Inspired by the gauge/YBE correspondence this paper derives some star-triangle type relations from dualities in $2d$ $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ $USp(2N)$ supersymmetric quiver gauge theories. To be precise, we study two cases. The first case is the Intriligator-Pouliot duality in $2d$ $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ $USp(2N)$ theories. The description is performed explicitly for $N=1,2,3,4,5$ and also for $N=3k+2$, which generalizes the situation in $N=2,5$. For $N=1$ a triangle identity is obtained. For $N=2,5$ it is found that the realization of duality implies slight variations of a star-triangle relation type (STR type). The values $N=3,4$ are associated to a similar version of the asymmetric STR. The second case is a new duality for $2d$ $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ $USp(2N)$ theories with matter in the antisymmetric tensor representation that arises from dimensional reduction of $4d$ $\mathcal{N}=1$ $USp(2N)$ Csáki-Skiba-Schmaltz duality. It is shown that this duality is associated to a triangle type identity for any value of $N$. In all cases Boltzmann weights as well as interaction and normalization factors are completely determined. Finally, our relations are compared with those previously reported in the literature.
We study various aspects of the 4d/3d reduction of $\mathcal{N}=1$ dualities involving $USp(2N_c)$ gauge theories with $2N_f$ fundamentals and one antisymmetric. We discuss the non-trivial role played by the monopole superpotentials in the reduction and obtain new 3d dualities for models with both symplectic and unitary gauge groups. For $N_f=4$ we observe interesting webs of dualities and symmetry enhancements, recovering and extending some results already appeared in the literature.
We study deformations of dualities in finite N=2 supersymmetric QCD. Adding mass terms for some quarks and the adjoint matter to the finite N=2 theory, which is known to have dual descriptions, the correspondence of gauge invariant operators between the original and dual theory is deformed. As a result, we naturally obtain N.Seiberg's N=1 duality. Furthermore, we discuss the origin of the meson and superpotential in the dual theory. This approach can be applied to SU(N), SO(N), and USp(2N) gauge theories, and we analyze all these cases.
We consider interesting Seiberg dualities for $Usp$ gauge theories with an antisymmetric, $8$ fundamentals and no superpotential. We reduce to three dimensions and systematically analyze deformations triggered by real and complex masses, reaching a plethora of $\mathcal{N}\!=\!2$ dualities for $U(N)$ and $Usp(2N)$ gauge theories, possibly with monopole superpotentials and Chern-Simons interactions. Special cases of these "exceptional dualities" are: supersymmetry enhancement dualities, "duality appetizers" and many known dualities relating rank-$1$ gauge groups. The $4d$ $\mathcal{N}\!=\!1$ $U…
Extending recent work on SU gauge theory, we engineer local string models for N=1 four-dimensional SO and USp gauge theories coupled to matter in the fundamental. The local models are type IIB orientifolds with D7 branes on a curved orientifold 7-plane, and matter realized by adding D3 branes on the orientifold plane. The Higgs branches of the SO and USp theories can be matched with the moduli spaces of SO and USp instantons on the compact four-dimensional part of the D7 branes worldvolume. The R-charge of the gauge theories is identified with a U(1) symmetry on the worldvolume of an Euclidean…
We determine the exact global structure of the moduli space of $N{=}2$ supersymmetric $SO(n)$ and $\USp(2n)$ gauge theories with matter hypermultiplets in the fundamental representations, using the non-renormalization theorem for the Higgs branches and the exact solutions for the Coulomb branches. By adding an $(N{=}2)$--breaking mass term for the adjoint chiral field and varying the mass, the $N{=}2$ theories can be made to flow to either an ``electric'' $N{=}1$ supersymmetric QCD or its $N{=}1$ dual ``magnetic'' version. We thus obtain a derivation of the $N{=}1$ dualities of Seiberg.
