arXiv subjects

Riccardo Argurio

Publications and source records attributed to Riccardo Argurio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Confinement in a finite duality cascade

We provide several consistency checks of confining dynamics in a recently conjectured holographic dual of a four-dimensional ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric gauge theory that flows from a conformal manifold in the UV to a finite set of isolated, fully gapped vacua in the IR. This is obtained by considering D3-branes at the conifold singularity in the presence of an O7-plane, leading to a background where all supergravity fields have a non-trivial profile. We compute holographically the expectation value of a Wilson loop in the fundamental representation and show that it obeys an area law. We then construct the domain walls which interpolate between different vacua in terms of D5-branes wrapping a compact three-cycle of the internal manifold. Their dynamics is governed by the (2+1)-dimensional ${\cal N}=1$ Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory predicted by field theory arguments, that reduces in the deep infrared to a TQFT whose inflow action correctly reproduces the mixed anomaly of the four-dimensional theory. Finally, we argue that, unlike in previous models in the literature, axionic strings are unstable in this background. This implies that the corresponding massless axion that would couple to them is absent, in agreement with the fact that the vacua are fully gapped.

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arXiv2026

Lattice Realizations of Flat Gauging and T-duality Defects at Any Radius

We analyze non-invertible topological interfaces and defects in the two-dimensional compact boson, focusing on the more exotic ones obtained by gauging continuous symmetries with flat connections on a half-space. These include interfaces between mutually irrational radii and T-duality symmetries at arbitrary boson radius. Using the modified Villain discretization on both a Euclidean two-dimensional square lattice and a quantum one-dimensional chain, we show that all these topological interfaces survive discretization and give rise to non-compact edge modes localized at the defect sites. Such non-compact edge modes imply a continuous defect spectrum and an infinite quantum dimension. In the special case of rational radii, we show how the defect action or Hamiltonian can be modified in order to compactify the edge modes and produce more standard defects with finite quantum dimension.

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arXiv2025

4d Maxwell on the Edge: Global Aspects of Boundary Conditions and Duality

We revisit Maxwell theory in 4d with a boundary, with particular attention to the global properties of the boundary conditions, both in the free (topological) and interacting (conformal) cases. We analyze the fate of Wilson-'t Hooft lines, identifying the subset that is trivialized on the boundary and the ones that become topological, thus generating a boundary 1-form symmetry. We further study how the boundary conditions are mapped to each other by 3d topological interfaces implementing bulk dualities and rescalings of the coupling. Together, these interfaces generate an $SL(2,\mathbb{Q})$ action on the bulk complexified coupling $\tau$, and they generalize the usual $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ action on 3d CFTs by including both topological and non-topological manipulations within a unified framework. We then show how to recover our results in a streamlined way from a SymTFT picture in 5d with corners. Finally, we comment on the possible inclusion of non-compact 3d edge modes.

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arXiv2025

Gravity, finite duality cascades and confinement

Cascading RG flows are characteristic of $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theories realized by D3-branes probing singularities in the presence of fractional branes. A celebrated example is the Klebanov-Strassler model, which exhibits an infinite cascade that ends with confinement. In this work, we explore a related setup where the addition of an orientifold plane modifies the cascade structure: the RG flow now consists of a finite number of steps, originating from a UV fixed point with a finite number of degrees of freedom. We provide a supergravity solution dual to this flow, that reproduces all its salient features. The string frame curvature can be kept small up to parametrically large values of the holographic coordinate, larger than the one at which the first cascade step occurs.

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arXiv2025

Global variants of $\mathcal{N}=1^*$ theories and Calogero-Moser systems

Global variants of four-dimensional gauge theories are specified by their spectrum of genuine Wilson-'t Hooft line operators. The choice of global variant has significant consequences when spacetime is taken to be $\mathbb{R}^3 \times S^1$. We focus on $\mathcal N=1^*$ theories, which are closely connected to twisted elliptic Calogero-Moser systems. We establish, on general grounds, how this gauge-theoretic topological data manifests itself on the integrable system side by introducing a notion of global variants for complex many-body integrable systems associated with Lie algebras. Focusing on $\mathcal N=1^*$ theories of type $A$ and $B_2$, we elucidate the implications for the structure of gapped vacua, the emergent (generalized) symmetries realized in each vacuum, and the action of spontaneously broken modular invariance.

