We show how three-dimensional superconformal theories for any number N <= 8 of supersymmetries can be obtained by taking a conformal limit of the corresponding three-dimensional gauged supergravity models. The superconformal theories are characterized by an embedding tensor that satisfies a linear and quadratic constraint. We analyze these constraints and give the general solutions for all cases. We find new N = 4,5 superconformal theories based on the exceptional Lie superalgebras F(4), G(3) and D(2|1;α). Using the supergravity connection we discuss which massive deformations to expect. As an example we work out the details for the case of N = 6 supersymmetry.
Based on the superconformal algebra we construct a dual operator that introduces a grading among bosonic generators independent of the boson/fermion grading of the superalgebra. This dual operator allows us to construct an action that is gauge invariant under the grading even bosonic generators. We provide a self-dual notion based on the dual operator. We use the definition of the dual operator to contruct a model with gauge invariance $SO(1,3)\times SU(N) \times U(1) \subset SU(2,2|N)$. The choice of a graded dual operator allows us to overcome technical difficulties of $U(N)$ unified theorie…
We use the superconformal method to construct a new formulation for pure off-shell D=5, N=2 Poincaré supergravity and present its internal gauging. The main difference between the traditional formulation and our new formulation is the choice of the Dilaton Weyl Multiplet as the background Weyl Multiplet and the choice of a Linear compensating Multiplet. We do not introduce an external vector multiplet to gauge the theory, but instead use the internal vector of the Dilaton Weyl Multiplet. We show that the corresponding on-shell theory is Einstein-Maxwell supergravity. We believe that this gaugi…
We study the gauging of a discrete $\mathbb{Z}_3$ symmetry in the five-dimensional superconformal $T_N$ theories. We argue that this leads to an infinite sequence of five-dimensional superconformal theories with either $E_6 \times SU(N)$ or $SU(3)\times SU(N)$ global symmetry group. In the $M$-theory realisation of $T_N$ theories as residing at the origin in the Calabi-Yau orbifolds ${\mathbb{C}^3 \over {\mathbb{Z}_N \times \mathbb{Z}_N}}$ we identify the $\mathbb{Z}_3$ symmetry geometrically and the new theories arise from $M$-theory on the non-Abelian orbifolds $({\mathbb{C}^3 \over {\mathbb…
New superconformal extensions of d=1 Calogero-type systems are obtained by gauging the U(n) isometry of matrix superfield models. We consider the cases of N=1, N=2 and N=4 one-dimensional supersymmetries. The bosonic core of the N=1 and N=2 models is the standard conformal A_{n-1} Calogero system, whereas the N=4 model is an extension of the U(2)-spin Calogero system.
By coupling {\cal N}=8 superconformal matter to {\cal N}=8 superconformal Chern-Simons gravity in three dimensions we obtain theories with novel terms in the scalar potential leading to AdS_3 solutions and superconformal symmetry breaking. If we start from the theory derived by Bagger, Lambert and Gustavsson, our coupled theory either inherits the SO(4) gauge group or reduces it to SO(3). If the construction is instead based on a free matter theory we find that the gravitational topological gauging also requires the introduction of a Chern-Simons gauge sector resulting in a consistent theory f…
We show that a proposed duality [arXiv:0711.0054] between infinitely coupled gauge theories and superconformal field theories (SCFTs) with weakly gauged flavor groups predicts the existence of new rank 1 SCFTs. These superconformal fixed point theories have the same Coulomb branch singularities as the rank 1 E_6, E_7, and E_8 SCFTs, but have smaller flavor symmetry algebras and different central charges. Gauging various subalgebras of the flavor algebras of these rank 1 SCFTs provides many examples of infinite-coupling dualities, satisfying an intricate set of consistency checks. They also pro…
A class of 4d $\mathcal{N}=3$ SCFTs can be obtained from gauging a discrete subgroup of the global symmetry group of $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super Yang-Mills theory. This discrete subgroup contains elements of both the $SU(4)$ R-symmetry group and the $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ S-duality group of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM. We give a prescription for how to perform the discrete gauging at the level of the superconformal index and Higgs branch Hilbert series. We interpret and match the information encoded in these indices to known results for rank one $\mathcal{N}=3$ theories. Our prescription is easily generalised f…
