Strong coupling for planar SYM theory: An all-order result

We propose a scheme for determining a generalised scaling function, namely the Sudakov factor in a peculiar double scaling limit for high spin and large twist operators belonging to the sl(2) sector of planar SYM. In particular, we perform explicitly the all-order computation at strong 't Hooft coupling regarding the first (contribution to the) generalised scaling function. Moreover, we compare our asymptotic results with the numerical solutions finding a very good agreement and evaluate numerically the non-asymptotic contributions. Eventually, we illustrate the agreement and prediction on the string side.     

The off-shell infrared problem in N = 1 supersymmetric yang-mills theories (II). General massless models

We prove that in a general massless N = I SYM theory off-shell Green functions exist such that Green functions of gauge invariant operators are supersymmetrically covariant. The off-shell infrared problem present in the superfield treatment of these theories is thus shown to remain a gauge artefact. The N = 2, 4 pure SYM theories are covered by this result and thus exist as N = 1 SYM theories.     

Euclidean SYM theories by time reduction and special holonomy manifolds

Euclidean supersymmetric theories are obtained from Minkowskian theories by performing a reduction in the time direction. This procedure elucidates certain mysterious features of Zumino's N = 2 model in four dimensions, provides manifestly hermitian Euclidean counterparts of all non-mimimal SYM theories, and is also applicable to supergravity theories. We reanalyse the twists of the 4d N = 2 and N = 4 models from this point of view. Other applications include SYM theories on special holonomy manifolds. In particular, we construct a twisted SYM theory on Kähler 3-folds and clarify the structure of SYM theory on hyper-Kähler 4-folds.     

Renormalizable N = 2 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

Renormalizable supersymmetric models of matter multiplets coupled to a Yang Mills multiplet are studied in the conventional N = 2 superspace. It is found that a consistent formulation of the Feynman rules in superspace requires the introduction of a compensator superfield in the matter sector. If the quantization is performed within the background superfield approach, the use of the compensator is confined to the quantum corrections. The ensuing ghost structure is analyzed and the non-renormalization beyond one-loop is demonstrated. We report an N = 2 superfield calculation of the one-loop β-function via the supercurrent anomaly and thereby derive as a byproduct the finiteness criterion for N = 2 non-Abelian gauge theories.     

Superconformal Indices of $${{\mathcal N}=4}$$ SYM Field Theories

Superconformal indices (SCIs) of 4d N = 4{{\mathcal N} = 4} SYM theories with simple gauge groups are described in terms of elliptic hypergeometric integrals. For F ₄, E ₆, E ₇, E ₈ gauge groups this yields first examples of integrals of such type. S-duality transformation for G ₂ and F ₄ SCIs is equivalent to a change of integration variables. Equality of SCIs for SP(2N) and SO(2N + 1) group theories is proved in several important special cases. Reduction of SCIs to partition functions of 3d N=2{{\mathcal N}=2} SYM theories with one matter field in the adjoint representation is investigated, corresponding 3d dual partners are found, and some new related hyperbolic beta integrals are conjectured.     

From 4d superconformal indices to 3d partition functions

An exact formula for partition functions in 3d field theories was recently suggested by Jafferis, and Hama, Hosomichi, and Lee. These functions are expressed in terms of specific q-hypergeometric integrals whose key building block is the double sine function (or the hyperbolic gamma function). Elliptic hypergeometric integrals, discovered by the second author, define 4d superconformal indices. Using their reduction to the hyperbolic level, we describe a general scheme of reducing 4d superconformal indices to 3d partition functions which imply an efficient way of getting 3dN=2 supersymmetric dualities for both SYM and CS theories from the “parent” 4dN=1 dualities for SYM theories. As an example, we consider explicitly the duality pattern for 3dN=2 SYM and CS theories with SP(2N) gauge group with the antisymmetric tensor matter.     

Heavy-quark energy loss in pQCD and SYM plasmas

We consider heavy-quark energy loss and p _⊥ -broadening in a strongly-coupled N=4 Super Yang–Mills (SYM) plasma, and the problem of finite-extent matter is addressed. When expressed in terms of the appropriate saturation momentum, one finds identical parametric forms for the energy loss in pQCD and SYM theory, while p _⊥ -broadening is radiation dominated in SYM theory and multiple scattering dominated in pQCD. C.M. is supported by the European Commission under the FP6 program, contract No. MOIF-CT-2006-039860.     

Anomalous discrete chiral symmetry in the Gross–Neveu model and loop gas simulations

We investigate the discrete chiral transformation of a Majorana fermion on a torus. Depending on the boundary conditions the integration measure can change sign. Taking this anomalous behavior into account we define a chiral order parameter as a ratio of partition functions with differing boundary conditions. Then the lattice realization of the Gross–Neveu model with Wilson fermions is simulated using the recent ‘worm’ technique on the loop gas or all-order hopping representation of the fermions. An algorithm is formulated that includes the Gross–Neveu interaction for N fermion species. The critical line m_c(g) is constructed for a range of couplings at N=6 and for N=2, the Thirring model, as examples.     