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arXiv2025

U(1) Gauging, Continuous TQFTs, and Higher Symmetry Structures

Quantum field theories can exhibit various generalized symmetry structures, among which higher-group symmetries and non-invertible symmetry defects are particularly prominent. In this work, we explore a new general scenario in which these two structures are intertwined. This phenomenon arises in four dimensions when gauging one of multiple $U(1)$ 0-form symmetries in the presence of mixed 't Hooft anomalies. We illustrate this with two distinct models that flow to an IR gapless phase and a gapped phase, respectively, and examine how this symmetry structure manifests in each case. Additionally, we investigate a five-dimensional model where a similar structure exists intrinsically. Our main tool is a symmetry TQFT in one higher dimension, formulated using non-compact gauge fields and having infinitely many topological operators. We carefully determine its boundary conditions and provide a detailed discussion on various dressing choices for its bulk topological operators.

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arXiv2024

Non-Invertible T-duality at Any Radius via Non-Compact SymTFT

We extend the construction of the T-duality symmetry for the 2d compact boson to arbitrary values of the radius by including topological manipulations such as gauging continuous symmetries with flat connections. We show that the entire circle branch of the $c=1$ conformal manifold can be generated using these manipulations, resulting in a non-invertible T-duality symmetry when the gauging sends the radius to its inverse value. Using the recently proposed symmetry TFT describing continuous global symmetries of the boundary theory, we identify the topological operator corresponding to these new T-duality symmetries as an open condensation defect of the bulk theory, constructed by (higher) gauging an $\mathbb{R}$ subgroup of the bulk global symmetries. Notably, when the boundary theory is the compact boson with a rational square radius, this operator reduces to the familiar T-duality defect described by a Tambara-Yamagami fusion category. This construction thus naturally includes all possible discrete T-duality symmetries of the theory in a unified way.

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arXiv2024

Inherited non-invertible duality symmetries in quiver SCFTs

We revisit the construction of the duality group for $\mathcal N=2$ $\widehat{A}_n$-shaped quivers SCFTs and generalize it to the previously unexplored case of $\widehat{D}_n$-shaped quivers. We then provide a systematic description of non-invertible duality symmetries in both classes. Furthermore, we characterize the $\mathcal N=1$ mass deformations of these theories that preserve such symmetries, thereby identifying a large class of $\mathcal N=1$ SCFTs with non-invertible duality symmetries inherited from their parent $\mathcal N=2$ theories.

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arXiv2024

The Non-Invertible Axial Symmetry in QED Comes Full Circle

We revisit the possibility of constructing non-invertible topological defects for the axial symmetry of massless QED, despite its ABJ anomaly. Dressing the defects with a topological quantum field theory with mixed $U(1)$ and $\mathbb{R}$-valued gauge fields, we are able to describe axial rotations of any rational or irrational angle. We confront our results with the existing proposals, in particular those that concern rational angles. We also provide the Symmetry TFT that reproduces the action of all such symmetry defects of QED. Finally, we discuss how similar techniques allow the study of condensation defects for a $\mathbb{R}$ global symmetry.

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arXiv2024

On the Symmetry TFT of Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory

Three-dimensional Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory has the peculiar property that its one-form symmetry defects have non-trivial braiding, namely they are charged under the same symmetry they generate, which is then anomalous. This poses a few puzzles in describing the corresponding Symmetry TFT in a four-dimensional bulk. First, the braiding between lines at the boundary seems to be ill-defined when such lines are pulled into the bulk. Second, the Symmetry TFT appears to be too trivial to allow for topological boundary conditions encoding all the different global variants. We show that both of these puzzles can be solved by including endable (tubular) surfaces in the class of bulk topological operators one has to consider. In this way, we are able to reproduce all global variants of the theory, with their symmetries and their anomalies. We check the validity of our proposal also against a top-down holographic realization of the same class of theories.

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arXiv2024

When the moduli space is an orbifold: Spontaneous breaking of continuous non-invertible symmetries

We investigate theories of Nambu-Goldstone bosons where the spontaneously broken continuous symmetry is non-invertible. In such theories, the vacua generically parameterize an orbifold. We study in detail the simplest example of a single free scalar with shift symmetry, modded by reflection symmetry. At singular points of the vacuum manifold, we show that the spectrum of NG excitations is reduced, in particular there are no single-particle states. At the smooth points, on the other hand, single NG modes are present. We show that this is a consequence of the fact that at those points one can construct invertible operators implementing the continuous symmetry on the Hilbert space.

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arXiv2023

Non-invertible symmetries along 4d RG flows

We explore novel examples of RG flows preserving a non-invertible self-duality symmetry. Our main focus is on $\mathcal{N}=1$ quadratic superpotential deformations of 4d $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory with gauge algebra $\mathfrak{su}(N)$. A theory that can be obtained in this way is the so-called $\mathcal{N}=1^*$ SYM where all adjoint chiral multiplets have a mass. Such IR theory exhibits a rich structure of vacua which we thoroughly examine. Our analysis elucidates the physics of spontaneous breaking of self-duality symmetry occurring in the degenerate gapped vacua. The construction can be generalized, taking as UV starting point a theory of class $\mathcal{S}$, to demonstrate how non-invertible self-duality symmetries exist in a variety of $\mathcal{N}=1$ SCFTs. We finally apply this understanding to prove that the conifold theory has a non-invertible self-duality symmetry.