The Bagger--Lambert construction of N = 8 superconformal field theories (SCFT) in three dimensions is based on 3-algebras. Three groups of researchers recently realized that an arbitrary semisimple Lie algebra can be incorporated by using a suitable Lorentzian signature 3-algebra. The SU(N) case is a candidate for the SCFT describing coincident M2-branes. However, these theories contain ghost degrees of freedom, which is unsatisfactory. We modify them by gauging certain global symmetries. This eliminates the ghosts from these theories while preserving all of their desirable properties. The res…
A new superconformal mechanics with OSp(4|2) symmetry is obtained by gauging the U(1) isometry of a superfield model. It is the one-particle case of the new N=4 super Calogero model recently proposed in arXiv:0812.4276 [hep-th]. Classical and quantum generators of the osp(4|2) superalgebra are constructed on physical states. As opposed to other realizations of N=4 superconformal algebras, all supertranslation generators are linear in the odd variables, similarly to the N=2 case. The bosonic sector of the component action is standard one-particle (dilatonic) conformal mechanics accompanied by a…
A large family of 4d N=2 SCFT's was introduced in arXiv:1210.2886. Its elements $D_p(G)$ are labelled by a positive integer p\in N and a simply-laced Lie group G; their flavor symmetry is at least G. In the present paper we study their physics in detail. We also analyze the properties of the theories obtained by gauging the diagonal symmetry of a collection of $D_{p_i}(G)$ models. In all cases the computation of the physical quantities reduces to simple Lie-theoretical questions. To make the analysis more functorial, we replace the notion of the BPS-quiver of the N=2 QFT by the more intrinsic …
The study of exactly marginal deformations of superconformal field theories is a topic that has received considerable attention due to their rich properties. We investigate the $\mathcal{N}=2$ preserving exactly marginal operators of 3d $S$-fold SCFTs. Two families of such theories are considered: one is constructed by gauging the diagonal flavour symmetry of the $T(U(2))$ and $T(U(3))$ theories, and the other by gauging the diagonal flavour symmetry of the $T^{[2,1^2]}_{[2,1^2]}(SU(4))$ theory. In both families, it is possible to turn on a Chern--Simons level for each gauge group and to coupl…
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 construct a new $N=4$ non-semisimple gauged supergravity in three dimensions with $E_{6(2)}/SU(6)\times SU(2)$ scalar manifold and $SO(4)\ltimes \mathbf{T}^6$ gauge group. Depending on the values of the gauge coupling constants, the theory admits both the maximally supersymmetric $AdS_3$ vacuum preserving $SO(4)$ gauge symmetry and half-supersymmetric domain walls with unbroken $SO(4)$ symmetry. We give all scalar masses at the supersymmetric $AdS_3$ critical point corresponding to an $N=(4,0)$ superconformal field theory (SCFT) in two dimensions. The scalar potential also admits two flat d…
We propose a new prescription for computing the Nekrasov partition functions of five-dimensional theories with eight supercharges realized by gauging non-perturbative flavor symmetries of three five-dimensional superconformal field theories. The topological vertex formalism gives a way to compute the partition functions of the matter theories with flavor instanton backgrounds, and the gauging is achieved by summing over Young diagrams. We apply the prescription to calculate the Nekrasov partition functions of various five-dimensional gauge theories such as $\mathrm{SO}(2N)$ gauge theories with…
We develop a new off-shell formulation for five-dimensional (5D) conformal supergravity obtained by gauging the 5D superconformal algebra in superspace. An important property of the conformal superspace introduced is that it reduces to the superconformal tensor calculus (formulated in the early 2000's) upon gauging away a number of superfluous fields. On the other hand, a different gauge fixing reduces our formulation to the SU(2) superspace of arXiv:0802.3953, which is suitable to describe the most general off-shell supergravity-matter couplings. Using the conformal superspace approach, we sh…
We derive a torsionfull version of three-dimensional N=2 Newton-Cartan supergravity using a non-relativistic notion of the superconformal tensor calculus. The "superconformal" theory that we start with is Schrödinger supergravity which we obtain by gauging the Schrödinger superalgebra. We present two non-relativistic N=2 matter multiplets that can be used as compensators in the superconformal calculus. They lead to two different off-shell formulations which, in analogy with the relativistic case, we call "old minimal" and "new minimal" Newton-Cartan supergravity. We find similarities but also …
We revisit the construction of N=2 superconformal multiplets using rheonomic superspace techniques. We apply the result to the derivation of off-shell Poincaré supersymmetric models where a tensor multiplet couples to gravity and to an arbitrary number of vector multiplets. We also analyze gaugings involving the tensor field.
