We present a trace formula for a Witten type Index for superconformal field theories in d=3,5 and 6 dimensions, generalizing a similar recent construction in d=4. We perform a detailed study of the decomposition of long representations into sums of short representations at the unitarity bound to demonstrate that our trace formula yields the most general index (i.e. quantity that is guaranteed to be protected by superconformal symmetry alone) for the corresponding superalgebras. Using the dual gravitational description, we compute our index for the theory on the world volume of N M2 and M5 branes in the large N limit. We also compute our index for recently constructed Chern Simons theories in three dimensions in the large N limit, and find that, in certain cases, this index undergoes a large N phase transition as a function of chemical potentials.
We obtain generating functions associated to the abelian superconformal indices for 6d $(1,0)$ tensor and hypermultiplets on $S^1\times (S^5/Z_p)$. We extract the superconformal indices and their high and low temperature behaviors. We consider round and generically squashed $S^5$ in turn. We show that the unsquashed limit of the superconformal indices is smooth. We examine S-duality in the large $p$ limit that acts by exchanging the Hopf circle with the temporal circle.
We compute the 3d N = 2 superconformal indices for 3d/1d coupled systems, which arise as the worldvolume theories of intersecting surface defects engineered by Higgsing 5d N = 1 gauge theories. We generalize some known 3d dualities, including non-Abelian 3d mirror symmetry and 3d/3d correspondence, to some of the simple 3d/1d coupled systems. Finally we propose a q-Virasoro construction for the superconformal indices.
Recently, Kim and Imamura and Yokoyama derived an exact formula for superconformal indices in three-dimensional field theories. Using their results, we prove analytically the equality of superconformal indices in some U(1)-gauge group theories related by the mirror symmetry. The proofs are based on the well known identities of the theory of $q$-special functions. We also suggest the general index formula taking into account the $U(1)_J$ global symmetry present for abelian theories.
We calculate the superconformal indices of recently discovered three-dimensional N=4,5 Chern-Simons-matter theories and compare them with the corresponding indices of supergravity on AdS4 times orbifolds of S7. We find perfect agreement in the large N and large k limit, provided that the twisted sector contributions at the fixed loci of the orbifolds are properly taken into account. We also discuss the index for the so-called "dual ABJM" proposal.
We derive the superconformal index of the world-volume theory on M2-branes probing the cone over an arbitrary Sasaki-Einstein seven-manifold. The index is expressed in terms of the cohomology groups of the cone. We match our supergravity results with known results from gauge theory. Along the way we derive the spectrum of short Kaluza-Klein multiplets on generic Sasaki-Einstein seven-manifolds.
Aharony, Bergman, Jafferis and Maldacena have recently proposed a dual gravitational description for a family of superconformal Chern Simons theories in three spacetime dimensions. In this note we perform the one loop computation that determines the field theory superconformal index of this theory and compare with the index computed over the Fock space of dual supersymmetric gravitons. In the appropriate limit (large $N$ and large $k$) we find a perfect match.
We construct a modified double elliptic gamma function which is well defined when one of the base parameters lies on the unit circle. A model consisting of 6d hypermultiplets coupled to a gauge field theory living on a 4d defect is proposed whose superconformal index uses the double elliptic gamma function and obeys W(E7)-group symmetry.
We test several expected isomorphisms between the U(N)xU(N) ABJM theory and (SU(N)xSU(N))/Z_N theory including the BLG theory by comparing their superconformal indices. From moduli space analysis, it is expected that this equivalence can hold if and only if the rank N and Chern-Simons level k are coprime. We also calculate the index of the ABJ theory and investigate whether some theories with identical moduli spaces are isomorphic or not.
We study the superconformal indices of 4d theories coming from 6d N=(2,0) theory of type Γon a Riemann surface, with the action of the outer-automorphism σin the trace. We find that the indices are given by the partition function of a deformed 2d Yang-Mills on the Riemann surface with gauge group G which is S-dual to the subgroup of Γfixed by σ. In the 2-parameter deformed version, we find that it is governed not by Macdonald polynomials of type G, but by Macdonald polynomials associated to twisted affine root systems.
We propose a general formula for the perturbative large N superconformal index of 5d quiver fixed point theories that have an AdS(6)xS(4)/Z(n) supergravity dual. This index is obtained from the parent theory by projecting to orbifold-invariant states and adding the twisted sector contributions. Our result agrees with expectations from the dual supergravity description. We test our formula against the direct computation of the index for Z(2) and Z(3) and find complete agreement.
