We propose a novel procedure of assigning a pair of non-unitary topological quantum field theories (TQFTs), TFT$_\pm [\mathcal{T}_{\rm rank \;0}]$, to a (2+1)D interacting $\mathcal{N}=4$ superconformal field theory (SCFT) $\mathcal{T}_{\rm rank \;0}$ of rank 0, i.e. having no Coulomb and Higgs branches. The topological theories arise from particular degenerate limits of the SCFT. Modular data of the non-unitary TQFTs are extracted from the supersymmetric partition functions in the degenerate limits. As a non-trivial dictionary, we propose that $F = \max_α\left(- \log |S^{(+)}_{0α}| \right) = \max_α\left(- \log |S^{(-)}_{0α}|\right)$, where $F$ is the round three-sphere free energy of $\mathcal{T}_{\rm rank \;0 }$ and $S^{(\pm)}_{0α}$ is the first column in the modular S-matrix of TFT$_\pm$. From the dictionary, we derive the lower bound on $F$, $F \geq -\log \left(\sqrt{\frac{5-\sqrt{5}}{10}} \right) \simeq 0.642965$, which holds for any rank 0 SCFT. The bound is saturated by the minimal $\mathcal{N}=4$ SCFT proposed by Gang-Yamazaki, whose associated topological theories are both the Lee-Yang TQFT. We explicitly work out the (rank 0 SCFT)/(non-unitary TQFTs) correspondence for infinitely many examples.
We study the six-dimensional (2,0) superconformal field theory on S^1 x S^2 x M via compactification to five dimensions, where M is a three-manifold. Twisted along M, the five-dimensional theory has a half of N = (2,2) supersymmetry on S^2, the other half being broken by a superpotential. We show that in the limit where M is infinitely large, the twisted theory reduces to a three-dimensional topological quantum field theory which is closely related to Chern-Simons theory for the complexified gauge group.
We study certain exactly marginal gaugings involving arbitrary numbers of Argyres-Douglas (AD) theories and show that the resulting Schur indices are related to those of certain Lagrangian theories of class $\mathcal{S}$ via simple transformations. By writing these quantities in the language of 2D topological quantum field theory (TQFT), we easily read off the $S$-duality action on the flavor symmetries of the AD quivers and also find expressions for the Schur indices of various classes of exotic AD theories appearing in different decoupling limits. The TQFT expressions for these latter theori…
We study Galois actions on $2+1$D topological quantum field theories (TQFTs), characterizing their interplay with theory factorization, gauging, the structure of gapped boundaries and dualities, 0-form symmetries, 1-form symmetries, and 2-groups. In order to gain a better physical understanding of Galois actions, we prove sufficient conditions for the preservation of unitarity. We then map out the Galois orbits of various classes of unitary TQFTs. The simplest such orbits are trivial (e.g., as in various theories of physical interest like the Toric Code, Double Semion, and 3-Fermion Model), an…
The decomposition of an arbitrary axiomatic topological quantum field theory or TQFT into indecomposable theories is given. In particular, unitary TQFT's in arbitrary dimensions are shown to decompose into a sum of theories in which the Hilbert space of the sphere is one-dimensional, and indecomposable two-dimensional theories are classified.
