arXiv subjects

Vasilis Niarchos

Publications and source records attributed to Vasilis Niarchos.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

$tt^*$ equations, localization and exact chiral rings in 4d N=2 SCFTs

We compute exact 2- and 3-point functions of chiral primaries in four-dimensional N=2 superconformal field theories, including all perturbative and instanton contributions. We demonstrate that these correlation functions are nontrivial and satisfy exact differential equations with respect to the coupling constants. These equations are the analogue of the $tt^*$ equations in two dimensions. In the SU(2) N=2 SYM theory coupled to 4 hypermultiplets they take the form of a semi-infinite Toda chain. We provide the complete solution of this chain using input from supersymmetric localization. To test our results we calculate the same correlation functions independently using Feynman diagrams up to 2-loops and we find perfect agreement up to the relevant order. As a spin-off, we perform a 2-loop check of the recent proposal of arXiv:1405.7271 that the logarithm of the sphere partition function in N=2 SCFTs determines the Kähler potential of the Zamolodchikov metric on the conformal manifold. We also present the $tt^*$ equations in general SU(N) N=2 superconformal QCD theories and comment on their structure and implications.

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arXiv2014

Exact correlation functions in SU(2) N=2 superconformal QCD

We report an exact solution of 2- and 3-point functions of chiral primary fields in SU(2) N=2 super-Yang-Mills theory coupled to four hypermultiplets. It is shown that these correlation functions are non-trivial functions of the gauge coupling, obeying differential equations which take the form of the semi-infinite Toda chain. We solve these equations recursively in terms of the Zamolodchikov metric that can be determined exactly from supersymmetric localization on the four-sphere. Our results are verified independently in perturbation theory with a Feynman diagram computation up to 2-loops. This is a short version of a companion paper that contains detailed technical remarks, additional material and aspects of an extension to SU(N) gauge group.

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arXiv2014

Supersymmetric Perturbations of the M5 brane

We study long-wavelength supersymmetric deformations of brane solutions in supergravity using an extension of previous ideas within the general scheme of the blackfold approach. As a concrete example, we consider long-wavelength perturbations of the planar M2-M5 bound state solution in eleven-dimensional supergravity. We propose a specific ansatz for the first order deformation of the supergravity fields and explore how this deformation perturbs the Killing spinor equations. We find that a special part of these equations gives a projection equation on the Killing spinors that has the same structure as the $κ$-symmetry condition of the abelian M5 brane theory. Requiring a match between supergravity and gauge theory implies a specific non-linear gauge-gravity map between the bosonic fields of the abelian M5 brane theory and the gravity-induced fluid-like degrees of freedom of the blackfold equations that control the perturbative gravity solution. This observation sheds new light on the SUGRA/DBI correspondence.

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arXiv2013

Large-N limits of 2d CFTs, Quivers and AdS_3 duals

We explore the large-N limits of 2d CFTs, focusing mostly on WZW models and their cosets. The $SU(N)_k$ theory is parametrized in this limit by a 't Hooft-like coupling. We show a duality between strong coupling, where the theory is described by almost free fermions, and weak coupling where the theory is described by bosonic fields by an analysis of spectra and correlators. The AdS$_3$ dual is described, and several quantitative checks are performed. Besides the more standard states that should correspond to bulk black holes we find ground states with large degeneracy that can dominate the standard Cardy entropy at weak coupling and are expected to correspond to regular horizonless semiclassical bulk solutions.

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arXiv2013

The black M2-M5 ring intersection spins

We review the blackfold description of the fully localized orthogonal M2-M5 intersection in eleven-dimensional supergravity which constitutes the direct gravitational analogue of the Howe-Lambert-West self-dual string soliton solution. We emphasize the preliminary implications of this description for the physics of the M2-M5 system and the novel research directions that it opens. This report contains several new results. As an extension of previous work we report new results on deformations of the M2-M5-KKW intersection that describe self-dual ring intersections. Extremal non-supersymmetric configurations of this type probe novel aspects of the M2-M5 system and allow us to explore further the merits and limitations of the blackfold description of black brane intersections. In particular, we provide an example of a situation where an effective description of extremal non-supersymmetric spike configurations is shown to capture correctly features of the exact solutions beyond its strict regime of validity. This observation hints at the existence of improved convergence properties in the underlying derivative expansion scheme without the necessary presence of supersymmetry.

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arXiv2012

M2-M5 blackfold funnels

We analyze the basic M2-M5 intersection in the supergravity regime using the blackfold approach. This approach allows us to recover the 1/4-BPS self-dual string soliton solution of Howe, Lambert and West as a three-funnel solution of an effective fivebrane worldvolume theory in a new regime, the regime of a large number of M2 and M5 branes. In addition, it allows us to discuss finite temperature effects for non-extremal self-dual string soliton solutions and wormhole solutions interpolating between stacks of M5 and anti-M5 branes. The purpose of this paper is to exhibit these solutions and their basic properties.

