arXiv subjects

Shlomo S. Razamat

Publications and source records attributed to Shlomo S. Razamat.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On non-relativistic integrable models and 4d SCFTs

We elaborate on the relation between the generalized Schur index of $N=2$ SCFTs in four dimensions and the non-relativistic limit of the elliptic Ruijsenaars-Schneider model. In particular we discuss explicitly how to express generalized Schur indices of theories of class $S$ in terms of elliptic Jack functions. For example, in the $A_1$ case the indices are given naturally in terms of eigenfunctions of the Lamé equation. We use the expression in terms of eigenfunctions to further check the recent observation that the generalized Schur indices of different theories in the Deligne-Cvitanović series can be mapped onto each other. This mapping implies non trivial identities on unrefined sums of eigenfunctions of non-relativistic elliptic Calogero-Moser models associated to different root systems. We claim then that the non-relativistic limits of various integrable models give rise naturally to generalized Schur-like limits of classes of $N=1$ SCFTs. As an example we discuss the relation of the Inozemtsev model, the non relativistic limit of the van Diejen model, and compactifications of the rank $Q$ E-string theory. We argue that in general the ``Schur index'' of $N=1$ $4d$ SCFTs can be understood as being related to the free fermionic limit of a non-relativistic integrable model.

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arXiv2026

Global symmetries: locality, unitarity, and regularity

We study the apparent tension between locality and unitarity for symmetries in quantum field theory. This emerges in the context of categorical symmetries where symmetry operators are generically non-invertible. We argue that locality imposes particular regularities in the action of symmetries on the Hilbert space. This allows us to introduce an observable that can measure the properties of the non-locality for symmetry operators. We study it for a class of examples and demonstrate that this observable can encode data associated to the fusion algebra of symmetries.

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arXiv2025

Generalized Schur partition functions and RG flows

We revisit a double-scaled limit of the superconformal index of ${\cal N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) which generalizes the Schur index. The resulting partition function, $\hat {\cal Z}(q,α)$, has a standard $q$-expansion with coefficients depending on a continuous parameter $α$. The Schur index is a special case with $α=1$. Through explicit computations we argue that this partition function is an invariant of certain mass deformations and vacuum expectation value (vev) deformations of the SCFT. In particular, two SCFTs residing in different corners of the same Coulomb branch, satisfying certain restrictive conditions, have the same partition function with a non-trivial map of the parameters, $\hat {\cal Z}_1(q,α_1)=\hat {\cal Z}_2(q,α_2(α_1))$. For example, we show that the Schur index of all the SCFTs in the Deligne-Cvitanović series is given by special values of $α$ of the partition function of the SU(2) $N_f=4$ ${\cal N}=2$ SQCD.

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arXiv2025

Generalized lattices, conformal manifolds, and symmetries

We consider supersymmetric conformal quantum field theories (SCFTs) with degrees of freedom labeled by lattice data. We will assume that in terms of the corresponding lattice the interactions are nearest neighbor and exactly marginal. For example, one can construct such theories by coupling many copies of a single SCFT with exactly marginal deformations. In particular, we discuss the interplay between conformal manifolds of such theories and their global, on-site and lattice, symmetries. We show that one can interpret certain current non-conservation equations for symmetries broken by the interactions as conservation equations including the lattice directions. Moreover, we discuss a class of exactly marginal deformations which are labeled by lattice holonomies that are topological on the lattice. We discuss concrete examples of such constructions and comment on their relevance to compactifications of SCFTs.

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arXiv2024

On Ruijsenaars-Schneider spectrum from superconformal indices and ramified instantons

We discuss two physics-inspired approaches to derivation of the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of $A_N$ Ruijsenaars-Schneider model. First approach which was recently proposed by the authors relies on the computations of superconformal indices of class $\mathcal{S}$ $4d$ ${\mathcal N}=2$ theories with the insertion of surface defects. Second approach uses computations of Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit of $5d$ ${\mathcal N} = 1^*$ instanton partition functions in the presence of co-dimension two defect. We compare results of these two approaches for the low-lying levels of Ruijsenaars-Schneider model. We also discuss different previously proposed exact quantization conditions for the Coulomb branch parameters of the instanton partition functions and their interpretations in terms of index calculations.

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arXiv2024

A Panorama Of Physical Mathematics c. 2022

What follows is a broad-brush overview of the recent synergistic interactions between mathematics and theoretical physics of quantum field theory and string theory. The discussion is forward-looking, suggesting potentially useful and fruitful directions and problems, some old, some new, for further development of the subject. This paper is a much extended version of the Snowmass whitepaper on physical mathematics [1].

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arXiv2023

Ground state wavefunctions of elliptic relativistic integrable Hamiltonians

We derive ground state eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of various relativistic elliptic integrable models. The models we discuss appear in computations of superconformal indices of four-dimensional theories obtained by compactifying six-dimensional models on Riemann surfaces. These include, among others, the Ruijsenaars-Schneider model and the van Diejen model. The derivation of the eigenfunctions builds on physical inputs, such as conjectured Lagrangian across dimensions IR dualities and assumptions about the behavior of the indices in the limit of compactifications on surfaces with large genus/number of punctures/flux.

