Dimensional Gauge Theories Research Articles

The semi-classical expansion and resurgence in gauge theories: new perturbative, instanton, bion, and renormalon effects

Abstract We study the dynamics of four dimensional gauge theories with adjoint fermions for all gauge groups, both in perturbation theory and non-perturbatively, by using circle compactification with periodic boundary conditions for the fermions. There are new gauge phenomena. We show that, to all orders in perturbation theory, many gauge groups are Higgsed by the gauge holonomy around the circle to a product of both abelian and nonabelian gauge group factors. Non-perturbatively there are monopole-instantons with fermion zero modes and two types of monopole-anti-monopole molecules, called bions. One type are magnetic bions which carry net magnetic charge and induce a mass gap for gauge fluctuations. Another type are neutral bions which are magnetically neutral, and their understanding requires a generalization of multi-instanton techniques in quantum mechanics — which we refer to as the Bogomolny-Zinn-Justin (BZJ) prescription — to compactified field theory. The BZJ prescription applied to bion-anti-bion topological molecules predicts a singularity on the positive real axis of the Borel plane (i.e., a divergence from summing large orders in peturbation theory) which is of order N times closer to the origin than the leading 4-d BPST instanton-anti-instanton singularity, where N is the rank of the gauge group. The position of the bion-anti-bion singularity is thus qualitatively similar to that of the 4-d IR renormalon singularity, and we conjecture that they are continuously related as the compactification radius is changed. By making use of transseries and Écalle’s resurgence theory we argue that a non-perturbative continuum definition of a class of field theories which admit semi-classical expansions may be possible.

An ideal toy model for confining, walking and conformal gauge theories: the O(3) sigma model with ϑ-term

A toy model is proposed for four dimensional non-abelian gauge theories coupled to a large number of fermionic degrees of freedom. As the number of flavors is varied the gauge theory may be confining, walking or conformal. The toy model mimicking this feature is the two dimensional O(3) sigma model with a theta-term. For all theta the model is asymptotically free. For small theta the model is confining in the infra red, for theta = pi the model has a non-trivial infra red fixed point and consequently for theta slightly below pi the coupling walks. The first step in investigating the notoriously difficult systematic effects of the gauge theory in the toy model is to establish non-perturbatively that the theta parameter is actually a relevant coupling. This is done by showing that there exist quantities that are entirely given by the total topological charge and are well defined in the continuum limit and are non-zero, despite the fact that the topological susceptibility is divergent. More precisely it is established that the differences of connected correlation functions of the topological charge (the cumulants) are finite and non-zero and consequently there is only a single divergent parameter in Z(theta) but otherwise it is finite. This divergent constant can be removed by an appropriate counter term rendering the theory completely finite even at theta > 0.

Meson Thermalization in Various Dimensions

In gauge/gravity duality framework the thermalization of mesons in strongly coupled (p+1)-dimensional gauge theories is studied for a general Dp-Dq system, q>=p, using the flavour Dq-brane as a probe. Thermalization corresponds to the horizon formation on the flavour Dq-brane. We calculate the thermalization time-scale due to a time-dependent change in the baryon number chemical potential, baryon injection in the field theory. We observe that for such a general system it has a universal behaviour depending only on the t'Hooft coupling constant and the two parameters which describe how we inject baryons into the system. We show that this universal behaviour is independent of the details of the theory whether it is conformal and/or supersymmetric.

Dual-BRST symmetry: 6D Abelian 3-form gauge theory

Within the framework of the Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) formalism, we demonstrate the existence of the novel off-shell nilpotent (anti-)dual-BRST symmetries in the context of a six (5+1)-dimensional (6D) free Abelian 3-form gauge theory. Under these local and continuous symmetry transformations, the total gauge-fixing term of the Lagrangian density remains invariant. This observation should be contrasted with the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations, under which, the total kinetic term of the theory remains invariant. The anticommutator of the above nilpotent (anti-)BRST and (anti-)dual-BRST transformations leads to the derivation of a bosonic symmetry in the theory. There exists a discrete symmetry transformation in the theory which provides a thread of connection between the nilpotent (anti-)BRST and (anti-)dual-BRST transformations. This theory is endowed with a ghost-scale symmetry, too. We discuss the algebra of these symmetry transformations and show that the structure of the algebra is reminiscent of the algebra of de Rham cohomological operators of differential geometry.

