English

Comments on F-maximization and R-symmetry in 3D SCFTs

High Energy Physics - Theory 2011-09-21 v2

Abstract

We report preliminary results on the recently proposed F-maximization principle in 3D SCFTs. We compute numerically in the large-N limit the free energy on the three-sphere of an N=2 Chern-Simons-Matter theory with a single adjoint chiral superfield which is known to exhibit a pattern of accidental symmetries associated to chiral superfields that hit the unitarity bound and become free. We observe that the F-maximization principle produces a U(1) R-symmetry consistent with previously obtained bounds but inconsistent with a postulated Seiberg-like duality. Potential modifications of the principle associated to the decoupling fields do not appear to be sufficient to account for the observed violations.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1103.5909,
  title  = {Comments on F-maximization and R-symmetry in 3D SCFTs},
  author = {Vasilis Niarchos},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1103.5909},
  year   = {2011}
}

Comments

17 pages, 3 figures; v2 a reference has been added, a missing factor of 2 has been corrected in eq (3.3) and the numerical results have been accordingly updated. The new results do not show any obvious signs of violation of previously obtained bounds. A potential disagreement with a postulated Seiberg-like duality is noted