arXiv subjects

Shlomo S. Razamat

Publications and source records attributed to Shlomo S. Razamat.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Sequences of $6d$ SCFTs on generic Riemann surfaces

We consider compactifications of $6d$ minimal $(D_{N+3},D_{N+3})$ type conformal matter SCFTs on a generic Riemann surface. We derive the theories corresponding to three punctured spheres (trinions) with three maximal punctures, from which one can construct models corresponding to generic surfaces. The trinion models are simple quiver theories with $\mathcal{N}=1$ $SU(2)$ gauge nodes. One of the three puncture non abelian symmetries is emergent in the IR. The derivation of the trinions proceeds by analyzing RG flows between conformal matter SCFTs with different values of $N$ and relations between their subsequent reductions to $4d$. In particular, using the flows we first derive trinions with two maximal and one minimal punctures, and then we argue that collections of $N$ minimal punctures can be interpreted as a maximal one. This suggestion is checked by matching the properties of the $4d$ models such as `t Hooft anomalies, symmetries, and the structure of the conformal manifold to the expectations from $6d$. We then use the understanding that collections of minimal punctures might be equivalent to maximal ones to construct trinions with three maximal punctures, and then $4d$ theories corresponding to arbitrary surfaces, for $6d$ models described by two $M5$ branes probing a $\mathbb{Z}_k$ singularity. This entails the introduction of a novel type of maximal puncture. Again, the suggestion is checked by matching anomalies, symmetries and the conformal manifold to expectations from six dimensions. These constructions thus give us a detailed understanding of compactifications of two sequences of six dimensional SCFTs to four dimensions.

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arXiv2020

Weakly coupled conformal manifolds in 4d

We classify ${\cal N}=1$ gauge theories with simple gauge groups in four dimensions which possess a conformal manifold passing through weak coupling. A very rich variety of models is found once one allows for arbitrary representations under the gauge group. For each such model we detail the dimension of the conformal manifold, the conformal anomalies, and the global symmetry preserved on a generic locus of the manifold. We also identify, at least some, sub-loci of the conformal manifolds preserving more symmetry than the generic locus. Several examples of applications of the classification are discussed. In particular we consider a conformal triality such that one of the triality frames is a $USp(6)$ gauge theory with six fields in the two index traceless antisymmetric representation. We discuss an IR dual of a conformal $Spin(5)$ gauge theory with two chiral superfields in the vector representation and one in the fourteen dimensional representation. Finally, an extension of the conformal manifold of ${\cal N}=2$ class ${\cal S}$ theories by conformally gauging symmetries corresponding to maximal punctures with the addition of two adjoint chiral superfields is commented upon.

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arXiv2020

On the reduction of 4d N=1 theories on S^2

We discuss reductions of general N=1 four dimensional gauge theories on S^2. The effective two dimensional theory one obtains depends on the details of the coupling of the theory to background fields, which can be translated to a choice of R-symmetry. We argue that, for special choices of R-symmetry, the resulting two dimensional theory has a natural interpretation as an N=(0,2) gauge theory. As an application of our general observations, we discuss reductions of N=1 and N=2 dualities and argue that they imply certain two dimensional dualities.

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arXiv2020

A Nilpotency Index of Conformal Manifolds

We show that exactly marginal operators of Supersymmetric Conformal Field Theories (SCFTs) with four supercharges cannot obtain a vacuum expectation value at a generic point on the conformal manifold. Exactly marginal operators are therefore nilpotent in the chiral ring. This allows us to associate an integer to the conformal manifold, which we call the nilpotency index of the conformal manifold. We discuss several examples in diverse dimensions where we demonstrate these facts and compute the nilpotency index.