We study a rich set of four-dimensional superconformal field theories (SCFTs) with both central charges identical: $a = c$. These are constructed via the diagonal $\mathcal{N}=2$ or $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauging of the flavor symmetry $G$ of a collection of $\mathcal{N}=2$ Argyres-Douglas theories of type $\mathcal{D}_p(G)$, with or without adjoint chiral multiplets, in arXiv:2106.12579 and arXiv:2111.12092. We compute superconformal indices of some theories where the rank of $G$ is low, performing a refined test for unitarity, and further determine the relevant and marginal operator content in deta…
We show that N=8 spontaneously broken supergravity in four dimensions obtained by Scherk-Schwarz generalized dimensional reduction can be obtained from a pure four dimensional perspective by gauging a suitable electric subgroup of E_{7,7}. Owing to the fact that there are non isomorphic choices of maximal electric subgroups of the U-duality group their gaugings give rise to inequivalent theories. This in particular shows that the Scherk-Schwarz gaugings do not fall in previous classifications of possible gauged N=8 supergravities. Gauging of flat groups appear in many examples of string compac…
Biconformal supergravity models provide a new gauging of the superconformal group relevant to the Maldacena conjecture. Using the group quotient method to biconformally gauge SU(2,2|N), we generate a 16-dim superspace. We write the most general even- and odd-parity actions linear in the curvatures, the bosonic sector of which is known to descend to general relativity on a 4-dim manifold.
When a globally supersymmetric theory is scale invariant, it must possess a Virial supercurrent supermultiplet. The multiplet structure is analogous to the R-current supermultiplet in globally R-symmetric theories but we put extra "$i$"s in various formulae. We construct a novel type of supergravity from gauging the Virial supercurrent supermultiplet in $d=1+3$ dimensions. We give the full non-linear superspace action with the help of a covariantly linear unitary superconformal compensator. The resulting supergravity is peculiar: (1) no Einstein-like second order kinetic term is allowed withou…
Recently, gauged supergravities in three dimensions with Yang-Mills and Chern-Simons type interactions have been constructed. In this article, we demonstrate that any gauging of Yang-Mills type with semisimple gauge group G_0, possibly including extra couplings to massive Chern-Simons vectors, is equivalent on-shell to a pure Chern-Simons type gauging with non-semisimple gauge group $G_0 \ltimes T \subset G$, where T is a certain translation group, and where G is the maximal global symmetry group of the ungauged theory. We discuss several examples.
We extend our analysis of the gauging of rigid symmetries in bosonic two-dimensional sigma models with Wess-Zumino terms in the action to the case of world-sheets with defects. A structure that permits a non-anomalous coupling of such sigma models to world-sheet gauge fields of arbitrary topology is analysed, together with obstructions to its existence, and the classification of its inequivalent choices.
Half-maximal gauged supergravity in seven dimensions coupled to $n$ vector multiplets contains $n+3$ vectors and $3n+1$ scalars parametrized by $\mathbb{R}^+\times SO(3,n)/SO(3)\times SO(n)$ coset manifold. The two-form field in the gravity multiplet can be dualized to a three-form field which admits a topological mass term. Possible non-compact gauge groups take the form of $G_0\times H\subset SO(3,n)$ with a compact group $H$. $G_0$ is one of the five possibilities; $SO(3,1)$, $SL(3,\mathbb{R})$, $SO(2,2)$, $SO(2,1)$ and $SO(2,2)\times SO(2,1)$. We investigate all of these possible non-compa…
We consider the gauging of $ SL(2,R) $ WZNW model by its nilpotent subgroup E(1). The resulting space-time of the corresponding sigma model is seen to collapse to a one dimensional field theory of Liouville. Gauging the diagonal subgroup $ E(1) \times U(1) $ of $SL(2,R) \times U(1)$ theory yields an extremal three dimensional black string. We show that these solutions are obtained from the two dimensional black hole of Witten and the three dimensional black string of Horne and Horowitz by boosting the gauge group.