An analysis of the first-order form of gauge theories

The first-order form of a Maxwell theory and U(1) gauge theory in which a gauge invariant mass term appears is analyzed using the Dirac procedure. The form of the gauge transformation that leaves the action invariant is derived from the constraints present. A nonabelian generalization is similarly analyzed. This first-order three dimensional massive gauge theory is rewritten in terms of two interacting vector fields. The constraint structure when using light-cone coordinates is considered. The relationship between first- and second-order forms of the two-dimensional Einstein–Hilbert action is explored where a Lagrange multiplier is used to ensure their equivalence.

Localization of gauge fields and Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory

We propose an explicit model, where an axionic domain wall dynamically localizes a U(1)-component of a nonabelian gauge theory living in a 3+1 dimensional bulk. The effective theory on the wall is 2+1d Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory with a compact U(1) gauge group. This setup allows us to understand all key properties of MCS theory in terms of the dynamics of the underlying 3+1 dimensional gauge theory. Our findings can also shed some light on branes in supersymmetric gluodynamics.

TOPOLOGICALLY MASSIVE NON-ABELIAN THEORY: SUPERFIELD APPROACH

We apply the well-established techniques of geometrical superfield approach to Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) formalism in the context of four (3+1)-dimensional (4D) dynamical non-Abelian 2-form gauge theory by exploiting its inherent "scalar" and "vector" gauge symmetry transformations and derive the corresponding off-shell nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting BRST and anti-BRST symmetry transformations. Our approach leads to the derivation of three (anti-)BRST invariant Curci–Ferrari (CF)-type restrictions that are found to be responsible for the absolute anticommutativity of the BRST and anti-BRST symmetry transformations. We derive the coupled Lagrangian densities that respect the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations corresponding to the "vector" gauge transformations. We also capture the (anti-)BRST invariance of the CF-type restrictions and coupled Lagrangian densities within the framework of our superfield approach. We obtain, furthermore, the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations when the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations corresponding to the "scalar" and "vector" gauge symmetries are merged together. These off-shell nilpotent "merged" (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations are, however, found to be non-anticommuting in nature.

Multi instanton tests of holography

Gauge theories living on stacks of D7-branes are holographically related to IIB gravitational backgrounds with a varying axion-dilaton field (F-theory). The axion-dilaton field is generated by D7, O7 and D-instanton sources and can be written in terms of the chiral correlators of the eight dimensional gauge theory living on the D7-branes. Using localization techniques, we prove that the same correlators determine the gauge coupling of the four-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric SU(2) gauge theories living on the elementary D3-brane which probes the F-theory geometries.

Holographic duals of D = 3 $ \mathcal{N} = 4 $ superconformal field theories

We find the warped AdS_4 x K type-IIB supergravity solutions holographically dual to a large family of three dimensional \cN=4 superconformal field theories labeled by a pair (\rho,\hat\rho) of partitions of N. These superconformal theories arise as renormalization group fixed points of three dimensional mirror symmetric quiver gauge theories, denoted by T^{\rho}_{\hat \rho}(SU(N)) and T_{\rho}^{\hat \rho}(SU(N)) respectively. We give a supergravity derivation of the conjectured field theory constraints that must be satisfied in order for these gauge theories to flow to a non-trivial supersymmetric fixed point in the infrared. The exotic global symmetries of these superconformal field theories are precisely realized in our explicit supergravity description.

Gauge-Higgs unification in Lifshitz-type gauge theory

We discuss the gauge-Higgs unification in a framework of Lifshitz type gauge theory. We study a higher dimensional gauge theory on R^{D-1}\times S^{1} in which the normal second (first) order derivative terms for scalar (fermion) fields in the action are replaced by higher order derivative ones for the direction of the extra dimension. We provide some mathematical tools to evaluate a one-loop effective potential for the zero mode of the extra component of a higher dimensional gauge field and clarify how the higher order derivative terms affect the standard form of the effective potential. Our results show that they can make the Higgs mass heavier and change its vacuum expectation value drastically. Some extensions of our framework are briefly discussed.