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arXiv2012

The holographic quantum effective potential at finite temperature and density

We develop a formalism that allows the computation of the quantum effective potential of a scalar order parameter in a class of holographic theories at finite temperature and charge density. The effective potential is a valuable tool for studying the ground state of the theory, symmetry breaking patterns and phase transitions. We derive general formulae for the effective potential and apply them to determine the phase transition temperature and density in the scaling region.

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arXiv2012

Seiberg dualities and the 3d/4d connection

We discuss the degeneration limits of d=4 superconformal indices that relate Seiberg duality for the d=4 N=1 SQCD theory to Aharony and Giveon-Kutasov dualities for d=3 N=2 SQCD theories. On a mathematical level we argue that this 3d/4d connection entails a new set of non-standard degeneration identities between hyperbolic hypergeometric integrals. On a physical level we propose that such degeneration formulae provide a new route to the still illusive Seiberg dualities for d=3 N=2 SQCD theories with SU(N) gauge group.

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arXiv2012

F-theorem, duality and SUSY breaking in one-adjoint Chern-Simons-Matter theories

We extend previous work on N=2 Chern-Simons theories coupled to a single adjoint chiral superfield using localization techniques and the F-maximization principle. We provide tests of a series of proposed 3D Seiberg dualities and a new class of tests of the conjectured F-theorem. In addition, a proposal is made for a modification of the F-maximization principle that takes into account the effects of decoupling fields. Finally, we formulate and provide evidence for a new general non-perturbative constraint on spontaneous supersymmetry breaking in three dimensions based on Q-deformed S^3 partition functions. An explicit illustration based on the known analytic solution of the Chern-Simons matrix model is presented.

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arXiv2011

Josephson Junctions and AdS/CFT Networks

We propose a new holographic model of Josephson junctions (and networks thereof) based on designer multi-gravity, namely multi-(super)gravity theories on products of distinct asymptotically AdS spacetimes coupled by mixed boundary conditions. We present a simple model of a Josephson junction (JJ) that exhibits the well-known current-phase sine relation of JJs. In one-dimensional chains of holographic superconductors we find that the Cooper-pair condensates are described by a discretized Schrodinger-type equation. Such non-integrable equations, which have been studied extensively in the past in condensed matter and optics applications, are known to exhibit complex behavior that includes periodic and quasiperiodic solutions, chaotic dynamics, soliton and kink solutions. In our setup these solutions translate to holographic configurations of strongly-coupled superconductors in networks with weak site-to-site interactions that exhibit interesting patterns of modulated superconductivity. In a continuum limit our equations reduce to generalizations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We comment on the many possible extensions and applications of this new approach.

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arXiv2011

Blackfolds in Supergravity and String Theory

We develop the effective worldvolume theory for the dynamics of black branes with charges of the kind that arise in many supergravities and low-energy limits of string theory. Using this theory, we construct numerous new rotating black holes with charges and dipoles of D-branes, fundamental strings and other branes. In some instances, the black holes can be dynamically stable close enough to extremality. Some of these black holes, such as those based on the D1-D5-P system, have extremal, non-supersymmetric limits with regular horizons of finite area and a wide variety of horizon topologies and geometries.

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arXiv2011

Comments on F-maximization and R-symmetry in 3D SCFTs

We report preliminary results on the recently proposed F-maximization principle in 3D SCFTs. We compute numerically in the large-N limit the free energy on the three-sphere of an N=2 Chern-Simons-Matter theory with a single adjoint chiral superfield which is known to exhibit a pattern of accidental symmetries associated to chiral superfields that hit the unitarity bound and become free. We observe that the F-maximization principle produces a U(1) R-symmetry consistent with previously obtained bounds but inconsistent with a postulated Seiberg-like duality. Potential modifications of the principle associated to the decoupling fields do not appear to be sufficient to account for the observed violations.

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arXiv2010

Hairpin-Branes and Tachyon-Paperclips in Holographic Backgrounds

D-branes with a U-shaped geometry, like the D8 flavor branes in the Sakai-Sugimoto model of QCD, are encountered frequently in holographic backgrounds. We argue that the commonly used DBI action is inadequate as an effective field theory description of these branes, because it misses a crucial component of the low-energy dynamics: a light complex scalar mode. Following an idea of Erkal, Kutasov and Lunin we elaborate on an effective description based on the abelian tachyon-DBI action which incorporates naturally the non-local physics of the complex scalar mode. We demonstrate its power in a context where an explicit worldsheet description of the open string dynamics exists --hairpin-branes in the background of NS5-branes. Our results are relevant for the holographic description of chiral symmetry breaking and bare quark mass in QCD and open string tachyon condensation in curved backgrounds.