We study superconformal indices of 4d N=2 class S theories with certain irregular punctures called type $I_{k, N}$. This class of theories include generalized Argyres-Douglas theories of type $(A_{k-1}, A_{N-1})$ and more. We conjecture the superconformal indices in certain simplified limits based on the TQFT structure of the class S theories by writing an expression for the wave function corresponding to the puncture $I_{k, N}$. We write the Schur limit of the wave function when $k$ and $N$ are coprime. When $k=2$, we also conjecture a closed-form expression for the Hall-Littlewood index and …
An exact formula for partition functions in 3d field theories was recently suggested by Jafferis, and Hama, Hosomichi, and Lee. These functions are expressed in terms of specific $q$-hypergeometric integrals whose key building block is the double sine function (or the hyperbolic gamma function). Elliptic hypergeometric integrals, discovered by the second author, define 4d superconformal indices. Using their reduction to the hyperbolic level, we describe a general scheme of reducing 4d superconformal indices to 3d partition functions which imply an efficient way of getting 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ su…
The superconformal index of the quiver gauge theory dual to type IIB string theory on the product of an arbitrary smooth Sasaki-Einstein manifold with five-dimensional AdS space is calculated both from the gauge theory and gravity viewpoints. We find complete agreement. Along the way, we find that the index on the gravity side can be expressed in terms of the Kohn-Rossi cohomology of the Sasaki-Einstein manifold and that the index of a quiver gauge theory equals the Euler characteristic of the cyclic homology of the Ginzburg dg algebra associated to the quiver.
We generalize, in a manifestly Weyl-invariant way, our previous expressions for irregular singularity wave functions in two-dimensional SU(2) q-deformed Yang-Mills theory to SU(N). As an application, we give closed-form expressions for the Schur indices of all (A_{N-1}, A_{N(n-1)-1}) Argyres-Douglas (AD) superconformal field theories (SCFTs), thus completing the computation of these quantities for the (A_N, A_M) SCFTs. With minimal effort, our wave functions also give new Schur indices of various infinite sets of "Type IV" AD theories. We explore the discrete symmetries of these indices and al…
Following a recent work of Dolan and Osborn, we consider superconformal indices of four dimensional ${\mathcal N}=1$ supersymmetric field theories related by an electric-magnetic duality with the SP(2N) gauge group and fixed rank flavour groups. For the SP(2) (or SU(2)) case with 8 flavours, the electric theory has index described by an elliptic analogue of the Gauss hypergeometric function constructed earlier by the first author. Using the $E_7$-root system Weyl group transformations for this function, we build a number of dual magnetic theories. One of them was originally discovered by Seibe…
Superconformal indices (SCIs) of 4d ${\mathcal N}=4$ SYM theories with simple gauge groups are described in terms of elliptic hypergeometric integrals. For $F_4, E_6, E_7, E_8$ gauge groups this yields first examples of integrals of such type. S-duality transformation for G_2 and F_4 SCIs is equivalent to a change of integration variables. Equality of SCIs for SP(2N) and SO(2N+1) group theories is proved in several important special cases. Reduction of SCIs to partition functions of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SYM theories with one matter field in the adjoint representation is investigated, correspondi…
We conjecture a closed-form expression for the Schur limit of the superconformal index of two infinite series of Argyres-Douglas (AD) superconformal field theories (SCFTs): the (A_1,A_{2n-3}) and the (A_1,D_{2n}) theories. While these SCFTs can be realized at special points on the Coulomb branch of certain N=2 gauge theories, their superconformal R symmetries are emergent, and hence their indices cannot be evaluated by localization. Instead, we construct the (A_1, A_{2n-3}) and (A_1, D_{2n}) indices by using a relation to two-dimensional q-deformed Yang-Mills theory and data from the class S c…
We calculate and study the general superconformal index for the 6d U(N) (2,0) theory with four chemical potentials, from the indices of gauge theories on CP^2 x R. Our index agrees with the large N supergravity index on AdS_7 x S^4 at low energies, and also yields the negative 'Casimir energy' with an N^3 scaling which was recently calculated from a QFT on S^5. Our approach also suggests a systematic study of the (1,0) superconformal indices.
Mixed anomalies, higher form symmetries, two-group symmetries and non-invertible symmetries have proved to be useful in providing non-trivial constraints on the dynamics of quantum field theories. We study mixed anomalies involving discrete zero-form global symmetries, and possibly a one-form symmetry, in 3d $\mathcal{N} \geq 3$ gauge theories using the superconformal index. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated via several classes of theories, including Chern-Simons-matter theories, such as the $\mathrm{U}(1)_k$ gauge theory with hypermultiplets of diverse charges, the $T(\mathrm{S…
We review aspects of superconformal indices in three dimension. Three dimensional superconformal indices can be exactly computed by using localization method including monopole contribution, and can be applied to provide evidences for mirror duality, AdS_4/CFT_3 correspondence and global symmetry enhancement of strongly coupled gauge theories. After reviewing, we discuss the possibility of global symmetry enhancement in a finite rank of gauge group.
