Exact results on N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories

Abstract

This is the introduction to the collection of review articles "Exact results on N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories". The first three sections are intended to give a general overview over the physical motivations behind this direction of research, and some of the developments that initiated this project. These sections are written for a broad audience of readers with interest in quantum field theory, assuming only very basic knowledge of supersymmetric gauge theories and string theory. This will be followed by a brief overview over the different chapters collected in this volume, while the last section indicates some related developments that we were unfortunately not able to cover.

arXiv comment34 pages, Introductory chapter of a collection of review articles: arXiv:1412.7118, arXiv:1412.7120, arXiv:1412.7121, arXiv:1412.7124, arXiv:1412.7126, arXiv:1412.7127, arXiv:1412.7128, arXiv:1412.7129, arXiv:1412.7131, arXiv:1412.7132, arXiv:1412.7133, arXiv:1412.7134, arXiv:1412.7140; v2: Article ID's added; v3: Minor corrections