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arXiv2023

Star shaped quivers in four dimensions

We discuss a 4d Lagrangian descriptions, across dimensions IR dual, of compactifications of the 6d $(\text{D},\text{D})$ minimal conformal matter theory on a sphere with arbitrary number of punctures and a particular value of flux as a gauge theory with a simple gauge group. The Lagrangian has the form of a ``star shaped quiver'' with the rank of the central node depending on the 6d theory and the number and type of punctures. Using this Lagrangian one can construct across dimensions duals for arbitrary compactifications (any, genus, any number and type of $\text{USp}$ punctures, and any flux) of the $(\text{D},\text{D})$ minimal conformal matter gauging only symmetries which are manifest in the UV.

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arXiv2022

On a categorical structure of the set of all CFTs

We identify a categorical structure of the set of all CFTs. In particular, we show that the set of all CFTs has a natural monoidal strict $2$-category structure with the $1$-morphisms being sequences of deformations and $2$-morphisms determined by $0$-form symmetries of the CFTs.

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arXiv2022

Aspects of 4d supersymmetric dynamics and geometry

In this set of five lectures we present a basic toolbox to discuss the dynamics of four dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories. In particular we overview the program of geometrically engineering the four dimensional supersymmetric models as compactifications of six dimensional SCFTs. We discuss how strong coupling phenomena in four dimensions, such as duality and emergence of symmetry, can be naturally imbedded in the geometric constructions. The lectures mostly review results which previously appeared in the literature but also contain some unpublished derivations.

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arXiv2022

Snowmass Whitepaper: Physical Mathematics 2021

This is a Snowmass whitepaper on physical mathematics. It briefly summarizes and highlights some of the key questions drawn from a much more extensive essay, by the same authors, entitled, "A Panorama Of Physical Mathematics 2021."

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arXiv2022

N=1 conformal dualities

We consider on one hand the possibility that a supersymmetric ${\cal N}=1$ conformal gauge theory has a strongly coupled locus on the conformal manifold at which a different, dual, conformal gauge theory becomes a good weakly coupled description. On the other hand we discuss the possibility that strongly coupled theories, e.g. SCFTs in class ${\cal S}$, having exactly marginal ${\cal N}=1$ deformations admit a weakly coupled gauge theory description on some locus of the conformal manifold. We present a simple algorithm to search for such dualities and discuss several concrete examples. In particular we find conformal duals for ${\cal N}=1$ SQCD models with $G_2$ gauge group and a model with $SU(4)$ gauge group in terms of simple quiver gauge theories. We also find conformal weakly coupled quiver theory duals for a variety of class ${\cal S}$ theories: $T_4$, $R_{0,4}$, $R_{2,5}$, and rank $2n$ Minahan-Nemeschansky $E_6$ theories. Finally we derive conformal Lagrangians for four dimensional theories obtained by compactifying the E-string on genus $g>1$ surface with zero flux. The pairs of dual Lagrangians at the weakly coupled loci have different symmetries which are broken on a general point of the conformal manifold. We match the dimensions of the conformal manifolds, symmetries on the generic locus of the conformal manifold, anomalies, and supersymmetric indices. The simplicity of the procedure suggests that such dualities are ubiquitous.

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arXiv2021

Schur Indices of Class $\mathcal{S}$ and Quasimodular Forms

We investigate the unflavoured Schur indices of class $\mathcal S$ theories of modest rank, and in the case of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory with special unitary gauge group of somewhat more general rank, with an eye towards their modular properties. We find closed form expressions for many of these theories in terms of quasimodular forms of level one or two, with the curious feature that in general they are sums of quasimodular forms of different weights. For type $\mathfrak{a}_1$ theories, the index can be fixed by taking a simple Ansatz for the family of quasimodular forms appearing in the expansion of this type and demanding that the result be sufficiently regular as $q\to0$. For higher rank cases, an equally simple construction is lacking, but we nevertheless find that these indices can be expressed in terms of mixed-weight quasimodular forms.