We construct a family of $4d$ $\mathcal{N}=1$ theories that we call $E^σ_ρ[USp(2N)]$ which exhibit a novel type of $4d$ IR duality very reminiscent of the mirror duality enjoyed by the $3d$ $\mathcal{N}=4$ $T^σ_ρ[SU(N)]$ theories. We obtain the $E^σ_ρ[USp(2N)]$ theories from the recently introduced $E[USp(2N)]$ theory, by following the RG flow initiated by vevs labelled by partitions $ρ$ and $σ$ for two operators transforming in the antisymmetric representations of the $USp(2N) \times USp(2N)$ IR symmetries of the $E[USp(2N)]$ theory. These vevs are the $4d$ uplift of the ones we turn on for t…
We discuss USp(2n) supersymmetric models with eight fundamental fields and a field in the antisymmetric representation. Turning on the most generic superpotentials, coupling pairs of fundamental fields to powers of the antisymmetric field while preserving an R symmetry, we give evidence for the statement that the models are connected by a large network of dualities which can be organized into orbits of the Weyl group of E_8. We make also several curious observations about such models. In particular, we argue that a USp(2m) model with the addition of singlet fields and even rank m flows in the …
We study 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SQCD with symplectic and orthogonal gauge groups and adjoint matter. For $USp(2n)$ with two fundamentals and $SO(N)$ with one vector these models have been recently shown to s-confine. Here we corroborate the validity of this proposal by relating it to the confinement of $USp(2n)$ with four fundamentals and an antisymmetric tensor, using exact mathematical results coming from the analysis of the partition function on the squashed three-sphere. Our analysis allows us to conjecture new s-confining theories for a higher number of fundamentals and vectors, in presence o…
We generalize recent construction of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ SCFT from wrapping six-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=(2,0)$ theory on a Riemann surface to the case of $D$-type with outer-automorphism twists. This construction allows us to build various dual theories for a class of $\mathcal{N}=1$ quiver theories of $SO-USp$ type. In particular, we find there are five dual frames to $SO(2N)/USp(2N-2)/G_2$ gauge theories with $(4N-4)/4N/8$ fundamental flavors, where three of them are non-Lagrangian. We check the dualities by computing the anomaly coefficients and the superconformal indices. In …
We apply the technique of sequential deconfinement to the four dimensional $\mathcal{N}\!=\!1$ $Usp(2N)$ gauge theory with an antisymmetric field and $2F$ fundamentals. The fully deconfined frame is a length-$N$ quiver. We use this deconfined frame to prove the known self-duality of $Usp(2N)$ with an antisymmetric field and $8$ fundamentals. Along the way we encounter a subtlety: in certain quivers with degenerate holomorphic operators, a naive application of Seiberg duality rules leads to an incorrect superpotential or chiral ring. We also consider the reduction to $3d$ $\mathcal{N}\!=\!2$ th…
In this paper we present various $4d$ $\mathcal{N}=1$ dualities involving theories obtained by gluing two $E[USp(2N)]$ blocks via the gauging of a common $USp(2N)$ symmetry with the addition of $2L$ fundamental matter chiral fields. For $L=0$ in particular the theory has a quantum deformed moduli space with chiral symmetry breaking and its index takes the form of a delta-function. We interpret it as the Identity wall which identifies the two surviving $USp(2N)$ of each $E[USp(2N)]$ block. All the dualities are derived from iterative applications of the Intriligator--Pouliot duality. This plays…
In the last few years several dualities were found between the low-energy behaviors of Chern-Simons-matter theories with unitary gauge groups coupled to scalars, and similar theories coupled to fermions. In this paper we generalize those dualities to orthogonal and symplectic gauge groups. In particular, we conjecture dualities between $SO(N)_k$ Chern-Simons theories coupled to $N_f$ real scalars in the fundamental representation, and $SO(k)_{-N+N_f/2}$ coupled to $N_f$ real (Majorana) fermions in the fundamental. For $N_f=0$ these are just level-rank dualities of pure Chern-Simons theories, w…
We realize four-dimensional N=2 superconformal quiver gauge theories with alternating SO and USp gauge groups as compactifications of the six-dimensional D_N theory with defects. The construction can be used to analyze infinitely strongly-coupled limits and S-dualities of such gauge theories, resulting in a new class of isolated four-dimensional N=2 superconformal field theories with SO(2N)^3 flavor symmetry.
In this work we extend the results of previous derivations of Seiberg-like dualities (level-rank duality) between gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten theories. The arguments in use to identify a potential dual for the supersymmetric WZW theory based on the coset $\frac{U(N+M)_k}{U(N)_k}$ can be extended to be applied to a wider variety of gauge groups, notably $\frac{USp(2N+2M)_{2k}}{USp(2N)_{2k}}$ and $\frac{SO(2N+2M)_{2k}}{SO(2N)_{2k}}$, which will be dealt with briefly. Most interestingly, non-supersymmetric versions of the latter theories can also be shown to have duals in a similar fashion. These r…
We discuss the four dimensional models obtained by compactifying a single M5 brane probing $D_{N}$ singularity (minimal D-type $(1,0)$ conformal matter in six dimensions) on a torus with flux for abelian subgroups of the $SO(4N)$ flavor symmetry. We derive the resulting quiver field theories in four dimensions by first compactifying on a circle and relating the flux to duality domain walls in five dimensions. This leads to novel ${\cal N}=1$ dualities in 4 dimensions which arise from distinct five dimensional realizations of the circle compactifications of the D-type conformal matter.
