Topological resolution of gauge theory singularities
arXiv:1305.2929 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.88.045018
Abstract
Some gauge theories with Coulomb branches exhibit singularities in perturbation theory, which are usually resolved by nonperturbative physics. In string theory this corresponds to the resolution of timelike singularities near the core of orientifold planes by effects from F or M theory. We propose a new mechanism for resolving Coulomb branch singularities in three dimensional gauge theories, based on Chern-Simons interactions. This is illustrated in a supersymmetric SU(2) Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory. We calculate the one loop corrections to the Coulomb branch of this theory and find a result that interpolates smoothly between the high energy metric (that would exhibit the singularity) and a regular singularity-free low energy result. We suggest possible applications to singularity resolution in string theory and speculate a relationship to a similar phenomenon for the orientifold six-plane in massive IIA supergravity.
24 pages, 1 figure. Revised version, references added
References in corpus (6)
- Quantum criticality
- Massive type IIA string theory cannot be strongly coupled
- Localized O6-plane solutions with Romans mass
- Quantum Criticality in Topological Insulators and Superconductors: Emergence of Strongly Coupled Majoranas and Supersymmetry
- Low-energy effective actions in three-dimensional extended SYM theories
- Background field formalism and construction of effective action for N=2, d=3 supersymmetric gauge theories