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arXiv2020

${\cal N}=1$ conformal duals of gauged $E_n$ MN models

We suggest three new ${\cal N}=1$ conformal dual pairs. First, we argue that the ${\cal N}=2$ $E_6$ Minahan-Nemeschansky (MN) theory with a $USp(4)$ subgroup of the $E_6$ global symmetry conformally gauged with an ${\cal N}=1$ vector multiplet and certain additional chiral multiplet matter resides at some cusp of the conformal manifold of an $SU(2)^5$ quiver gauge theory. Second, we argue that the ${\cal N}=2$ $E_7$ MN theory with an $SU(2)$ subgroup of the $E_7$ global symmetry conformally gauged with an ${\cal N}=1$ vector multiplet and certain additional chiral multiplet matter resides at some cusp of the conformal manifold of a conformal ${\cal N}=1$ $USp(4)$ gauge theory. Finally, we claim that the ${\cal N}=2$ $E_8$ MN theory with a $USp(4)$ subgroup of the $E_8$ global symmetry conformally gauged with an ${\cal N}=1$ vector multiplet and certain additional chiral multiplet matter resides at some cusp of the conformal manifold of an ${\cal N}=1$ $Spin(7)$ conformal gauge theory. We argue for the dualities using a variety of non-perturbative techniques including anomaly and index computations. The dualities can be viewed as ${\cal N}=1$ analogues of ${\cal N}=2$ Argyres-Seiberg/Argyres-Wittig duals of the $E_n$ MN models. We also briefly comment on an ${\cal N}=1$ version of the Schur limit of the superconformal index.

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arXiv2020

Rank $Q$ E-string on a torus with flux

We discuss compactifications of rank $Q$ E-string theory on a torus with fluxes for abelian subgroups of the $E_8$ global symmetry of the $6d$ SCFT. We argue that the theories corresponding to such tori are built from a simple model we denote as $E[USp(2Q)]$. This model has a variety of non trivial properties. In particular the global symmetry is $USp(2Q)\times USp(2Q)\times U(1)^2$ with one of the two $USp(2Q)$ symmetries emerging in the IR as an enhancement of an $SU(2)^Q$ symmetry of the UV Lagrangian. The $E[USp(2Q)]$ model after dimensional reduction to $3d$ and a subsequent Coulomb branch flow is closely related to the familiar $3d$ $T[SU(Q)]$ theory, the model residing on an S-duality domain wall of $4d$ $\mathcal{N}=4$ $SU(Q)$ SYM. Gluing the $E[USp(2Q)]$ models by gauging the $USp(2Q)$ symmetries with proper admixtures of chiral superfields gives rise to systematic constructions of many examples of $4d$ theories with emergent IR symmetries. We support our claims by various checks involving computations of anomalies and supersymmetric partition functions. Many of the needed identities satisfied by the supersymmetric indices follow directly from recent mathematical results obtained by E. Rains.

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arXiv2019

From 6d flows to 4d flows

SCFTs in six dimensions are interrelated by networks of RG flows. Compactifying such models on a Riemann surface with flux for the $6d$ global symmetry, one can obtain a wide variety of theories in four dimensions. These four dimensional models are also related by a network of RG flows. In this paper we study some examples of four dimensional flows relating theories that can be obtained from six dimensions starting with different SCFTs connected by $6d$ RG flows. We compile a dictionary between different orders of such flows, $6d\to 6d\to 4d$ and $6d\to 4d\to 4d$, in the particular case when the six dimensional models are the ones residing on M5 branes probing different $A$-type singularities. The flows we study are triggered by vacuum expectation values (vevs) to certain operators charged under the six dimensional symmetry. We find that for generic choices of parameters the different orders of flows, $6d\to 6d\to 4d$ and $6d\to 4d\to 4d$, involve compactifications on different Riemann surfaces with the difference being in the number of punctures the surface has.

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arXiv2019

Star shaped quivers with flux

We study the compactification of the 6d ${\cal N}=(2,0)$ SCFT on the product of a Riemann surface with flux and a circle. On the one hand, this can be understood by first reducing on the Riemann surface, giving rise to 4d ${\cal N}=1$ and ${\cal N}=2$ class ${\cal S}$ theories, which we then reduce on $S^1$ to get 3d ${\cal N}=2$ and ${\cal N}=4$ class ${\cal S}$ theories. On the other hand, we may first compactify on $S^1$ to get the 5d ${\cal N}=2$ Yang-Mills theory. By studying its reduction on a Riemann surface, we obtain a mirror dual description of 3d class ${\cal S}$ theories, generalizing the star-shaped quiver theories of Benini, Tachikawa, and Xie. We comment on some global properties of the gauge group in these reductions, and test the dualities by computing various supersymmetric partition functions.