Darboux coordinates, Yang-Yang functional, and gauge theory

The moduli space of SL(2) flat connections on a punctured Riemann surface with the fixed conjugacy classes of the monodromies around the punctures is endowed with a system of holomorphic Darboux coordinates, in which the generating function of the variety of SL(2)-opers is identified with the universal part of the effective twisted superpotential of the corresponding four dimensional N=2 supersymmetric theory subject to the two-dimensional Omega-deformation. This allows to give a definition of the Yang-Yang functionals for the quantum Hitchin system in terms of the classical geometry of the moduli space of local systems for the dual gauge group, and connect it to the instanton counting of the four dimensional gauge theories, in the rank one case.

The virtue of defects in 4D gauge theories and 2D CFTs

We advance a correspondence between the topological defect operators in Liouville and Toda conformal field theories - which we construct - and loop operators and domain wall operators in four dimensional N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories on S^4. Our computation of the correlation functions in Liouville/Toda theory in the presence of topological defect operators, which are supported on curves on the Riemann surface, yields the exact answer for the partition function of four dimensional gauge theories in the presence of various walls and loop operators; results which we can quantitatively substantiate with an independent gauge theory analysis. As an interesting outcome of this work for two dimensional conformal field theories, we prove that topological defect operators and the Verlinde loop operators are different descriptions of the same operators.

Minimal composite inflation

We investigate models in which the inflaton emerges as a composite field of a four dimensional, strongly interacting and nonsupersymmetric gauge theory featuring only fermionic matter. We show that it is possible to obtain successful inflation via non-minimal coupling to gravity, and that the underlying dynamics is preferred to be near conformal. We discover that the compositeness scale of inflation is of the order of the grand unified energy scale.

An associative star-three-product and applications to M two/M five-brane theory

The star-product between functions enable us to take the large $N$ limit in a controlled way. At finite $N$ it serves as a substitute for matrix multiplications. Non-abelian gauge theory can be deconstructed from lower dimensional gauge theories using star-products. In this paper we extend the star-product to a star-three-product. We then apply the star-three-product to realize hermitian three-algebra of ABJM theory. We define a fuzzy three-torus. We deconstruct Abelian M five-brane in a constant background three-form potential on a fuzzy three-torus. We deconstruct non-Abelian extensions which might be related with multiple M five branes. We also mention the fuzzy three-sphere case.

A NOTE ON THE (ANTI-)BRST INVARIANT LAGRANGIAN DENSITIES FOR THE FREE ABELIAN 2-FORM GAUGE THEORY

We show that the previously known off-shell nilpotent [Formula: see text] and absolutely anticommuting (sb sab + sab sb = 0) Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) transformations (sb) and anti-BRST transformations (sab) are the symmetry transformations of the appropriate Lagrangian densities of a four (3+1)-dimensional (4D) free Abelian 2-form gauge theory which do not explicitly incorporate a very specific constrained field condition through a Lagrange multiplier 4D vector field. The above condition, which is the analogue of the Curci–Ferrari restriction of the non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, emerges from the Euler–Lagrange equations of motion of our present theory and ensures the absolute anticommutativity of the transformations s(a)b. Thus, the coupled Lagrangian densities, proposed in our present investigation, are aesthetically more appealing and more economical.

Twisted inflation

We present a new mechanism for slow-roll inflation based on higher dimensional supersymmetric gauge theory compactified to four dimensions with twisted (supersymmetry breaking) boundary conditions. These boundary conditions lead to a potential for directions in field space that would have been flat were supersymmetry preserved. For field values in these directions much larger than the supersymmetry-breaking scale, the flatness of the potential is nearly restored. Starting in this nearly flat region, inflation can occur as the theory relaxes towards the origin of field space. Near the origin, the potential becomes steep and the theory quickly descends to a confining gauge theory in which the inflaton does not exist as a particle. This confining gauge theory could be part of the Standard Model (QCD) or a natural dark matter sector; we comment on various scenarios for reheating. As a specific illustration of this mechanism, we discuss 4+1 dimensional maximally supersymmetric gauge theory on a circle with antiperiodic boundary conditions for fermions. When the theory is weakly coupled at the compactification scale, we calculate the inflaton potential directly in field theory by integrating out the heavy W-bosons and their superpartners. At strong coupling the model can be studied using a gravity dual, which realizes a new model of brane inflation on a non-supersymmetric throat geometry. Predictions from our model with minimal coupling to gravity are consistent with present observations, and imply a small tensor-to-scalar ratio.