We study the superconformal index of $\mathcal N=1$ quiver theories at large-$N$ for general values of electric charges and angular momenta, using both the Bethe Ansatz formulation and the more recent elliptic extension method. We are particularly interested in the case of unequal angular momenta, $J_1\ne J_2$, which has only been partially considered in the literature. We revisit the previous computation with the Bethe Ansatz formulation with generic angular momenta and extend it to encompass a large class of competing exponential terms. In the process, we also provide a simplified derivation…
Recently there was a substantial progress in understanding of supersymmetric theories (in particular, their BPS spectrum) in space-times of different dimensions due to the exact computation of superconformal indices and partition functions using localization method. Here we discuss a connection of 4d superconformal indices and 3d partition functions using a particular example of supersymmetric theories with matter in antisymmetric representation.
This is a brief account of relations between the theory of special functions, on the one side, and superconformal indices and Seiberg dualities of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric gauge field theories, on the other side.
Manin triple construction of N=4 superconformal field theories is considered. The correspondence between quasi Frobenius finite-dimensional Lie algebras and N=4 superconformal field theories is established.
We show that an infinite family of N=6 d=3 superconformal Chern-Simons-matter theories has hidden N=8 superconformal symmetry and hidden parity on the quantum level. This family of theories is different from the one found by Aharony, Bergman, Jafferis and Maldacena, as well as from the theories constructed by Bagger and Lambert, and Gustavsson. We also test several conjectural dualities between BLG theories and ABJ theories by comparing superconformal indices of these theories.
Superconformal indices of 4d \N=1 SYM theories with SU(N) and SP(2N) gauge groups are investigated for N_f=N and N_f=N+1 flavors, respectively. These indices vanish for generic values of the flavor fugacities. However, for a singular submanifold of fugacities they behave like the Dirac delta functions and describe the chiral symmetry breaking phenomenon. Similar picture holds for partition functions of 3d supersymmetric field theories with the chiral symmetry breaking.
Conformal moduli spaces of four-dimensional superconformal theories obtained by deformations of a superpotential are considered. These spaces possess a natural metric (a Zamolodchikov metric). This metric is shown to be Kahler. The proof is based on superconformal Ward identities.
Based on the structure of the three-dimensional superconformal algebra we show that every irreducible ${\mathcal N}=6$ three-dimensional superconformal theory containes exactly one conserved U(1)-symmetry current in the stress tensor supermultiplet and that superconformal symmetry of every ${\mathcal N}=7$ superconformal theory is in fact enhanced to ${\mathcal N}=8$. Moreover, an irreducible ${\cal N}=8$ superconformal theory does not have any global symmetries. The first observation explains why all known examples of ${\mathcal N}=6$ superconformal theories have a global abelian symmetry.
We review some recent developments in the 6 dimensional (2, 0) superconformal field theories, focusing on their BPS spectra in the Coulomb and symmetric phases computed by various Witten indices. We shall discuss the instanton partition function of 5d maximal super-Yang-Mills theory, and the 6d superconformal index.
In this note we discuss several properties of the Schur index of N=2 superconformal theories in four dimensions. In particular, we study modular properties of this index under SL(2,Z) transformations of its parameters.
We explore the possibilities for constructing Lagrangian descriptions of three-dimensional superconformal classical gauge theories that contain a Chern-Simons term, but no kinetic term, for the gauge fields. Classes of such theories with N = 1 and N = 2 supersymmetry are found. However, interacting theories of this type with N = 8 supersymmetry do not exist.
Superconformal indices of 3d N=2 supersymmetric field theories are investigated from the Yang-Baxter equation point of view. Solutions of the star-triangle relation, vertex and IRF Yang-Baxter equations are expressed in terms of the q-special functions associated with these 3d indices. For a two-dimensional monopole-spin system on the square lattice a free energy per spin is explicitly determined. Similar to the partition functions, superconformal indices of 3d theories with the chiral symmetry breaking reduce to Dirac delta functions with the support on chemical potentials of the preserved fl…
We study the highest-weight representation of N=2 supersymmetric Schrodinger algebra which appears in non-relativistic superconformal field theories in (1+2) dimension. We define the index for the non-relativistic superconformal field theories and study its properties. As a concrete example, we compute the index for the non-relativistic limit of N=6 superconformal Chern-Simons-matter theory recently proposed by Aharony et al.
The supersymmetric generalization of Poisson-Lie T-duality in superconformal WZNW models is considered. It is shown that the classical N=2 superconformal WZNW models posses a natural Poisson-Lie symmetry which allows to construct dual $σ$- models.
The superconformal index of a three-dimensional supersymmetric field theory can be expressed in terms of basic hypergeometric integrals. By comparing the indices of dual theories, one can find new integral identities for basic hypergeometric integrals. Some of these integral identities have the form of the pentagon identity which can be interpreted as the 2-3 Pachner move for triangulated 3-manifolds.