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arXiv2010

New Horizons for Black Holes and Branes

We initiate a systematic scan of the landscape of black holes in any spacetime dimension using the recently proposed blackfold effective worldvolume theory. We focus primarily on asymptotically flat stationary vacuum solutions, where we uncover large classes of new black holes. These include helical black strings and black rings, black odd-spheres, for which the horizon is a product of a large and a small sphere, and non-uniform black cylinders. More exotic possibilities are also outlined. The blackfold description recovers correctly the ultraspinning Myers-Perry black holes as ellipsoidal even-ball configurations where the velocity field approaches the speed of light at the boundary of the ball. Helical black ring solutions provide the first instance of asymptotically flat black holes in more than four dimensions with a single spatial U(1) isometry. They also imply infinite rational non-uniqueness in ultraspinning regimes, where they maximize the entropy among all stationary single-horizon solutions. Moreover, static blackfolds are possible with the geometry of minimal surfaces. The absence of compact embedded minimal surfaces in Euclidean space is consistent with the uniqueness theorem of static black holes.

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arXiv2009

Essentials of Blackfold Dynamics

We develop and significantly generalize the effective worldvolume theory for higher-dimensional black holes recently proposed by the authors. The theory, which regards the black hole as a black brane curved into a submanifold of a background spacetime -a blackfold-, can be formulated in terms of an effective fluid that lives on a dynamical worldvolume. Thus the blackfold equations split into intrinsic (fluid-dynamical) equations, and extrinsic (generalized geodesic embedding) equations. The intrinsic equations can be easily solved for equilibrium configurations, thus providing an efficient formalism for the approximate construction of novel stationary black holes. Furthermore, it is possible to study time evolution. In particular, the long-wavelength component of the Gregory-Laflamme instability of black branes is obtained as a sound-mode instability of the effective fluid. We also discuss action principles, connections to black hole thermodynamics, and other consequences and possible extensions of the approach. Finally, we outline how the fluid/AdS-gravity correspondence is related to this formalism.

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arXiv2009

R-charges, Chiral Rings and RG Flows in Supersymmetric Chern-Simons-Matter Theories

We discuss the non-perturbative behavior of the U(1)_R symmetry in N=2 superconformal Chern-Simons theories coupled to matter in the (anti)fundamental and adjoint representations of the gauge group, which we take to be U(N). Inequalities constraining this behavior are obtained as consequences of spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry and Seiberg duality. This information reveals a web of RG flows connecting different interacting superconformal field theories in three dimensions. We observe that a subclass of these theories admits an ADE classification. In addition, we postulate new examples of Seiberg duality in N=2 and N=3 Chern-Simons-matter theories and point out interesting parallels with familiar non-perturbative properties in N=1 (adjoint) SQCD theories in four dimensions where the exact U(1)_R symmetry can be determined using a-maximization.

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arXiv2009

Brane Dynamics and 3D Seiberg Duality on the Domain Walls of 4D N=1 SYM

We study a three-dimensional U(k) Yang-Mills Chern-Simons theory with adjoint matter preserving two supersymmetries. According to Acharya and Vafa, this theory describes the low-energy worldvolume dynamics of BPS domain walls in four-dimensional N=1 SYM theory. We demonstrate how to obtain the same theory in a brane configuration of type IIB string theory that contains threebranes and fivebranes. A combination of string and field theory techniques allows us to re-formulate some of the well-known properties of N=1 SYM domain walls in a geometric language and to postulate a Seiberg-like duality for the Acharya-Vafa theory. In the process, we obtain new information about the dynamics of branes in setups that preserve two supersymmetries. Using similar methods we also study other N=1 CS theories with extra matter in the adjoint and fundamental representations of the gauge group.

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arXiv2009

World-Volume Effective Theory for Higher-Dimensional Black Holes

We argue that the main feature behind novel properties of higher-dimensional black holes, compared to four-dimensional ones, is that their horizons can have two characteristic lengths of very different size. We develop a long-distance worldvolume effective theory that captures the black hole dynamics at scales much larger than the short scale. In this limit the black hole is regarded as a blackfold: a black brane (possibly boosted locally) whose worldvolume spans a curved submanifold of the spacetime. This approach reveals black objects with novel horizon geometries and topologies more complex than the black ring, but more generally it provides a new organizing framework for the dynamics of higher-dimensional black holes.

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