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arXiv2018

From 3d duality to 2d duality

In this paper we discuss $3d$ ${\cal N}=2$ supersymmetric gauge theories and their IR dualities when they are compactified on a circle of radius $r$, and when we take the $2d$ limit in which $r\to 0$. The $2d$ limit depends on how the mass parameters are scaled as $r\to 0$, and often vacua become infinitely distant in the $2d$ limit, leading to a direct sum of different $2d$ theories. For generic mass parameters, when we take the same limit on both sides of a duality, we obtain $2d$ dualities (between gauge theories and/or Landau-Ginzburg theories) that pass all the usual tests. However, when there are non-compact branches the discussion is subtle because the metric on the moduli space, which is not controlled by supersymmetry, plays an important role in the low-energy dynamics after compactification. Generally speaking, for IR dualities of gauge theories, we conjecture that dualities involving non-compact Higgs branches survive. On the other hand when there is a non-compact Coulomb branch on at least one side of the duality, the duality fails already when the $3d$ theories are compactified on a circle. Using the valid reductions we reproduce many known $2d$ IR dualities, giving further evidence for their validity, and we also find new $2d$ dualities.

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arXiv2018

Chiral 3d SU(3) SQCD and N=2 mirror duality

Recently a very interesting three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric theory with $SU(3)$ global symmetry was discussed by several authors. We denote this model by $T_x$. This was conjectured to have two dual descriptions, one with explicit supersymmetry and emergent flavor symmetry and the other with explicit flavor symmetry and emergent supersymmetry. We discuss a third description of the model which has both flavor symmetry and supersymmetry manifest. We then investigate models which can be constructed by using $T_x$ as a building block gauging the global symmetry and paying special attention to the global structure of the gauge group. We conjecture several cases of $\mathcal{N}=2$ mirror dualities involving such constructions with the dual being either a simple $\mathcal{N}=2$ Wess-Zumino model or a discrete gauging thereof.

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arXiv2018

Curious patterns of IR symmetry enhancement

We study several cases of IR enhancements of global symmetry in four dimensions. In particular, we consider a sequence of $Spin(n+4)$ supersymmetric gauge theories ($8\geq n\geq 1$) with $n$ vectors and spinor matter with $32$ components. We show that the subgroup of the flavor symmetry of these theories rotating the matter in the spinor representations in the UV, when proper gauge singlet fields are added, enhances to the commutant of $SU(2)$ in $E_{9-n}$. We discuss several other interesting cases of enhanced symmetries and the interplay between symmetry enhancement and self-duality. We also make some observations about possible interconnections between chiral ring relations and symmetry enhancement. Finally, we conjecture relations of the discussed models to compactifications of certain conformal matter models in six dimensions on tori. The conjecture is based on deriving a relation between five dimensional models with $Spin$ gauge groups and conformal theories in six dimensions. As a by product of our considerations we discover a new instance of a simple self-duality of a theory with an $SU(6)$ gauge group.

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arXiv2018

Flavored surface defects in 4d N=1 SCFTs

We discuss supersymmetric surface defects in compactifications of six dimensional minimal conformal matter of type SU(3) and SO(8) to four dimensions. The relevant field theories in four dimensions are N=1 quiver gauge theories with SU(3) and SU(4) gauge groups respectively. The defects are engineered by giving space-time dependent vacuum expectation values to baryonic operators. We find evidence that in the case of SU(3) minimal conformal matter the defects carry SU(2) flavor symmetry which is not a symmetry of the four dimensional model. The simplest case of a model in this class is SU(3) SQCD with nine flavors and thus the results suggest that this admits natural surface defects with SU(2) flavor symmetry. We analyze the defects using the superconformal index and derive analytic difference operators introducing the defects into the index computation. The duality properties of the four dimensional theories imply that the index of the models is a kernel function for such difference operators. In turn, checking the kernel property constitutes an independent check of the dualities and the dictionary between six dimensional compactifications and four dimensional models.