We construct a new class of three-dimensional topological quantum field theories (3d TQFTs) by considering generalized Argyres-Douglas theories on $S^1 \times M_3$ with a non-trivial holonomy of a discrete global symmetry along the $S^1$. For the minimal choice of the holonomy, the resulting 3d TQFTs are non-unitary and semisimple, thus distinguishing themselves from theories of Chern-Simons and Rozansky-Witten types respectively. Changing the holonomy performs a Galois transformation on the TQFT, which can sometimes give rise to more familiar unitary theories such as the $(G_2)_1$ and $(F_4)_…
We study the superconformal index for the class of N=2 4d superconformal field theories recently introduced by Gaiotto. These theories are defined by compactifying the (2,0) 6d theory on a Riemann surface with punctures. We interpret the index of the 4d theory associated to an n-punctured Riemann surface as the n-point correlation function of a 2d topological QFT living on the surface. Invariance of the index under generalized S-duality transformations (the mapping class group of the Riemann surface) translates into associativity of the operator algebra of the 2d TQFT. In the A_1 case, for whi…
We continue our program of mapping data of 4D $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) onto observables of 2D chiral rational conformal field theories (RCFTs) by revisiting an infinite set of strongly coupled Argyres-Douglas (AD) SCFTs and their associated logarithmic 2D chiral algebras. First, we turn on discrete flavor fugacities (for continuous flavor symmetries) in a known correspondence between certain unrefined characters of these logarithmic theories and unrefined characters of a set of unitary 2D chiral RCFTs. Motivated by this discussion, we then study 4D Higgs branch ren…
We construct a four supercharges Liouville superconformal field theory in four dimensions. The Liouville superfield is chiral and its lowest component is a log-correlated complex scalar whose real part carries a background charge. The action consists of a supersymmetric Paneitz operator, a background supersymmetric $\mathcal{Q}$-curvature charge and an exponential potential. It localizes semiclassically on solutions that describe curved superspaces with a constant complex supersymmetric $\mathcal{Q}$-curvature. The theory is non-unitary with a continuous spectrum of scaling dimensions. We stud…
We initiate a systematic study of four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) based on the analysis of their Coulomb branch geometries. Because these SCFTs are not uniquely characterized by their scale-invariant Coulomb branch geometries we also need information on their deformations. We construct all inequivalent such deformations preserving $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry and additional physical consistency conditions in the rank 1 case. These not only include all the ones previously predicted by S-duality, but also 16 additional deformations satisfying all the known…
We construct a Liouville superconformal field theory with eight real supercharges in four dimensions. The Liouville superfield is an $\mathcal{N}=2$ chiral superfield with sixteen bosonic and sixteen fermionic component fields. Its lowest component is a log-correlated complex scalar field whose real part carries a background charge. The theory is non-unitary with a continuous spectrum of scaling dimensions. We study its quantum dynamics on the supersymmetric 4-sphere and show that the classical background charge is not corrected quantum mechanically. We calculate the super-Weyl anomaly coeffic…
In this short paper, we argue that the chiral central charge $c_-$ of a (2+1)d topological ordered state is sometimes strongly constrained by 't Hooft anomaly of anti-unitary global symmetry. For example, if a (2+1)d fermionic TQFT has a time reversal anomaly with $T^2=(-1)^F$ labeled as $ν\in\mathbb{Z}_{16}$, the TQFT must have $c_-=1/4$ mod $1/2$ for odd $ν$, while $c_-=0$ mod $1/2$ for even $ν$. This generalizes the fact that the bosonic TQFT with $T$ anomaly in a particular class must carry $c_-=4$ mod $8$ to fermionic cases. We also study such a constraint for fermionic TQFT with $U(1)\ti…
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…
Bridging 4D QFTs and 2D VOAs via 3D high-temperature EFTs
Sharif University of Technology（谢里夫理工大学）；Fudan University（复旦大学）；Shanghai Institute for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences（上海数学与交叉学科研究院）；Seoul National University（首尔大学）；Stony Brook University（石溪大学）
In various dimensions, we can sometimes compute observables of interacting conformal field theories (CFTs) that are connected to free theories via the renormalization group (RG) flow by computing protected quantities in the free theories. On the other hand, in two dimensions, it is often possible to algebraically construct observables of interacting CFTs using free fields without the need to explicitly construct an underlying RG flow. In this note, we begin to extend this idea to higher dimensions by showing that one can compute certain observables of an infinite set of unitary strongly intera…
