from Scaling for Product Gauge Groups

S-dualities in scale invariant N=2 supersymmetric field theories with product gauge groups are derived by embedding those theories in asymptotically free theories with higher rank gauge groups. S-duality transformations on the couplings of the scale invariant theory follow from the geometry of the embedding of the scale invariant theory in the Coulomb branch of the asymptotically free theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

S-Duality and Global Symmetries in N=2 Supersymmetric Field Theory

S-dualities in scale invariant N=2 supersymmetric field theories are derived by embedding those theories in asymptotically free N=2 theories with higher rank gauge groups. S-duality transformations on the coupling of the scale invariant theory follow from global symmetries acting on the Coulomb branch of the higher rank theory. Since these global symmetries are exact in the asymptotically free theory, this shows that S-duality is an exact equivalence of N=2 theories and not just a property of their supersymmetric states.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

N=2 Moduli Spaces and N=1 Dualities for SO(n_c) and USp(2n_c) SuperQCD

We determine the exact global structure of the moduli space of $N{=}2$ supersymmetric $SO(n)$ and $\USp(2n)$ gauge theories with matter hypermultiplets in the fundamental representations, using the non-renormalization theorem for the Higgs branches and the exact solutions for the Coulomb branches. By adding an $(N{=}2)$--breaking mass term for the adjoint chiral field and varying the mass, the $N{=}2$ theories can be made to flow to either an ``electric'' $N{=}1$ supersymmetric QCD or its $N{=}1$ dual ``magnetic'' version. We thus obtain a derivation of the $N{=}1$ dualities of Seiberg.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

On the Worldsheet Formulation of the Six-Dimensional Self-Dual String

Despite recent evidence indicating the existence of a new kind of self-dual six-dimensional superstring, no satisfactory worldsheet formulation of such a string has been proposed. In this note we point out that a theory built from Z_4 parafermions may have the right properties to describe the light-cone conformal field theory of this string. This indicates a possible worldsheet formulation of this theory.

hep-th↗