We study quenched SU(N) gauge theories with fermions in the two-index symmetric, antisymmetric and the adjoint representations. Our main motivation is to check whether at large number of colours those theories become non-perturbatively equivalent. We prove the equivalence assuming that the charge-conjugation symmetry is not broken in pure Yang-Mills theory. We then carry out a quenched lattice simulation of the quark condensate in the symmetric, antisymmetric and the adjoint representations for SU(2), SU(3), SU(4), SU(6) and SU(8). We show that the data support the equivalence and discuss the size of subleading corrections.
A previous estimate of the quark condensate in one-flavour massless QCD from the known value of the gluino condensate in super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory is extended to Nf >1 by considering the large-N limit of an SU(N) gauge theory with one flavour in the antisymmetric representation and nf = Nf -1 extra flavours in the fundamental representation. We argue that, even at nf> 0, suitably chosen correlators in this theory can be mapped to those of SYM as N--> infinity. We give arguments why this correspondence should be particularly good for Nf =3 and compare our prediction with available (real and…
We review and extend our recent work on the planar (large N) equivalence between gauge theories with varying degree of supersymmetry. The main emphasis is made on the planar equivalence between N=1 gluodynamics (super-Yang-Mills theory) and a non-supersymmetric "orientifold field theory." We outline an "orientifold" large N expansion, analyze its possible phenomenological consequences in one-flavor massless QCD, and make a first attempt at extending the correspondence to three massless flavors. An analytic calculation of the quark condensate in one-flavor QCD starting from the gluino condensat…
Planar equivalence between the large $N$ limits of ${\cal N}=1$ Super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory and a variant of QCD with fermions in the antisymmetric representation is a powerful tool to obtain analytic non-perturbative results in QCD itself. In particular, it allows the quark condensate for $N=3$ QCD with quarks in the fundamental representation to be inferred from exact calculations of the gluino condensate in ${\cal N}=1$ SYM. In this paper, we review and refine our earlier predictions for the quark condensate in QCD with a general number $n_f$ of flavours and confront these with lattice re…
We consider a new large-N limit, in which the 't Hooft coupling grows with N. We argue that a class of large-N equivalences, which is known to hold in the 't Hooft limit, can be extended to this very strongly coupled limit. Hence this limit may lead to a new way of studying corrections to the 't Hooft limit, while keeping nice properties of the latter. As a concrete example, we describe large-N equivalences between the ABJM theory and its orientifold projection. The equivalence implies that operators neutral under the projection symmetry have the same correlation functions in two theories at l…
We analyze the possibility of a spontaneous breaking of C-invariance in gauge theories with fermions in vector-like - but otherwise generic - representations of the gauge group. QCD, supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, and orientifold field theories, all belong to this class. We argue that charge conjugation is not spontaneously broken as long as Lorentz invariance is maintained. Uniqueness of the vacuum state in pure Yang-Mills theory (without fermions) and convergence of the expansion in fermion loops are key ingredients. The fact that C-invariance is conserved has an interesting application t…
We study the formation of vacuum condensates in $2+1$ dimensional QED in the presence of inhomogeneous background magnetic fields. For a large class of magnetic fields, the condensate is shown to be proportional to the inhomogeneous magnetic field, in the large flux limit. This may be viewed as a {\it local} form of the {\it integrated} degeneracy-flux relation of Aharonov and Casher.
Planar equivalence between supersymmetric Yang--Mills theory and its orientifold daughters is a promising tool for explorations of nonperturbative aspects of quantum chromodynamics. Taking our 2004 review as a starting point we summarize some recent developments in this issue.
We outline a full non-perturbative proof of planar (large-N) equivalence between bosonic correlators in a theory with Majorana fermions in the adjoint representation and one with Dirac fermions in the two-index (anti)symmetric representation. In a particular case (one flavor), this reduces to our previous result - planar equivalence between super-Yang--Mills theory and a non-supersymmetric ``orientifold field theory.'' The latter theory becomes one-flavor massless QCD at N=3.
We consider 'orbifold' and 'orientifold' field theories from the dual closed string theory side. We argue that a necessary condition for planar equivalence to hold is the absence of a closed string tachyonic mode in the dual non-supersymmetric string. We analyze several gauge theories on R3xS1. In the specific case of U(N) theories with symmetric/anti-symmetric fermions ('orientifold field theories') the relevant closed string theory is tachyon-free at large compactification radius (due to winding modes), but it develops a tachyonic mode below a critical radius. Our finding is with agreement w…
We study the center symmetry of SU(N) gauge theories with fermions in the two-index representations, by computing the effective potential of the Polyakov loop in the large-mass expansion on the lattice. In the large-N limit and at non-zero temperature, we find that the center symmetry is Z_N for fermions in the adjoint representation and just Z_2 for fermions in the (anti)symmetric representation. We discuss the fact that our results do not contradict the orientifold planar equivalence, which relates a common sector defined by the bosonic gauge-invariant C-even states of theories with fermions…
It is shown that a spin-1/2 fermion coupled to the axially symmetric electromagnetic vector potential has the same matrix structure as that one for the planar Dirac oscillator. In particular, the planar Dirac oscillator can be interpreted as a charged particle minimally coupled to a transverse homogeneous magnetic field.