Super Yang–Mills theory from nonlinear supersymmetry

The relation between a nonlinear supersymmetric (NLSUSY) theory and a SUSY Yang–Mills (SYM) theory is studied for N=3$N=3$ SUSY in two-dimensional space–time. We explicitly show the NL/L SUSY relation for the (pure) SYM theory by means of cancellations among Nambu–Goldstone fermion self-interaction terms.     

Toward finite quantum field theories

The properties that make theN=4 super Yang-Mills theory free from ultraviolet divergences are (i) a universal coupling for gauge and matter interactions, (ii) anomaly-free representations, (iii) no charge renormalization, and (iv) if masses are explicitly introduced into the theory, then these are required to satisfy the mass-squared supertrace sum rule _s=0,1/2(–1)^2s+1(2s+1)M _s ² =0. FiniteN=2 theories are found to satisfy the above criteria. The missing member in this class of field theories are finite field theories consisting ofN=1 superfields. These theories are discussed in the light of the above finiteness properties. In particular, the representations of all simple classical groups satisfying the anomaly-free and no-charge renormalization conditions for finiteN=1 field theories are discussed. A consequence of these restrictions on the allowed representations is that anN=1 finiteSU (5)-based model of strong and electroweak interactions can contain at most five conventional families of quarks and leptons, a constraint almost compatible with the one deduced from cosmological arguments.     

Exact Spectrum of Anomalous Dimensions of Planar <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> = 4 Supersymmetric Yang–Mills Theory: TBA and excited states

Using the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz method we derive an infinite set of integral non-linear equations for the spectrum of states/operators in AdS/CFT. The Y-system conjectured in Gromov et al. (Integrability for the Full Spectrum of Planar AdS/CFT. arXiv:0901.3753 [hep-th]) for the spectrum of all operators in planar N = 4 SYM theory follows from these equations. In particular, we present the integral TBA type equations for the spectrum of all operators within the sl(2) sector. We prove that all the kernels and free terms entering these TBA equations are real and have nice fusion properties in the relevant mirror kinematics. We find the analog of DHM formula for the dressing kernel in the mirror kinematics.     

The chiral anomaly in supersymmetric gauge theories coupled to supergravity

We extend a previously developed algebraic-cohomological method to calculate an explicit form of the consistent chiral anomaly in a SYM theory coupled to N = 1 supergravity.     

Background field formalism and construction of effective action for N = 2, d = 3 supersymmetric gauge theories

We review the background field method for three-dimensional Yang-Mills and Chern-Simons models in N = 2 superspace. Superfield proper time (heat kernel) techniques are developed and exact expressions of heat kernels for constant backgrounds are presented. The background field method and heat kernel techniques are applied for evaluating the low-energy effective actions in N = 2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills and Chern-Simons models as well as in N = 4 and N = 8 SYM theories.     

Towards a finite N = 2 susy GUT

We consider finite, N = 2 supersymmetric GUTs based on gauge groups SU(n) and SO(n). As an example, we discuss a semirealistic model based on SO(12). We argue that in finite, N = 2 supersymmetric GUTs, gauge symmetry breaking should occur dynamically. We present a heuristic picture in which this is induced by soft, finiteness preserving SUSY breaking terms. The bound states formed cause a very rapid evolution of the SO(12) coupling constant and break SO(12) into SU(4)×SU(3)_C×U(1).     

Non-perturbative construction of 2D and 4D supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories with 8 supercharges

In this paper, we consider two-dimensional N=(4,4) supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM) theory and deform it by a mass parameter M with keeping all supercharges. We further add another mass parameter m in a manner to respect two of the eight supercharges and put the deformed theory on a two-dimensional square lattice, on which the two supercharges are exactly preserved. The flat directions of scalar fields are stabilized due to the mass deformations, which gives discrete minima representing fuzzy spheres. We show in the perturbation theory that the lattice continuum limit can be taken without any fine tuning. Around the trivial minimum, this lattice theory serves as a non-perturbative definition of two-dimensional N=(4,4) SYM theory. We also discuss that the same lattice theory realizes four-dimensional N=2U(k) SYM on R²×(Fuzzy R²) around the minimum of k-coincident fuzzy spheres.     

N = 4 SYM low-energy effective action in N = 4 harmonic superspace

We apply the N = 4 harmonic superspace with USp(4) harmonic variables for describing the N = 4 SYM low-energy effective action. Scale invariance and gauge symmetry fix the leading term in the low-energy effective action uniquely, up to a constant. The value of the remaining constant can be fixed by the topological quantization condition for the Wess-Zumino term which is present in the component structure of this action.