Thermodynamics of large N gauge theories with chemical potentials in a 1/D expansion

In order to understand thermodynamical properties of N D-branes with chemical potentials associated with R-symmetry charges, we study a one dimensional large N gauge theory (bosonic BFSS type model) as a first step. This model is obtained through a dimensional reduction of a 1+D dimensional SU(N) Yang-Mills theory and we use a 1/D expansion to investigate the phase structure. We find three phases in the \mu-T plane. We also show that all the adjoint scalars condense at large D and obtain a mass dynamically. This dynamical mass protects our model from the usual perturbative instability of massless scalars in a non-zero chemical potential. We find that the system is at least meta-stable for arbitrary large values of the chemical potentials in D \to \infty limit. We also explore the existence of similar condensation in higher dimensional gauge theories in a high temperature limit. In 2 and 3 dimensions, the condensation always happens as in one dimensional case. On the other hand, if the dimension is higher than 4, there is a critical chemical potential and the condensation happens only if the chemical potentials are below it.

On the solvability of two dimensional semigroup gauge theories

We study the solvability of two dimensional semigroup gauge theories by Migdal’s link elimination method. We determine certain conditions that ensure that the partition sum corresponding to the join of two plaquettes depends only on the holonomy around the boundary of the joined plaquettes. These conditions are checked for a few types of semigroups: 0-groups, cyclic, inverse symmetric, and Brandt semigroups.

The Hilbert series of the one instanton moduli space

The moduli space of k G-instantons on R^4 for a classical gauge group G is known to be given by the Higgs branch of a supersymmetric gauge theory that lives on Dp branes probing D(p + 4) branes in Type II theories. For p = 3, these (3 + 1) dimensional gauge theories have N = 2 supersymmetry and can be represented by quiver diagrams. The F and D term equations coincide with the ADHM construction. The Hilbert series of the moduli spaces of one instanton for classical gauge groups is easy to compute and turns out to take a particularly simple form which is previously unknown. This allows for a G invariant character expansion and hence easily generalisable for exceptional gauge groups, where an ADHM construction is not known. The conjectures for exceptional groups are further checked using some new techniques like sewing relations in Hilbert Series. This is applied to Argyres-Seiberg dualities.

Holographic metamagnetism, quantum criticality, and crossover behavior

Using high-precision numerical analysis, we show that 3+1 dimensional gauge theories holographically dual to 4+1 dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory undergo a quantum phase transition in the presence of a finite charge density and magnetic field. The quantum critical theory has dynamical scaling exponent z=3, and is reached by tuning a relevant operator of scaling dimension 2. For magnetic field B above the critical value B_c, the system behaves as a Fermi liquid. As the magnetic field approaches B_c from the high field side, the specific heat coefficient diverges as 1/(B-B_c), and non-Fermi liquid behavior sets in. For B<B_c the entropy density s becomes non-vanishing at zero temperature, and scales according to s \sim \sqrt{B_c - B}. At B=B_c, and for small non-zero temperature T, a new scaling law sets in for which s\sim T^{1/3}. Throughout a small region surrounding the quantum critical point, the ratio s/T^{1/3} is given by a universal scaling function which depends only on the ratio (B-B_c)/T^{2/3}. The quantum phase transition involves non-analytic behavior of the specific heat and magnetization but no change of symmetry. Above the critical field, our numerical results are consistent with those predicted by the Hertz/Millis theory applied to metamagnetic quantum phase transitions, which also describe non-analytic changes in magnetization without change of symmetry. Such transitions have been the subject of much experimental investigation recently, especially in the compound Sr_3 Ru_2 O_7, and we comment on the connections.