We systematically analyze the operator content of unitary superconformal multiplets in $d > 3$ spacetime dimensions. We present a simple, general, and efficient algorithm that generates all of these multiplets by correctly eliminating possible null states. The algorithm is conjectural, but passes a vast web of consistency checks. We apply it to tabulate a large variety of superconformal multiplets. In particular, we classify and construct all multiplets that contain conserved currents or free fields, which play an important role in superconformal field theories (SCFTs). Some currents that are …
Symmetry-protected topological phases (SPT) are short-range entangled gapped states protected by global symmetry. Nontrivial SPT phases cannot be adiabatically connected to the trivial disordered state(or atomic insulator) as long as certain global symmetry $G$ is unbroken. At low energies, most of two-dimensional SPTs with Abelian symmetry can be described by topological quantum field theory (TQFT) of multi-component Chern-Simons type. However, in contrast to the fractional quantum Hall effect where TQFT can give rise to interesting bulk anyons, TQFT for SPTs only supports trivial bulk excita…
We build a bridge between two algebraic structures in SCFT: a VOA in the Schur sector of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories and an associative algebra in the Higgs sector of 3d $\mathcal{N}=4$. The natural setting is a 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFT placed on $S^3\times S^1$: by sending the radius of $S^1$ to zero, we recover the 3d $\mathcal{N}=4$ theory, and the corresponding VOA on the torus degenerates to the associative algebra on the circle. We prove that: 1) the Higgs branch operators remain in the cohomology; 2) all the Schur operators of the non-Higgs type are lifted by line operators wrapped on th…
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…
We show that field theories with light-like noncommutativity, that is with $θ^{0i}=-θ^{1i}$, are unitary quantum theories, and that they can be obtained as decoupled field theory limits of string theory with D-branes in a background NS-NS $B$ field. For general noncommutativity parameters, we show that noncommutative field theories which are unitary can be obtained as decoupled field theory limits of string theory, while those that are not unitary cannot be obtained from string theory because massive open strings do not decouple. We study the different theories with light-like noncommutativity…
The study of topological quantum field theories increasingly relies upon concepts from higher-dimensional algebra such as n-categories and n-vector spaces. We review progress towards a definition of n-category suited for this purpose, and outline a program in which n-dimensional TQFTs are to be described as n-category representations. First we describe a "suspension" operation on n-categories, and hypothesize that the k-fold suspension of a weak n-category stabilizes for k >= n+2. We give evidence for this hypothesis and describe its relation to stable homotopy theory. We then propose a descri…
(2+1) dimensional topological quantum field theories with defect excitations are by now quite well understood, while many questions are still open for (3+1) dimensional TQFTs. Here we propose a strategy to lift states and operators of a (2+1) dimensional TQFT to states and operators of a (3+1) dimensional theory with defects. The main technical tool are Heegard splittings, which allow to encode the topology of a three--dimensional manifold with line defects into a two--dimensional Heegard surface. We apply this idea to the example of BF theory which describes locally flat connections. This sho…
This is the first in a series of papers on the search for the 2D CFT description of a large class of 4D $\mathcal{N} = 1$ gauge theories. Here, we identify the 2D CFT symmetry algebra and its representations, namely the conformal blocks of the Virasoro/W-algebra, that underlie the 2D theory and reproduce the Seiberg-Witten curves of the $\mathcal{N} = 1$ gauge theories. We find that the blocks corresponding to the SU(N) $\mathcal{S}_k$ gauge theories involve fields in certain non-unitary representations of the $W_{kN}$ algebra. These conformal blocks give a prediction for the instanton partiti…
We study a class of anomalies associated with time-reversal and spatial reflection symmetry in (2+1)D topological phases of matter. In these systems, the topological quantum numbers of the quasiparticles, such as the fusion rules and braiding statistics, possess a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry which can be associated with either time-reversal (denoted $\mathbb{Z}_2^{\bf T})$ or spatial reflections. Under this symmetry, correlation functions of all Wilson loop operators in the low energy topological quantum field theory (TQFT) are invariant. However, the theories that we study possess a severe anomal…
