Argyres-Douglas Theories and S-Duality

Abstract

We generalize S-duality to N=2 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) with Coulomb branch operators of non-integer scaling dimension. As simple examples, we find minimal generalizations of the S-dualities discovered in SU(2) gauge theory with four fundamental flavors by Seiberg and Witten and in SU(3) gauge theory with six fundamental flavors by Argyres and Seiberg. Our constructions start by weakly gauging diagonal SU(2) and SU(3) flavor symmetry subgroups of two copies of a particular rank-one Argyres-Douglas theory (along with sufficient numbers of hypermultiplets to guarantee conformality of the gauging). As we explore the resulting conformal manifold of the SU(2) SCFT, we find an action of S-duality on the parameters of the theory that is reminiscent of Spin(8) triality. On the other hand, as we explore the conformal manifold of the SU(3) theory, we find that an exotic rank-two SCFT emerges in a dual SU(2) description.

49 pages, 4 figures; v2: typos corrected, reference added, brief additional comments in section 4; results unchanged

References in corpus (10)

• S-duality in N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories
• R-Twisting and 4d/2d Correspondences
• Tinkertoys for Gaiotto Duality
• A holographic computation of the central charges of d=4, N=2 SCFTs
• Coulomb Branch and The Moduli Space of Instantons
• Constraints on Chiral Operators in N=2 SCFTs
• More Three Dimensional Mirror Pairs
• Hyperkahler manifolds and nonabelian Hodge theory of (irregular) curves
• Spectral Networks and Snakes
• Compact Conformal Manifolds

Cited by in corpus (7)

• N=1 Deformations and RG Flows of N=2 SCFTs, Part II: Non-principal deformations
• Vertex operator algebras of Argyres-Douglas theories from M5-branes
• N=1 Lagrangians for generalized Argyres-Douglas theories
• On Irregular Singularity Wave Functions and Superconformal Indices
• N=2 S-duality Revisited
• Rationalizing CFTs and Anyonic Imprints on Higgs Branches
• Argyres-Douglas matter and N=2 dualities