We consider the large-N limit of \mathcal{N}=6 U(N) \times U(N) superconformal Chern-Simons (ABJM) theory with fixed level k, which is conjectured to be dual to M-theory on AdS4\times (S^7/Z_k) background. We point out that the so-called orbifold equivalence on the gravity side, combined with the AdS4/CFT3 duality, predicts a hitherto unknown type of duality on the gauge theory side. It establishes the equivalence between a class of observables, which are not necessarily protected by supersymmetry, in strongly coupled ABJM theories away from the planar approximation, with different values of k…
We study chiral symmetry breaking for relativistic fermions, described by a parity violating Lagrangian in 2+1-dimensions, in the presence of a heat bath and a uniform external magnetic field. Working within their four-component formalism allows for the inclusion of both parity-even and -odd mass terms. Therefore, we can define two types of fermion anti-fermion condensates. For a given value of the magnetic field, there exist two different critical temperatures which would render one of these condensates identically zero, while the other would survive. Our analysis is completely general: it re…
We construct a new order parameter for finite temperature QCD by considering the quark condensate for U(1)-valued temporal boundary conditions for the fermions. Fourier transformation with respect to the boundary condition defines the dual condensate. This quantity corresponds to an equivalence class of Polyakov loops, thereby being an order parameter for the center symmetry. We explore the duality relation between the quark condensate and these dressed Polyakov loops numerically, using quenched lattice QCD configurations below and above the QCD phase transition. It is demonstrated that the Di…
We consider the dynamics of a strongly coupled SU(N) chiral gauge theory. By using its large-N equivalence with N=1 super-Yang-Mills theory we find the vacuum structure of the former. We also consider its finite-N dynamics.
In this work, we study the implications of the existence of a gauge condensate to the mechanism of duality, a method based on the existence of these condensates is presented and applied to the study of the dual equivalence between self-dual (SD) and topologically massive Yang-Mills (TMYM) models.
We consider the small-volume dynamics of nonsupersymmetric orbifold and orientifold field theories defined on a three-torus, in a test of the claimed planar equivalence between these models and appropriate supersymmetric ``parent models". We study one-loop effective potentials over the moduli space of flat connections and find that planar equivalence is preserved for suitable averages over the moduli space. On the other hand, strong nonlinear effects produce local violations of planar equivalence at special points of moduli space. In the case of orbifold models, these effects show that the "tw…
Based upon the exact formal solutions of the Weyl-Dirac-equation in anisotropic planar Bianchi-type-I background spacetimes with power law scale factors, one can introduce suitable equivalence classes of the solutions of these models. The associated background spacetimes are characterized by two parameters. It is shown that the exact solutions of all models of a given equivalence class can be generated with the help of a special transformation of these two parameters, provided one knows a single exact solution of an arbitrary member of this class. The method can also be utilized to derive appr…
We demonstrate the existence of stationary states composed of vortex lines attached to planar dark solitons in scalar Bose-Einstein condensates. Dynamically stable states of this type are found at low values of the chemical potential in channeled condensates, where the long-wavelength instability of dark solitons is prevented. In oblate, harmonic traps, U-shaped vortex lines attached by both ends to a single planar soliton are shown to be long-lived states. Our results are reported for parameters typical of current experiments, and open up a way to explore the interplay of different topologica…
We study perturbative amplitudes in a large class of theories obtained by marginal deformations of the N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills. We find that planar amplitudes in the deformed theories are closely related to planar amplitudes in the original N=4 SYM. For some classes of deformations the amplitudes essentially coincide with the N=4 amplitudes to all orders in planar perturbation theory. For more general classes of marginal deformations, the equivalence holds at up to four loops, and at five loops it is likely to break down. This implies that the iterative structure of planar MHV amplitudes…
We establish the equivalence of the Maxwell-Chern-Simons-Proca model to a doublet of Maxwell-Chern-Simons models at the level of polarization vectors of the basic fields using both Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms. The analysis reveals a U(1) invariance of the polarization vectors in the momentum space. Its implications are discussed. We also study the role of Wigner's little group as a generator of gauge transformations in three space-time dimensions.
We study excitations of LLM geometries. These geometries arise from the backreaction of a condensate of giant gravitons. Excitations of the condensed branes are open strings, which give rise to an emergent Yang-Mills theory at low energy. We study the dynamics of the planar limit of these emergent gauge theories, accumulating evidence that they are planar ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills. There are three observations supporting this conclusion: (i) we argue for an isomorphism between the planar Hilbert space of the original ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills and the planar Hilbert space of the emergen…
We show that the recently proposed large $N$ equivalence between ABJM theories with Chern-Simons terms of different rank and level, U(N_1)_{k_1}\times U(N_1)_{-k_1} and U(N_2)_{k_2}\times U(N_2)_{-k_2}, but the same value of N' =N_1 k_1=N_2 k_2, can be explained using planar equivalence in the mirror duals. The combination of S-dualities and orbifold equivalence can be applied to other cases as well, with very appealing results. As an example we show that two different quiver theories with k nodes can be easily shown to be Seiberg dual through the orbifold equivalence, but it requires order k^…
We study large N orbifold equivalences involving three-dimensional N=3 and N=4 supersymmetric quiver Chern-Simons-matter theories. The gravity dual of the N=3 Chern-Simons-matter theory is described by AdS4xM7 where the tri-Sasaki manifold M7 is known as the Eschenburg space. We find evidence that a large N orbifold equivalence for the N=4 case continues from the M-theory limit to the weak-coupling limit. For the N=3 case, we find consistent large N equivalences involving a projection changing the nodes of the gauge groups, and also for a projection changing Chern-Simons levels where for the l…