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arXiv2021

Minimal $(D,D)$ conformal matter and generalizations of the van Diejen model

We consider supersymmetric surface defects in compactifications of the $6d$ minimal $(D_{N+3},D_{N+3})$ conformal matter theories on a punctured Riemann surface. For the case of $N=1$ such defects are introduced into the supersymmetric index computations by an action of the $BC_1\,(\sim A_1\sim C_1)$ van Diejen model. We (re)derive this fact using three different field theoretic descriptions of the four dimensional models. The three field theoretic descriptions are naturally associated with algebras $A_{N=1}$, $C_{N=1}$, and $(A_1)^{N=1}$. The indices of these $4d$ theories give rise to three different Kernel functions for the $BC_1$ van Diejen model. We then consider the generalizations with $N>1$. The operators introducing defects into the index computations are certain $A_{N}$, $C_N$, and $(A_1)^{N}$ generalizations of the van Diejen model. The three different generalizations are directly related to three different effective gauge theory descriptions one can obtain by compactifying the minimal $(D_{N+3},D_{N+3})$ conformal matter theories on a circle to five dimensions. We explicitly compute the operators for the $A_N$ case, and derive various properties these operators have to satisfy as a consequence of $4d$ dualities following from the geometric setup. In some cases we are able to verify these properties which in turn serve as checks of said dualities. As a by-product of our constructions we also discuss a simple Lagrangian description of a theory corresponding to compactification on a sphere with three maximal punctures of the minimal $(D_5,D_5)$ conformal matter and as consequence give explicit Lagrangian constructions of compactifications of this 6d SCFT on arbitrary Riemann surfaces.

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arXiv2021

Rank $Q$ E-String on Spheres with Flux

We consider compactifications of rank $Q$ E-string theory on a genus zero surface with no punctures but with flux for various subgroups of the $\text{E}_8\times \text{SU}(2)$ global symmetry group of the six dimensional theory. We first construct a simple Wess-Zumino model in four dimensions corresponding to the compactification on a sphere with one puncture and a particular value of flux, the cap model. Using this theory and theories corresponding to two punctured spheres with flux, one can obtain a large number of models corresponding to spheres with a variety of fluxes. These models exhibit interesting IR enhancements of global symmetry as well as duality properties. As an example we will show that constructing sphere models associated to specific fluxes related by an action of the Weyl group of $\text{E}_8$ leads to the S-confinement duality of the $\text{USp}(2Q)$ gauge theory with six fundamentals and a traceless antisymmetric field. Finally, we show that the theories we discuss possess an $\text{SU}(2)_{\text{ISO}}$ symmetry in four dimensions that can be naturally identified with the isometry of the two-sphere. We give evidence in favor of this identification by computing the `t Hooft anomalies of the $\text{SU}(2)_{\text{ISO}}$ in 4d and comparing them with the predicted anomalies from 6d.

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arXiv2021

Comments on Quivers and Fractons

We discuss certain structural analogies between supersymmetric quiver gauge theories and lattice models leading to fracton phases of matter. In particular, classes of quiver models can be viewed as lattice models having sub-system symmetries, dimensions of moduli spaces growing linearly with the size of the lattice, and having excitations with limited mobility (with "excitations" and "mobility" properly defined).

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arXiv2021

Gapped Chiral Fermions

In principle, there is no obstacle to gapping fermions preserving any global symmetry that does not suffer a 't Hooft anomaly. In practice, preserving a symmetry that is realised on fermions in a chiral manner necessitates some dynamics beyond simple quadratic mass terms. We show how this can be achieved using familiar results about supersymmetric gauge theories and, in particular, the phenomenon of confinement without chiral symmetry breaking. We present simple models that gap fermions while preserving a symmetry group under which they transform in chiral representations. For example, we show how to gap a collection of 4d fermions that carry the quantum numbers of one generation of the Standard Model, but without breaking electroweak symmetry. We further show how to gap fermions in groups of 16 while preserving certain discrete symmetries that exhibit a mod 16 anomaly.

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arXiv2020

SQCD and pairs of pants

We show that the $4d$ ${\cal N}=1$ $SU(3)$ $N_f=6$ SQCD is the model obtained when compactifying the rank one E-string theory on a three punctured sphere (a trinion) with a particular value of flux. The $SU(6)\times SU(6)\times U(1)$ global symmetry of the theory, when decomposed into the $SU(2)^3\times U(1)^3\times SU(6)$ subgroup, corresponds to the three $SU(2)$ symmetries associated to the three punctures and the $U(1)^3 \times SU(6)$ subgroup of the $E_8$ symmetry of the E-string theory. All the puncture symmetries are manifest in the UV and thus we can construct ordinary Lagrangians flowing in the IR to any compactification of the E-string theory. We generalize this claim and argue that the ${\cal N}=1$ $SU(N+2)$ SQCD in the middle of the conformal window, $N_f=2N+4$, is the theory obtained by compactifying the $6d$ minimal $(D_{N+3},D_{N+3})$ conformal matter SCFT on a sphere with two maximal $SU(N+1)$ punctures, one minimal $SU(2)$ puncture, and with a particular value of flux. The $SU(2N+4)\times SU(2N+4)\times U(1)$ symmetry of the UV Lagrangian decomposes into $SU(N+1)^2\times SU(2)$ puncture symmetries and the $U(1)^3\times SU(2N+4)$ subgroup of the $SO(12+4N)$ symmetry group of the $6d$ SCFT. The models constructed from the trinions exhibit a variety of interesting strong coupling effects. For example, one of the dualities arising geometrically from different pair-of-pants decompositions of a four punctured sphere is an $SU(N+2)$ generalization of the Intriligator-Pouliot duality of $SU(2)$ SQCD with $N_f=4$, which is a degenerate, $N=0$, instance of our discussion.

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