Properties of the partition function of $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric QCD with massive matter

Abstract

We study the different quantum phases that occur in massive $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric QCD with gauge groups $SU(2)$ and $SU(3)$ as the coupling $\Lambda /M$ is gradually increased from 0 to infinity. The phases can be identified by computing the exact partition function by saddle-points, combining supersymmetric localization and the Seiberg-Witten formalism. In all cases, we find two phases, a weak coupling and a strong coupling phase, separated by a critical point described by a superconformal field theory or involving superconformal sectors. In crossing the critical point, the dominant saddle-point hops from one singularity of the curve to another one. The theories seem to undergo a second-order phase transition with divergent susceptibility.

33 pages. References added

References in corpus (3)

• Comments on scaling limits of 4d N=2 theories
• N=2 gauge theories and quantum phases
• N = 2* Phase Transitions and Holography

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Cutting and gluing with running couplings in $\mathcal{N}=2$ QCD
• Phases of five-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories
• OPE coefficients in Argyres-Douglas theories
• Wilson loops in Large Symmetric Representations through a Double-Scaling Limit