Related papers: Instantons Versus Supersymmetry: Fifteen Years Lat…
We relate the non-perturbative exact results in supersymmetry to perturbation theory using several different methods: instanton calculations at weak or strong coupling, a method using gaugino condensation and another method relating strong…
The role of instantons in describing non-perturbative aspects of globally supersymmetric gauge theories is reviewed. The cases of theories with N=1, N=2 and N=4 supersymmetry are discussed. Special attention is devoted to the intriguing…
The aim of this review is to demonstrate that there exists a coherent picture of strong interactions, based on instantons. Starting from the first principles of QCD - via the microscopic mechanism of spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking -…
Using instanton calculus we check, in the weak coupling region, the nonperturbative relation $$ <\Tr\phi^2>=i\pi\left(\cf-{a\over 2} {\partial\cf\over\partial a}\right)$$ obtained for a N=2 globally supersymmetric gauge theory. Our…
A characterization of instanton contributions to gauge field theory is given. The dynamics of instantons with the gluon field is given in terms of 'classical' instanton contributions, i.e. on the same footing as tree amplitudes in field…
Instantons play a crucial role in understanding non-perturbative dynamics in quantum field theories, including those with spontaneously broken gauge symmetries. In the broken phase, finite-size instanton-like configurations are no longer…
We clarify certain aspects of instanton operators in five-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories. In particular, we show how, in the pointlike limit, they become supersymmetric and provide the natural bridge with the instantonic states…
We describe the modern formalism, ideas and applications of the instanton calculus for gauge theories with, and without, supersymmetry. