We study a class of four-dimensional N=1 superconformal field theories obtained by wrapping M5-branes on a Riemann surface with punctures. We identify UV descriptions of four-dimensional SCFTs corresponding to curves with a class of punctures. The quiver tails appearing in these UV descriptions differ significantly from their N=2 counterpart. We find a new type of object that we call the `Fan'. We show how to construct new N=1 superconformal theories using the Fan. Various dual descriptions for these SCFTs can be identified with different colored pair-of-pants decompositions. For example, we find an N=1 analog of Argyres-Seiberg duality for the SU(N) SQCD with 2N flavors. We also compute anomaly coefficients and superconformal indices for these theories and show that they are invariant under dualities.
We study a class of N=1 quiver gauge theories build out of vector multiplets and matter multiplets in the fundamental and bifundamental representations. We argue that these theories flow to interacting SCFTs in the IR and calculate their central charges. We exhibit a type IIA brane construction which at low energies is described by these SCFTs. This also leads to a natural description of the theories in terms of M5-branes on a punctured sphere.
We study circular BPS Wilson loops in the $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal $n$-node quiver theories at large $N$ and strong 't Hooft coupling by using localization. We compute the expectation values of Wilson loops in the limit when the 't Hooft couplings are hierarchically different and when they are nearly equal. Based on these results, we make a conjecture for arbitrary strong couplings.
We study the proposed duality between the 5-dimensional supergravity/superstring on $AdS_3\times S^2$ and the 2-dimensional N=(0,4) SCFT defined on the boundary of AdS-space. We construct explicitly the N=(0,4) SCFT by imposing the `quiver projection' developed by Douglas-Moore on the N=(4,4) SCFT of symmetric orbifold, which is proposed to be the dual of the 6-dimensional supergravity/superstring on $AdS_3\times S^3$. We explore in detail the spectrum of chiral primaries in this `quiver $SCFT_2$'. We compare it with the Kaluza-Klein spectrum on $AdS_3\times S^2$ and check the consistency betw…
Exact results are derived for 5d SCFTs with holographic duals in Type IIB supergravity. These theories have relevant deformations that flow to linear quiver gauge theories, with the number of nodes large in the large-$N$ limits described by supergravity. Starting from a suitable formulation of the matrix models resulting from supersymmetric localization of the squashed $S^5$ partition functions, the saddle point equations are solved for generic quivers with $N_f=2N$ at all interior nodes, which includes the $T_N$ theories, and for a sample of theories with $N_f\neq 2N$ nodes including theories…
Canonical threefold singularities in M-theory and Type IIB string theory give rise to superconformal field theories (SCFTs) in 5d and 4d, respectively. In this paper, we study canonical hypersurface singularities whose resolutions contain residual terminal singularities and/or 3-cycles. We focus on a certain class of `trinion' singularities which exhibit these properties. In Type IIB, they give rise to 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs that we call $D_p^b(G)$-trinions, which are marginal gaugings of three SCFTs with $G$ flavor symmetry. In order to understand the 5d physics of these trinion singulariti…
Magnetic quivers and Hasse diagrams for Higgs branches of rank $r$ 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs arising from $\mathbb{Z}_{\ell}$ $\mathcal{S}$-fold constructions are discussed. The magnetic quivers are derived using three different methods: 1) Using clues like dimension, global symmetry, and the folding parameter $\ell$ to guess the magnetic quiver. 2) From 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ SCFTs as UV completions of 5d marginal theories, and specific FI deformations on their magnetic quiver, which is further folded by $\mathbb{Z}_{\ell}$. 3) From T-duality of Type IIA brane systems of 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$…
We study the spectrum of BPS particles on the Coulomb branch of five-dimensional superconformal field theories (5d SCFTs) compactified on a circle. By engineering these theories in M-theory on ${\mathbf X} \times S^1 $, for ${\mathbf X}$ an isolated Calabi-Yau threefold singularity, we naturally identify the BPS category of the 5d theory on a circle with the derived category of coherent sheaves on a resolution of ${\mathbf X}$. It follows that the BPS spectrum can be studied in terms of 5d BPS quivers, which are the fractional-brane quivers for the singularity ${\mathbf X}$. 5d BPS quivers gen…