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arXiv2023

When $\mathbb{Z}_2$ one-form symmetry leads to non-invertible axial symmetries

We study non-abelian gauge theories with fermions in a representation such that the surviving electric 1-form symmetry is $\mathbb{Z}_2$. This includes $SU(N)$ gauge theories with matter in the (anti)symmetric and $N$ even, and $USp(2N)$ with a Weyl fermion in the adjoint, i.e. ${\cal N}=1$ SYM. We study the mixed 't Hooft anomaly between the discrete axial symmetry and the 1-form symmetry and show that when it is non-trivial, it leads to non-invertible symmetries upon gauging the $\mathbb{Z}_2$. The TQFT dressing the non-invertible symmetry defects is universal to all the cases we study, namely it is always a $U(1)_2$ CS theory coupled to the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ 2-form gauge field. We uncover a pattern where the presence or not of non-invertible defects depends on the rank of the gauge group.

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arXiv2023

Continuous Generalized Symmetries in Three Dimensions

We present a class of three-dimensional quantum field theories whose ordinary global symmetries mix with higher-form symmetries to form a continuous 2-group. All these models can be obtained by performing a gauging procedure in a parent theory revealing a 't Hooft anomaly in the space of coupling constants when suitable compact scalar background fields are activated. Furthermore, the gauging procedure also implies that our main example has infinitely many non-invertible global symmetries. These can be obtained by dressing the continuous symmetry operators with topological quantum field theories. Finally, we comment on the holographic realization of both 2-group global symmetries and non-invertible symmetries discussed here by introducing a corresponding four-dimensional bulk description in terms of dynamical gauge fields.

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arXiv2023

Non-Invertible Defects in 5d, Boundaries and Holography

We show that very simple theories of abelian gauge fields with a cubic Chern-Simons term in 5d have an infinite number of non-invertible co-dimension two defects. They arise by dressing the symmetry operators of the broken electric 1-form symmetry with a suitable topological field theory, for any rational angle. We further discuss the same theories in the presence of a 4d boundary, and more particularly in a holographic setting. There we find that the bulk defects, when pushed to the boundary, have various different fates. Most notably, they can become co-dimension one non-invertible defects of a boundary theory with an ABJ anomaly.

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arXiv2022

The Octagon at large M

Recently, the first instance of a model of D-branes at Calabi-Yau singularities where supersymmetry is broken dynamically into stable vacua has been proposed. This construction was based on a system of $N$ regular and $M=1$ fractional branes placed at the tip of the so-called (orientifolded) Octagon singularity. In this paper we show that this model admits a large $M$ generalization, having the same low energy effective dynamics. This opens up the possibility that the effect on geometry is smooth, and amenable to describing the gauge theory all along the RG flow, including the deep IR, in terms of a weakly coupled gravity dual background. The relevance of this result in the wider context of the string landscape and the Swampland program is also discussed.

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arXiv2022

Comments on Holographic Level/Rank Dualities

We investigate a holographic realization in Type-IIB string theory of pure Chern-Simons theories, and focus on the level/rank dualities that they enjoy. The level/rank duality is established between the boundary theory, engineered utilizing D3-branes compactified on a $S^1$, and the theory on probe D7-branes located at a specific bulk location. Paying attention to the boundary conditions imposed on the Ramond-Ramond (RR) two- and six-forms, we show that holography precisely reproduces several different level/rank dual pairs. The $SL(2,\mathbf{Z})$ action relating all these theories is realized through the $SL(2,\mathbf{Z})$ electric/magnetic duality involving the RR potentials.

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arXiv2021

Fractons in effective field theories for spontaneously broken translations

We study the concomitant breaking of spatial translations and dilatations in Ginzburg-Landau-like models, where the dynamics responsible for the symmetry breaking is described by an effective Mexican hat potential for spatial gradients. We show that there are fractonic modes with either subdimensional propagation or no propagation altogether, namely, immobility. Such class of effective field theories encompasses instances of helical superfluids and meta-fluids, where fractons can be connected to an emergent symmetry under higher moment charges, leading in turns to the trivialization of some elastic coefficients. The introduction of a finite charge density alters the mobility properties of fractons and leads to a competition between the chemical potential and the superfluid velocity in determining the gap of the dilaton. The mobility of fractons can also be altered at zero density upon considering additional higher-derivative terms.

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