We show that certain five dimensional, N=2 Yang-Mills/Einstein supergravity theories admit the gauging of the full R-symmetry group, SU(2)_R, of the underlying N=2 Poincare superalgebra. This generalizes the previously studied Abelian gaugings of U(1)_R subgroup of SU(2)_R and completes the construction of the most general vector and tensor field coupled five dimensional N=2 supergravity theories with gauge interactions. The gauging of SU(2)_R turns out to be possible only in special cases, and leads to a new type of scalar potential. For a large class of these theories the potential does not …
We study the class of four-dimensional N=4 supergravities obtained by gauging the axionic shift and axionic rescaling symmetries. We formulate these theories using the machinery of embedding tensors, characterize the full gauge algebras and discuss several specific features of this family of gauged supergravities. We exhibit in particular a generalized duality between massive vectors and massive two-forms in four dimensions, inherited from the gauging of the shift symmetry. We show that these theories can be deduced from higher dimensions by a Scherk-Schwarz reduction, where a twist with respe…
We present a systematic and 'from the ground up' analysis of the 'minimal coupling' type of gauging of Yang-Mills symmetries in (2,2)-supersymmetric 1+1-dimensional spacetime. Unlike in the familiar 3+1-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric case, we find several distinct types of minimal coupling symmetry gauging, and so several distinct types of gauge (super)fields, some of which entirely novel. Also, we find that certain (quartoid) constrained superfields can couple to no gauge superfield at all, others (haploid ones) can couple only very selectively, while still others (non-minimal, i.e., linear o…
We give a formulation of linearized 11D supergravity in 4D, $N=1$ superspace keeping all eleven bosonic coordinates. The fields are fluctuations around $\mathbf M=\mathbf R^{4|4}\times Y$, where $Y$ is a background Riemannian 7-manifold admitting a $G_2$ structure. We embed the 11D fields into superfield representations of the 4D, $N=1$ superconformal algebra. These consist of the conformal graviton superfield, seven conformal gravitino superfields, a tensor hierarchy of superfields describing the 11D 3-form, and a non-abelian Kaluza-Klein vector multiplet gauging the tensor hierarchy by diffe…
We construct the supercurrent multiplet that contains the energy-momentum tensor of the (2,0) tensor multiplet. By coupling this multiplet of currents to the fields of conformal supergravity, we first construct the linearized superconformal transformations rules of the (2,0) Weyl multiplet. Next, we construct the full non-linear transformation rules by gauging the superconformal algebra OSp(8^*|4). We then use this result to construct the full equations of motion of the tensor multiplet in a conformal supergravity background. Coupling N+5 copies of the tensor multiplet to conformal supergravit…
We consider gauged WZW models based on a four dimensional non-semi-simple group. We obtain conformal $\s$-models in $D=3$ spacetime dimensions (with exact central charge $c=3$) by axially and vectorially gauging a one-dimensional subgroup. The model obtained in the axial gauging is related to the $3D$ black string after a correlated limit is taken in the latter model. By identifying the CFT corresponding to these $\s$-models we compute the exact expressions for the metric and dilaton fields. All of our models can be mapped to flat spacetimes with zero antisymmetric tensor and dilaton fields vi…
We develop a new off-shell formulation for six-dimensional conformal supergravity obtained by gauging the 6D ${\cal N} = (1, 0)$ superconformal algebra in superspace. This formulation is employed to construct two invariants for 6D ${\cal N} = (1, 0)$ conformal supergravity, which contain $C^3$ and $C\Box C$ terms at the component level. Using a conformal supercurrent analysis, we prove that these exhaust all such invariants in minimal conformal supergravity. Finally, we show how to construct the supersymmetric $F \Box F$ invariant in curved superspace.