In this paper we discuss an infinite class of AdS$_6$ backgrounds in Type IIB supergravity dual to five dimensional SCFTs whose low energy description is in terms of linear quiver theories. The quantisation of the Page charges imposes that each solution is determined once a convex, piece-wise linear function is specified. In the dual field theory, we interpret this function as encoding the ranks of colour and flavour groups in the associated quiver. We check our proposal with several examples and provide general expressions for the holographic central charge and the Wilson loop VEV. Some solut…
Recent work has established a uniform characterization of most 6D SCFTs in terms of generalized quivers with conformal matter. Compactification of the partial tensor branch deformation of these theories on a $T^2$ leads to 4D $\mathcal{N} = 2$ SCFTs which are also generalized quivers. Taking products of bifundamental conformal matter operators, we present evidence that there are large R-charge sectors of the theory in which operator mixing is captured by a 1D spin chain Hamiltonian with operator scaling dimensions controlled by a perturbation series in inverse powers of the R-charge. We regula…
In arXiv:1906.11820 and arXiv:1907.05404 we proposed an approach based on graphs to characterize 5d superconformal field theories (SCFTs), which arise as compactifications of 6d $\mathcal{N}= (1,0)$ SCFTs. The graphs, so-called combined fiber diagrams (CFDs), are derived using the realization of 5d SCFTs via M-theory on a non-compact Calabi--Yau threefold with a canonical singularity. In this paper we complement this geometric approach by connecting the CFD of an SCFT to its weakly coupled gauge theory or quiver descriptions and demonstrate that the CFD as recovered from the gauge theory appro…
We study various conjectural dual descriptions of a stack of M2-branes in M-theory including ADHM, ABJ(M), BLG, discrete gauge theories and quiver Chern-Simons (CS) theories and propose several new dualities of the M2-brane SCFTs by analyzing flavored supersymmetric indices in detail. The mapping of local operators, Coulomb, Higgs and mixed branch operators as well as global symmetries under the dualities are obtained from the precise matching of the indices. Furthermore, we find closed form expressions for the Coulomb limit of the indices of the $U(N)$ ADHM theory and the dual quiver CS theor…
We study strings associated with minimal 6d SCFTs, which by definition have only one string charge and no Higgs branch. These theories are labelled by a number n with 1 <= n <= 8 or n = 12. Quiver theories have previously been proposed which describe strings of SCFTs for n = 1, 2. For n > 2 the strings interact with the bulk gauge symmetry. In this paper we find a quiver description for the n = 4 string using Sen's limit of F-theory and calculate its elliptic genus with localization techniques. This result is checked using the duality of F-theory with M-theory and topological string theory who…
5d superconformal field theories (SCFTs) can be obtained from 6d SCFTs by circle compactification and mass deformation. Successive decoupling of hypermultiplet matter and RG-flow generates a decoupling tree of descendant 5d SCFTs. In this paper we determine the magnetic quivers and Hasse diagrams, that encode the Higgs branches of 5d SCFTs, for entire decoupling trees. Central to this undertaking is the approach in arXiv:2008.05577, which, starting from the generalized toric polygons (GTPs) dual to 5-brane webs/tropical curves, provides a systematic and succinct derivation of magnetic quivers …
We determine 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ SCFTs originating from 6d $(E_n,E_m)$ conformal matter theories with $n\neq m$ by circle reduction and mass deformations. The marginal geometries are constructed and we derive their combined fiber diagrams (CFDs). The CFDs allow for an enumeration of descendant SCFTs obtained by decoupling matter hypermultiplets and a description of candidate weakly coupled quivers.
Enhancement of global symmetry and supersymmetry in the infrared is one of the most intriguing phenomena in quantum field theory. We investigate such phenomena in a large class of three dimensional superconformal field theories, known as the S-fold SCFTs. Supersymmetric indices are computed for a number of theories containing small rank gauge groups. It is found that indices of several models exhibit enhancement of supersymmetry at the superconformal fixed point in the infrared. Dualities between S-fold theories that have different quiver descriptions are also analysed. We explore a new class …
Magnetic quivers and Hasse diagrams for Higgs branches of rank 1 $4d$ $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs are provided. These rank 1 theories fit naturally into families of higher rank theories, originating from higher dimensions, which are addressed.