We study 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ dualities arising from the compactification of 4d $\mathcal{N}=1$ $Usp(2 n)$ SQCD with two antisymmetric rank-two tensors and $D_{k+2}$-type superpotential, with odd $k$. The analysis is carried out by using field theory methods and by checking the various steps on the three sphere partition function. Most of the results are based on a conjectural confining duality that we do not prove but that fits consistently with the web of dualities that we obtain. Along the analysis we recover dualities already claimed in the literature and we propose new ones. The final pictu…
The Hori-Tong and Hori dualities are infrared dualities between two-dimensional gauge theories with $\mathcal{N}{=}(2,2)$ supersymmetry, which are reminiscent of four-dimensional Seiberg dualities. We provide additional evidence for those dualities with $U(N_c)$, $USp(2N_c)$, $SO(N)$ and $O(N)$ gauge groups, by matching correlation functions of Coulomb branch operators on a Riemann surface $Σ_g$, in the presence of the topological $A$-twist. The $O(N)$ theories studied, denoted by $O_+ (N)$ and $O_- (N)$, can be understood as $\mathbb{Z}_2$ orbifolds of an $SO(N)$ theory. The correlators of th…
We study dualities for $3d$ $\text{U}(N_{c})_k$ chiral SQCD with $D_{n+2}$-type superpotential, with $n$ odd. We give a complete classification of such dualities in terms of the number of fundamentals and anti-fundamentals and the Chern-Simons level. The classification is obtained by real mass and Higgs flows from non-chiral dualities and we check the consistency of the new non-chiral dualities at the level of the partition function. We we also check that the complex phases appearing in the integral identities between the partition functions are consistent with the contact terms computed as qu…
We propose some new infra-red dualities for $2d$ $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ theories. The first one relates a $USp(2N)$ gauge theory with one antisymmetric chiral, four fundamental chirals and $N$ Fermi singlets to a Landau-Ginzburg model of $N$ Fermi and $6N$ chiral fields with cubic interactions. The second one relates $SU(2)$ linear quiver gauge theories of arbitrary length $N-1$ with the addition of $N$ Fermi singlets for any non-negative integer $N$. They can be understood as a generalization of the duality between an $SU(2)$ gauge theory with four fundamental chirals and a Landau-Ginzburg model…
One interesting feature of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories is that gauge-invariant operators can decouple by strong-coupling effects, leading to emergent flavor symmetries in the IR. The details of such decoupling, however, depends very delicately on the gauge group and matter content of the theory. We here systematically study the IR behavior of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SQCD with $N_f$ flavors, for gauge groups $\mathrm{SU}(N_c), \mathrm{USp}(2N_c)$ and $\mathrm{SO}(N_c)$. We apply a combination of analytical and numerical methods, both to small values of $N_c, N_f$ and also to the Veneziano limit, whe…
We consider four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theories that are S-confining, that is they are dual to a Wess-Zumino model. S-confining theories with a simple gauge group have been classified. We prove all the S-confining dualities in the list, when the matter fields transform in rank-$1$ and/or rank-$2$ representations. Our only assumptions are the S-confining dualities for $SU(N)$ with $N+1$ flavors and for $Usp(2N)$ with $2N+4$ fundamentals. The strategy consists in a sequence of deconfinements and re-confinements. We pay special attention to the explicit superpotential at each step.