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 compute the partition function of the supersymmetric two-dimensional Euclidean black hole geometry described by the SL(2,R)/U(1) superconformal field theory. We decompose the result in terms of characters of the N=2 superconformal symmetry. We point out puzzling sectors of states besides finding expected discrete and continuous contributions to the partition function. By adding an N=2 minimal model factor of the correct central charge and projecting on integral N=2 charges we compute the partition function of the background dual to little string theory in a double scaling limit. We show the…
A consistent gauging of maximal supergravity requires that the T-tensor transforms according to a specific representation of the duality group. The analysis of viable gaugings is thus amenable to group-theoretical analysis, which we explain and exploit for a large variety of gaugings. We discuss the subtleties in four spacetime dimensions, where the ungauged Lagrangians are not unique and encoded in an E_7(7)\Sp(56,R)/GL(28) matrix. Here we define the T-tensor and derive all relevant identities in full generality. We present a large number of examples in d=4,5 spacetime dimensions which includ…
We develop a new superfield approach to N=4 supersymmetric mechanics based on the concept of biharmonic superspace (bi-HSS). It is an extension of the N=4,d=1 superspace by two sets of harmonic variables associated with the two SU(2) factors of the R-symmetry group SO(4) of the N=4, d=1 super Poincaré algebra. There are three analytic subspaces in it: two of the Grassmann dimension 2 and one of the dimension 3. They are closed under the infinite-dimensional "large" N=4 superconformal group, as well as under the finite-dimensional superconformal group D(2,1;α). The main advantage of the bi-HSS …
We initiate the classification of unitary superconformal defects in unitary superconformal field theories (SCFT) of diverse spacetime dimensions $3\leq d \leq 6$. Our method explores general constraints from the defect superconformal symmetry, unitarity, as well as consistency conditions of local bulk-defect couplings. Such features are common to all superconformal defects regardless of any Lagrangian description. In particular, modified Ward identities of conserved currents in the presence of the defect induce a distinguished set of conformal primary operators on the defect worldvolume, which…
We initiate the systematic construction of gauged matter-coupled supergravity theories in two dimensions. Subgroups of the affine global symmetry group of toroidally compactified supergravity can be gauged by coupling vector fields with minimal couplings and a particular topological term. The gauge groups typically include hidden symmetries that are not among the target-space isometries of the ungauged theory. The possible gaugings are described group-theoretically in terms of a constant embedding tensor subject to a number of constraints which parametrizes the different theories and entirely …
We discuss the possible realisation in string/M theory of the recently discovered family of four-dimensional maximal $SO(8)$ gauged supergravities, and of an analogous family of seven-dimensional half-maximal $SO(4)$ gauged supergravities. We first prove a no-go theorem that neither class of gaugings can be realised via a compactification that is locally described by ten- or eleven-dimensional supergravity. In the language of Double Field Theory and its M theory analogue, this implies that the section condition must be violated. Introducing the minimal number of additional coordinates possible…
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.
Three-dimensional N-extended superconformal symmetry is studied within the superspace formalism. A superconformal Killing equation is derived and its solutions are classified in terms of supertranslations, dilations, Lorentz transformations, R-symmetry transformations and special superconformal transformations. Superconformal group is then identified with a supermatrix group, OSp(N|2,R), as expected from the analysis on simple Lie superalgebras. In general, due to the invariance under supertranslations and special superconformal transformations, superconformally invariant n-point functions red…
Dyonic gaugings of four-dimensional supergravity typically exhibit a richer vacuum structure compared to their purely electric counterparts, but their higher-dimensional origin often remains more mysterious. We consider a class of dyonic gaugings with gauge groups of the type (SO(p,q)xSO(p',q'))$\ltimes N$ with $N$ nilpotent. Using generalized Scherk-Schwarz reductions of exceptional field theory, we show how these four-dimensional gaugings may be consistently embedded in Type II supergravity upon compactification around products of spheres and hyperboloids. As an application, we give the expl…
We perform the Lorentz-covariant non-Abelian gauging of supermembrane (M-2 brane) action. This is a generalization of our previous work based on teleparallel formulation, in which Lorentz covariance was not manifest. We introduce the Killing supervector ξ^{A I} with the adjoint index I for a non-Abelian gauge group H. This formulation is applicable to the compactification of supermembrane from eleven dimensions into D dimensions, such as H = SO(11-D) for the compactification M_{11} \to S^{11-D} \times M_D (1\le D \le 9).
This paper tests a conjecture on discrete non-Abelian gauging of 3d $\mathcal{N} = 4$ supersymmetric quiver gauge theories. Given a parent quiver with a bouquet of $n$ nodes of rank $1$, invariant under a discrete $S_n$ global symmetry, one can construct a daughter quiver where the bouquet is substituted by a single adjoint $n$ node. Based on the main conjecture in this paper, the daughter quiver corresponds to a theory where the $S_n$ discrete global symmetry is gauged and the new Coulomb branch is a non-Abelian orbifold of the parent Coulomb branch. We demonstrate and test the conjecture for…
Superconformal symmetry in six-dimensions is analyzed in terms of coordinate transformations on superspace. A superconformal Killing equation is derived and its solutions are identified in terms of supertranslations, dilations, Lorentz transformations, R-symmetry transformations and special superconformal transformations. The full superconformal symmetry, which is shown to form the group OSp(2,6|N), is possible only if the supersymmetry algebra has N spinorial generators of the same chirality, corresponding to (N,0) supersymmetry. The R-symmetry group is then Sp(N) and the corresponding supers…
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 uncover a general principle, dubbed c-extremization, which determines the exact R-symmetry of a two-dimensional unitary superconformal field theory with N=(0,2) supersymmetry. To illustrate its utility, we study superconformal theories obtained by twisted compactifications of four-dimensional N=4 super-Yang-Mills on Riemann surfaces, and construct their gravity duals.