We discuss the gravity duals of 4d N=2 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) arising from the low-energy limit of brane configurations of D4-branes stretched between and intersecting NS5-branes and D6-branes. This gives rise to a product of SU(N_i) groups, with bi-fundamental matter between adjacent groups, and extra fundamental hypermultiplets. The most general configuration in 11d (or type IIA) supergravity that is dual to a 4d N=2 SCFT (when the dual of this SCFT is a weakly curved background) was written down by Gaiotto and Maldacena, but finding it explicitly involves solving a complicate…
We present a general solution to the problem of determining all S-dual descriptions for a specific (but very rich) class of $\mathcal{N} = 1$ SCFTs. These SCFTs are indexed by decorated toric diagrams, and can be engineered in string theory by probing orientifolds of isolated toric singularities with D3 branes. The S-dual phases are described by quiver gauge theories coupled to specific types of conformal matter which we describe explicitly. We illustrate our construction with many examples, including S-dualities in previously unknown SCFTs.
Mathematics Institute, Uppsala University（乌普萨拉大学数学研究所）；Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University（乌普萨拉大学物理与天文学系）；Center for Geometry and Physics, Uppsala University（乌普萨拉大学几何与物理中心）；Dipartimento di Matematica, Politecnico di Milano（米兰理工大学数学系）；Physique Théorique et Mathématique and International Solvay Institutes Université Libre de Bruxelles（布鲁塞尔自由大学理论物理与数学及国际索尔维研究所）
We study the discrete flows generated by the symmetry group of the BPS quivers for Calabi-Yau geometries describing five dimensional superconformal quantum field theories on a circle. These flows naturally describe the BPS particle spectrum of such theories and at the same time generate bilinear equations of q-difference type which, in the rank one case, are q-Painlevé equations. The solutions of these equations are shown to be given by grand canonical topological string partition functions which we identify with $τ$-functions of the cluster algebra associated to the quiver. We exemplify our c…
Detailed studies of four dimensional N=2 superconformal field theories (SCFT) defined by isolated complete intersection singularities are performed: we compute the Coulomb branch spectrum, Seiberg-Witten solutions and central charges. Most of our theories have exactly marginal deformations and we identify the weakly coupled gauge theory descriptions for many of them, which involve (affine) D and E shaped quiver gauge theories and theories formed from Argyres-Douglas matters. These investigations provide strong evidence for the singularity approach in classifying 4d N=2 SCFTs.
We consider four-dimensional N=2 superconformal field theories based on ADE quiver diagrams. We use the procedure of hep-th/0206079 and compute the exact anomalous dimensions of operators with large U(1)_R charge to all orders in perturbation in the planar limit. The results are in agreement with the string computation in the dual pp-wave backgrounds.
We present three infinite families of supersymmetric Type IIB backgrounds with AdS$_4$, AdS$_3$ and AdS$_2$ factors, dual to SCFTs in $3$, $2$ and $1$ space-time dimensions respectively. These field theories emerge at low energies, after a twisted compactification of a family of five dimensional ${\cal N}=2$ SCFTs on hyperbolic spaces. The holographic flows across dimensions are explicitly computed. We also discuss a family of SUSY breaking backgrounds, dual to a QCD-like quiver with massive (bi)fundamental matter. Some field theoretical observables are computed for these theories at the fixed…
We built the first eleven-dimensional supergravity solutions with SO(2,4)xSO(3)xU(1)_R symmetry that exhibit the asymptotic emergence of an extra U(1) isometry. This enables us to make the connection with the usual electrostatics-quiver description. The solution is obtained via the Toda frame of Kahler surfaces with vanishing scalar curvature and SU(2) action.
We study the full moduli space of vacua of 6d worldvolume SCFTs on M5 branes probing an $A$-type singularity, focusing on the geometric incarnation of the discrete gauging mechanism which acts as a discrete quotient on the Higgs branch fibered over the tensor branch. We combine insights from brane constructions and magnetic quiver techniques, in which discrete gauging is implemented through the concept of decoration introduced in [arXiv:2202.01218]. We discover and characterize new transverse slices between phases of 6d SCFTs, identifying some of them with a family of isolated symplectic singu…
We use F-theory to classify possibly all six-dimensional superconformal field theories (SCFTs). This involves a two step process: We first classify all possible tensor branches allowed in F-theory (which correspond to allowed collections of contractible spheres) and then classify all possible configurations of seven-branes wrapped over them. We describe the first step in terms of "atoms" joined into "radicals" and "molecules," using an analogy from chemistry. The second step has an interpretation via quiver-type gauge theories constrained by anomaly cancellation. A very surprising outcome of o…
We study Wilson loops in the 4-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric quiver/M theory duality recently constructed by Gaiotto and Maldacena, that is conjectured to be dual to M2 branes on AdS_5\times S^4 fibered over Σ_2. We use the localization method raised by Pestun, in order to compute the Wilson loop in 4-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric linear quiver gauge theory. We obtained the consistent results in the quiver gauge theory and the 11-dimensional supergravity. This match supports the N=2 quiver SCFT / M theory supergravity duality.