We study low-energy dynamics of three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ $SU(N)$ "chiral" gauge theories with $F$ fundamental and $\bar{F}$ anti-fundamental matters without a Chern-Simons term. Compared to a naive semi-classical analysis of the Coulomb branch, its quantum structure is highly richer than expected due to so-called "dressed" Coulomb branch (monopole) operators. We propose dualities and confinement phases for the "chiral" $SU(N)$ theories. The theories with $N>F > \bar{F}$ exhibit spontaneous supersymmetry breaking. The very many Coulomb branch operators generally remain exactly massless…
We obtain the brane setup describing 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ dualities for $USp(2N_c)$ and $U(N_c)$ SQCD with monopole superpotentials. This classification follows from a complete analysis of affine and twisted affine compactifications from 4d. The analysis leads to a new duality for the unitary case that has been previously overlooked in the literature. We check this by matching of the three sphere partition function of the two sides of this new duality and find a perfect agreement. Furthermore we use the partition function to predict new 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ dualities for SQCD with monopole superpo…
We establish the action of the three-dimensional non-Abelian bosonization dualities in the presence of a boundary, which supports a non-anomalous two-dimensional theory. In particular, we generalize a prescriptive method for assigning duality consistent boundary conditions used originally for Abelian dualities to dual non-Abelian Chern-Simons-matter theories with $SU$ and $U$ gauge groups and fundamental matter sectors. The cases of single species matter sectors and those with both scalars and fermions in the dual theories are considered. Generalization of our methods to $SO$ and $USp$ Chern-S…
We show that the equality of 2d $\mathcal{N}$=(2,2) supersymmetric indices in Seiberg-type duality leads to a new integrable Ising-type model. The emergence of the new model is the result of correspondence between the supersymmetric $SU(2)$ quiver gauge theories and the Yang-Baxter equation. Using this correspondence, we solve the star-triangle relation and obtain the two-dimensional exactly solvable spin model. The model corresponding to our solution possesses continuous spin variables on the circle and the Boltzmann weights are demonstrated in terms of Jacobi theta function. Using the soluti…
Different compactifications of six-dimensional string theory on $M_4 \times T^2$ are considered. Particular attention is given to the roles of the reduced modes as the $S$ and $T$ fields. It is shown that there is a discrete group of invariances of an equilateral triangle hidden in the model. This group is realized as the interchanges of the two-form fields present in the intermediate step of dimensional reduction in five dimensions. The key ingredient for the existence of this group is the presence of an additional $U(1)$ gauge field in five dimensions, arising as the dual of the Kalb-Ramond …
Recently, a D-brane construction in type IIA string theory was shown to yield the electric/magnetic duality of four dimensional N=1 supersymmetric U(N_c) gauge theories with N_f flavours of quark. We present here an extension of that construction which yields the electric/magnetic duality for the SO(N_c) and USp(N_c) gauge theories with N_f quarks, by adding an orientifold plane which is consistent with the supersymmetry. Due to the intersection of the orientifold plane with the NS-NS fivebranes already present, new features arise which are crucial in determining the correct final structure of…
Exceptional field theories are the manifestly duality covariant formulations of the target space theories of string/M-theory in the low-energy limit (supergravity) or for certain truncations. These theories feature a rich system of sub-theories, corresponding to different consistent truncations. We review the structure of exceptional field theory and elaborate on various potential applications. In particular, we discuss how exceptional field theories capture some of the the magic supergravity triangles, Hull's $*$-theories related to timelike dualities, as well as the generalized supergravitie…
The univariate elliptic beta integral was discovered by the author in 2000. Recently Bazhanov and Sergeev have interpreted it as a star-triangle relation (STR). This important observation is discussed in more detail in connection to author's previous work on the elliptic modular double and supersymmetric dualities. We describe also a new Faddeev-Volkov type solution of STR, connections with the star-star relation, and higher-dimensional analogues of such relations. In this picture, Seiberg dualities are described by symmetries of the elliptic hypergeometric integrals (interpreted as superconfo…
We review the categorical approach to the BPS sector of a 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ QFT, clarifying many tricky issues and presenting a few novel results. To a given $\mathcal{N}=2$ QFT one associates several triangle categories: they describe various kinds of BPS objects from different physical viewpoints (e.g. IR versus UV). These diverse categories are related by a web of exact functors expressing physical relations between the various objects/pictures. A basic theme of this review is the emphasis on the full web of categories, rather than on what we can learn from a single description. A second g…
We give a brief account of the key properties of elliptic hypergeometric integrals -- a relatively recently discovered top class of transcendental special functions of hypergeometric type. In particular, we describe an elliptic generalization of Euler's and Selberg's beta integrals, elliptic analogue of the Euler-Gauss hypergeometric function and some multivariable elliptic hypergeometric functions on root systems. The elliptic Fourier transformation and corresponding integral Bailey lemma technique is outlined together with a connection to the star-triangle relation and Coxeter relations for …