We propose an off-shell construction of three-dimensional N = 3 and N = 4 superconformal Abelian Chern-Simons theories in the projective superspace formalism. We also construct coupling terms among the gauge fields and matter hypermultiplets.
After a short review of the algebraic setting of N=2 superconformal field theories, their chiral ring and their perturbations, I present some recent results on curious relations between the integrability of their perturbations and algebraic properties of their deformed chiral ring. (Lecture given at Hang-zhou, China, Sept 1993)
We study biorthogonal functions related to basic hypergeometric integrals with coupled continuous and discrete components. Such integrals appear as superconformal indices for three-dimensional quantum field theories and also in the context of solvable lattice models. We obtain explicit biorthogonal systems given by products of two of Rahman's biorthogonal rational ${}_{10}W_9$-functions or their degenerate cases. We also give new bilateral extensions of the Jackson and $q$-Saalschütz summation formulas and new continuous and discrete biorthogonality measures for Rahman's functions.
We consider D3 branes world-volume theories substaining $N=1,2$ superconformal field theories. Under the assumption that these theories are dual to $N=2,4$ supergravities in $AdS_5$, we explore the general structure of the latter and discuss some issues when comparing the bulk theory to the boundary singleton theory.
Within the supertwistor approach, we analyse the superconformal structure of 4D N = 2 compactified harmonic/projective superspace. In the case of 5D superconformal symmetry, we derive the superconformal Killing vectors and related building blocks which emerge in the transformation laws of primary superfields. Various off-shell superconformal multiplets are presented both in 5D harmonic and projective superspaces, including the so-called tropical (vector) multiplet and polar (hyper)multiplet. Families of superconformal actions are described both in the 5D harmonic and projective superspace sett…
A geometrical construction of superconformal transformations in six dimensional (2,0) superspace is proposed. Superconformal Killing vectors are determined. It is shown that the transformation of the tensor multiplet involves a zero curvature non-trivial cochain.
We present a unifying theme relating BPS partition functions and superconformal indices. In the case with complex SUSY central charges (as in N=2 in d=4 and N=(2,2) in d=2) the known results can be reinterpreted as the statement that the BPS partition functions can be used to compute a specialization of the superconformal indices. We argue that in the case with real central charge in the supersymmetry algebra, as in N=1 in d=5 (or the N=2 in d=3), the BPS degeneracy captures the full superconformal index. Furthermore, we argue that refined topological strings, which captures 5d BPS degeneracie…
Making use of the exact solutions of the $N=2$ supersymmetric gauge theories we construct new classes of superconformal field theories (SCFTs) by fine-tuning the moduli parameters and bringing the theories to critical points. SCFTs we have constructed represent universality classes of the 4-dimensional $N=2$ SCFTs.
We study the (2,0) superconformal theories in six dimensions, which arise from the low-energy limit of k coincident 5-branes, using their discrete light-cone formulation as a superconformal quantum mechanical sigma model. We analyze the realization of the superconformal symmetry in the quantum mechanics, and the realization of primary operators. As an example we compute the spectrum of chiral primary states in symmetric Spin(5)_R representations. To facilitate the analysis we introduce and briefly discuss a new class of Lorentz non-invariant theories, which flow in the IR to the (2,0) supercon…
Topological conformal field theories based on superconformal current algebras are constructed. The models thus obtained are the supersymmetric version of the $G/G$ coset theories. Their topological conformal algebra is generated by operators of dimensions $1$, $2$ and $3$ and can be regarded as an extension of the twisted $N=2$ superconformal algebra. These models possess an extended supersymmetry whose generators are exact in the topological BRST cohomology.
We probe the 3d-3d correspondence for mapping cylinder/torus using the superconformal index. We focus on the case when the fiber is a once-punctured torus (Σ_{1,1}). The corresponding 3d field theories can be realized using duality domain wall theories in 4d N=2* theory. We show that the superconformal indices of the 3d theories are the SL(2,C) Chern-Simons partition function on the mapping cylinder/torus. For the mapping torus, we also consider another realization of the corresponding 3d theory associated with ideal triangulation. The equality between the indices from the two descriptions for…
We consider the superconformal index of three-dimensional ${\cal N}=2$ supersymmetric field theories computed via localization on $S^1\times S^2$. We systematically develop an expansion where the ratio of the radius of $S^1$ to the radius of $S^2$ is taken very small -- a Cardy-like expansion. We emphasize the sub-leading structures in this Cardy-like expansion as well as their interplay with the large-$N$ limit for theories with gauge group of the form product of $U(N)$ factors. We demonstrate that taking the large-$N$ limit first leads to an expression for the index that only includes terms …
