S-duality in N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories

A solution to the infinite coupling problem for N = 2 conformal supersymmetric gauge theories in four dimensions is presented. The infinitely-coupled theories are argued to be interacting superconformal field theories (SCFTs) with weakly gauged flavor groups. Consistency checks of this proposal are found by examining some low-rank examples. As part of these checks, we show how to compute new exact quantities in these SCFTs: the central charges of their flavor current algebras. Also, the isolated rank 1 E6 and E7 SCFTs are found as limits of Lagrangian field theories.

[1]  Edwin Barnes,et al.  The Exact Superconformal R-symmetry Minimizes $\tau_{RR}$ , 2005, hep-th/0507137.

[2]  M. Crescimanno,et al.  Classification of N=2 Superconformal Field Theories with Two-Dimensional Coulomb Branches, II , 2005, hep-th/0510226.

[3]  K. Intriligator,et al.  The exact superconformal R-symmetry maximizes a , 2003, hep-th/0304128.

[4]  A. Buchel,et al.  New S-dualities in N=2 supersymmetric SU(2) x SU(2) gauge theory , 1999, hep-th/9910125.

[5]  S. Terashima,et al.  N = 2 superconformal field theory with ADE global symmetry on a D3-brane probe , 1999, hep-th/9903215.

[6]  D. Lowe,et al.  Supersymmetric gauge theories from branes and orientifold six planes , 1998, hep-th/9805158.

[7]  Shiraz Minwalla Restrictions imposed by superconformal invariance on quantum field theories , 1997, hep-th/9712074.

[8]  P. Argyres S-Duality and Global Symmetries in N=2 Supersymmetric Field Theory , 1997, hep-th/9706095.

[9]  E. Witten SOLUTIONS OF FOUR-DIMENSIONAL FIELD THEORIES VIA M-THEORY , 1997, hep-th/9703166.

[10]  M. Douglas,et al.  Probing F-theory with multiple branes , 1996, hep-th/9612062.

[11]  S. Theisen,et al.  Field theory questions for string theory answers , 1996, hep-th/9611222.

[12]  J. Minahan,et al.  Superconformal fixed points with En global symmetry , 1996, hep-th/9610076.

[13]  N. Seiberg Non-trivial fixed points of the renormalization group in six dimensions , 1996, hep-th/9609161.

[14]  N. Seiberg Five dimensional SUSY field theories, non-trivial fixed points and string dynamics , 1996, hep-th/9608111.

[15]  O. Ganor Toroidal compactification of heterotic 6D non-critical strings down to four dimensions , 1996, hep-th/9608109.

[16]  J. Minahan,et al.  An N = 2 superconformal fixed point with E6 global symmetry , 1996, hep-th/9608047.

[17]  E. Witten,et al.  Comments on string dynamics in six dimensions , 1996, hep-th/9603003.

[18]  A. Hanany,et al.  Small E8 instantons and tensionless non-critical strings , 1996, hep-th/9602120.

[19]  A. Shapere,et al.  The vacuum structure of N = 2 super-QCD with classical gauge groups , 1995, hep-th/9509175.

[20]  A. Shapere,et al.  Coulomb Phase of N=2 Supersymmetric QCD. , 1995, Physical review letters.

[21]  E. Witten,et al.  Monopoles, duality and chiral symmetry breaking in N=2 supersymmetric QCD , 1994, hep-th/9408099.

[22]  N. Warner,et al.  Polytopes and solitons in integrable, N = 2 supersymmetric Landau-Ginzburg theories , 1991 .

[23]  H. Osborn Topological Charges for N=4 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories and Monopoles of Spin 1 , 1979 .

[24]  E. Witten,et al.  Supersymmetry algebras that include topological charges , 1978 .

[25]  D. Olive,et al.  Magnetic monopoles as gauge particles , 1977 .

[26]  J. Nuyts,et al.  Gauge theories and magnetic charge , 1977 .

[27]  P. Argyres S-duality and global symmetries , 1998 .

[28]  J. Patera,et al.  Tables of Dimensions, Indices, and Branching Rules for Representations of Simple Lie Algebras , 1981 .

[29]  Gerard 't Hooft,et al.  Naturalness, chiral symmetry, and spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking , 1979 .