We find a large class of two-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ SCFTs obtained by compactifying four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ quiver gauge theories on a Riemann surface. We study these theories using anomalies and $c$-extremization. The gravitational duals to these fixed points are new AdS$_3$ solutions of IIB supergravity which we exhibit explicitly. Along the way we uncover a universal relation between the conformal anomaly coefficients of four-dimensional and two-dimensional SCFTs connected by an RG flow across dimensions. We also observe an interesting novel phenomenon in which the superco…
We construct new families of $\text{AdS}_2 \times S^2 \times S^2$ solutions with 4 supercharges in Type II supergravities. We show that subclasses of these solutions can be interpreted in terms of defect branes embedded in 4d $\mathcal{N} = 4 $ SYM, or orbifolds thereof. This is explicitly realised by showing that the solutions asymptote locally to $\text{AdS}_5 \times S^5/\mathbb{Z}_n$, in Type IIB, or its T-dual background, in Type IIA. The latter is a Gaiotto-Maldacena geometry realised on an intersection of D4 and NS5 branes. We extend the Type IIA solutions to include D6 branes, and inter…
Université Libre de Bruxelles（布鲁塞尔自由大学）；University of Birmingham（伯明翰大学）；SISSA and INFN（的里雅斯特高等研究学院和意大利国家核物理研究所）；Università di Trieste（的里雅斯特大学）；INFN, Sezione di Trieste（意大利国家核物理研究所的里雅斯特分部）
We consider 1/2-BPS circular Wilson loops in a class of 5d superconformal field theories on S^5. The large N limit of the vacuum expectation values of Wilson loops are computed both by localization in the field theory and by evaluating the fundamental string and D4-brane actions in the dual massive IIA supergravity background. We find agreement in the leading large N limit for a rather general class of representations, including fundamental, anti-symmetric and symmetric representations. For single node theories the match is straightforward, while for quiver theories, the Wilson loop can be in …
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 …
We propose new five-dimensional gauge theory descriptions of six-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ superconformal field theories arising from type IIA brane configurations including an $ON^0$-plane. The new five-dimensional gauge theories may have $SO$, $Sp$, and $SU$ gauge groups and further broaden the landscape of ultraviolet complete five-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric gauge theories. When we include an $O8^-$-plane in addition to an $ON^0$-plane, T-duality yields two $O7^-$-planes at the intersections of an $ON^0$-plane and two $O5^0$-planes. We propose a novel resolution of the…
M5-branes probing an ADE singularity lead to 6D SCFTs with (1,0) supersymmetry. On the tensor branch, the M5-branes specify domain walls of a 7D Super Yang-Mills theory with gauge group G of ADE-type, thus providing conformal matter for a broad class of generalized quiver theories. Additionally, these theories have G x G flavor symmetry, and a corresponding Higgs branch. In this note we use the F-theory realization of these theories to calculate the scaling dimension of the operator parameterizing seven-brane recombination, i.e. motion of the stack of M5-branes off of the orbifold singularity.…
We present a general prescription for constructing 3d $\mathcal{N}=4$ Lagrangians for the IR SCFTs that arise from the circle reduction of a large class of Argyres-Douglas theories. The resultant Lagrangian gives a realization of the Higgs branch of the 4d SCFT as a quiver variety, up to a set of decoupled interacting SCFTs with empty Higgs branches. As representative examples, we focus on the families $(A_{p-N-1}, A_{N-1})$ and $D_p(SU(N))$. The Lagrangian in question is generically a non-ADE-type quiver gauge theory involving only unitary gauge nodes with fundamental and bifundamental hyperm…
Starting from 6D superconformal field theories (SCFTs) realized via F-theory, we show how reduction on a circle leads to a uniform perspective on the phase structure of the resulting 5D theories, and their possible conformal fixed points. Using the correspondence between F-theory reduced on a circle and M-theory on the corresponding elliptically fibered Calabi--Yau threefold, we show that each 6D SCFT with minimal supersymmetry directly reduces to a collection of between one and four 5D SCFTs. Additionally, we find that in most cases, reduction of the tensor branch of a 6D SCFT yields a 5D gen…