We show that in N=2 supergravity, with a special quaternionic manifold of (quaternionic) dimension h_1+1 and in the presence of h_2 vector multiplets, a h_2+1 dimensional abelian algebra, intersecting the 2h_1+3 dimensional Heisenberg algebra of quaternionic isometries, can be gauged provided the h_2+1 symplectic charge--vectors V_I, have vanishing symplectic invariant scalar product V_I X V_J=0. For compactifications on Calabi--Yau three--folds with Hodge numbers (h_1,h_2) such condition generalizes the half--flatness condition as used in the recent literature. We also discuss non--abelian ex…
Classification of N=4 superconformal symmetries in two dimensions is re-examined. It is proposed that apart from SU(2) and $SU(2)\times SU(2)\times U(1)$ their Kac-Moody symmetry can also be $SU(2)\times(U(1))^4$. These superconformal symmetries and corresponding algebras are named small, large and middle ones respectively. Operator product expansions for the middle algebra are derived. Complete free field realizations of large and middle superconformal symmetries are obtained.
We study the superconformal index of the N=4 super-Yang-Milles theory on S^3 X S^1 with the half BPS superconformal surface operator (defect) inserted at the great circle of S^3. The half BPS superconformal surface operators preserve the same supersymmetry as well as the symmetry of the chemical potential used in the definition of the superconformal index, so the structure and the parameterization of the superconformal index remain unaffected by the presence of the surface operator. On the surface defect, a two-dimensional (4,4) superconformal field theory resides, and the four-dimensional sup…
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.
Superconformal blocks and crossing symmetry equations are among central ingredients in any superconformal field theory. We review the approach to these objects rooted in harmonic analysis on the superconformal group that was put forward in [J. High Energy Phys. 2020 (2020), no. 1, 159, 40 pages, arXiv:1904.04852] and [J. High Energy Phys. 2020 (2020), no. 10, 147, 44 pages, arXiv:2005.13547]. After lifting conformal four-point functions to functions on the superconformal group, we explain how to obtain compact expressions for crossing constraints and Casimir equations. The later allow to write…
We extend a previous analysis on the derivation of the dilaton Wess-Zumino (WZ) action in $d=4$, based on the method of Weyl gauging, to $6$ dimensions. As in the previous case, we discuss the structure of the same action in dimensional regularization using 6-dimensional Weyl invariants, extracting the dilaton interactions in the most general scheme, with the inclusion of the local anomaly terms. As an application, we present the WZ action for the (2,0) tensor multiplet, which has been investigated in the past in the context of the $AdS_7/CFT_6$ holographic anomaly matching. We then extend to …
We consider orientifold reductions to N=4 gauged supergravity in four dimensions. A special feature of this theory is that different factors of the gauge group can have relative angles with respect to the electro-magnetic SL(2) symmetry. These are crucial for moduli stabilisation and De Sitter vacua. We show how such gaugings at angles generically arise in orientifold reductions.
The Chern-Simons membranes and in general the Chern-Simons p-branes moving in $D$-dimensional target space admit an infinite set of secondary constraints. With respect to the Poisson bracket these constraints form a closed algebra which contains classical \ $W_{1+\infty }$ \ algebra in $p$-dimensions as a subalgebra. Corresponding gauged theory in the phase-space is constructed in a Hamilton gauge as an analog of the ordinary $W$-gravity.
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.
We introduce a generalization of the S^2 x S^1 superconformal index where background gauge fields with magnetic flux are coupled to the global symmetries of the theory. This allows one to gauge a global symmetry at the level of the index, which we use to show the matching of the superconformal index for N=2 SQED with N_f flavors and its mirror dual.