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arXiv2018

Compactification of 6d minimal SCFTs on Riemann surfaces

We study compactifications on Riemann surfaces with punctures of N=(1,0) 6d SCFTs with a one dimensional tensor branch and no continuous global symmetries. The effective description of such models on the tensor branch is in terms of pure gauge theories with decoupled tensor. For generic Riemann surfaces, the resulting theories in four dimensions are expected to have N=1 supersymmetry. We compute the anomalies expected from the resulting 4d theories by integrating the anomaly polynomial of the 6d theory on the Riemann surface. For the cases with 6d gauge models with gauge groups SU(3) and SO(8) we further propose a field theory construction for the resulting 4d theories. For the 6d SU(3) theory, we argue that the theories in four dimensions are quivers with SU(3) gauge nodes and free chiral fields. The theories one obtains from the 6d SO(8) gauge theory are quivers with SU(4) gauge groups and chiral fields with R charge a half. In the last case the theories constructed for general Riemann surfaces involve gauging of symmetries appearing at strong coupling. The conformal manifolds of the models are constructed from gauge couplings and baryonic superpotentials. We support our conjectures by matching the dimensions of the conformal manifolds with complex structure moduli of the Riemann surfaces, matching anomalies between six and four dimensions, and checking the dualities related to different pair of pants decompositions of the surfaces. As a simple application of the results we conjecture that SU(3) gauge theory with nine flavors in four dimensions has a duality group acting on the seven dimensional conformal manifold which is the mapping class group of sphere with ten marked points.

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arXiv2018

Compactifications of ADE conformal matter on a torus

In this paper we study compactifications of ADE type conformal matter, N M5 branes probing ADE singularity, on torus with flux for global symmetry. We systematically construct the four dimensional theories by first going to five dimensions and studying interfaces. We claim that certain interfaces can be associated with turning on flux in six dimensions. The interface models when compactified on a circle comprise building blocks for constructing four dimensional models associated to flux compactifications of six dimensional theories on a torus. The theories in four dimensions turn out to be quiver gauge theories and the construction implies many interesting cases of IR symmetry enhancements and dualities of such theories.

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arXiv2018

4d N=1 from 6d N=(1,0) on a torus with fluxes

Compactifying N=(1,0) theories on a torus, with additional fluxes for global symmetries, we obtain N=1 supersymmetric theories in four dimensions. It is shown that for many choices of flux these models are toric quiver gauge theories with singlet fields. In particular we compare the anomalies deduced from the description of the six-dimensional theory and the anomalies of the quiver gauge theories. We also give predictions for anomalies of four-dimensional theories corresponding to general compactifications of M5-branes probing C_2/Z_k singularities.

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arXiv2018

Surface defects in E-string compactifications and the van Diejen model

We study the supersymmetric index of four dimensional theories obtained by compactifications of the six dimensional E string theory on a Riemann surface. In particular we derive the difference operator introducing certain class of surface defects to the index computation. The difference operator turns out to be, up to a constant shift, an analytic difference operator discussed by van Diejen.

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arXiv2018

A freely generated ring for N=1 models in class S_k

We study 4d N=1 supersymmetric theories of class S_k, obtained from flux compactifications on a Riemann surface of 6d (1,0) conformal theories describing the low energy physics on a stack of M5 branes probing a Z_k singularity. We conjecture that the protected spectrum of class S_k theories contains a freely generated ring, generalizing the Coulomb branch of the N=2 theories. We derive this by examining a limit of the supersymmetric index of 4d N=1 class S_k theories. The limit generalizes the Coulomb limit of N=2 theories, which coincides with the case of k=1 for a particular choice of flux. We conjecture a general simple formula for the index in the aforementioned limit.

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arXiv2018

D-type Conformal Matter and SU/USp Quivers

We discuss the four dimensional models obtained by compactifying a single M5 brane probing $D_{N}$ singularity (minimal D-type $(1,0)$ conformal matter in six dimensions) on a torus with flux for abelian subgroups of the $SO(4N)$ flavor symmetry. We derive the resulting quiver field theories in four dimensions by first compactifying on a circle and relating the flux to duality domain walls in five dimensions. This leads to novel ${\cal N}=1$ dualities in 4 dimensions which arise from distinct five dimensional realizations of the circle compactifications of the D-type conformal matter.

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