Recent work on 6D superconformal field theories (SCFTs) has established an intricate correspondence between certain Higgs branch deformations and nilpotent orbits of flavor symmetry algebras associated with T-branes. In this paper, we return to the stringy origin of these theories and show that many aspects of these deformations can be understood in terms of simple combinatorial data associated with multi-pronged strings stretched between stacks of intersecting 7-branes in F-theory. This data lets us determine the full structure of the nilpotent cone for each semi-simple flavor symmetry algebr…
We systematically analyse 5d superconformal field theories (SCFTs) obtained by dimensional reduction from 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ SCFTs. Such theories have a realization as M-theory on a singular Calabi-Yau threefold, from which we determine the so-called combined fiber diagrams (CFD) introduced in arXiv:1906.11820, arXiv:1907.05404, arXiv:1909.09128. The CFDs are graphs that encode the superconformal flavor symmetry, BPS states, low energy descriptions, as well as descendants upon flavor matter decoupling. To obtain a 5d SCFT from 6d, there are two approaches: the first is to consider a circle…
The trinions $T_N$ are a class of 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) realized as M-theory on $\mathbb{C}^3/\mathbb{Z}_N \times \mathbb{Z}_N$. We apply to $T_N$, as well as closely-related SCFTs that are obtained by mass deformations, a multitude of recently developed approaches to studying 5d SCFTs and their IR gauge theory descriptions. Thereby we provide a complete picture of the theories both on the Coulomb branch and Higgs branch, from various geometric points of view - toric and gluing of compact surfaces as well as combined fiber diagrams - to magnetic quivers and H…
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Durham University（杜伦大学数学科学系）；Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford（牛津大学数学研究所）；Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook University（石溪大学西蒙斯几何与物理中心）
We study compactifications on Riemann surfaces with punctures of N=(1,0) 6d SCFTs with a one dimensional tensor branch and no continuous global symmetries. The effective description of such models on the tensor branch is in terms of pure gauge theories with decoupled tensor. For generic Riemann surfaces, the resulting theories in four dimensions are expected to have N=1 supersymmetry. We compute the anomalies expected from the resulting 4d theories by integrating the anomaly polynomial of the 6d theory on the Riemann surface. For the cases with 6d gauge models with gauge groups SU(3) and SO(8)…
We discuss a limit of 3d $T_ρ^σ[SU(N)]$ quiver gauge theories in which the number of nodes is large and the ranks scale quadratically with the length of the quiver. The sphere free energies and topologically twisted indices are obtained using supersymmetric localization. Both scale quartically with the length of the quiver and quadratically with $N$, with trilogarithm functions depending on the quiver data as coefficients. The IR SCFTs have well-behaved supergravity duals in Type IIB, and the free energies match precisely with holographic results. Previously discussed theories with $N^2\ln N$ …
We present a general prescription for determining the global U(1) symmetries of six-dimensional superconformal field theories (6D SCFTs). We use the quiver-like gauge theory description of the tensor branch to identify candidate U(1) symmetries which can act on generalized matter. The condition that these candidate U(1)'s are free of Adler-Bell-Jackiw (ABJ) anomalies provides bottom-up constraints for U(1)'s. This agrees with the answer obtained from symmetry breaking patterns induced by Higgs branch flows. We provide numerous examples illustrating the details of this proposal. In the F-theory…
We study a set of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) $\widehatΓ(G)$ labeled by a pair of simply-laced Lie groups $Γ$ and $G$. They are constructed out of gauging a number of $\mathcal{D}_p(G)$ and $(G, G)$ conformal matter SCFTs; therefore they do not have Lagrangian descriptions in general. For $Γ= D_4, E_6, E_7, E_8$ and some special choices of $G$, the resulting theories have identical central charges $(a=c)$ without taking any large $N$ limit. Moreover, we find that the Schur indices for such theories can be written in terms of that of $\mathcal{N}=4$ su…
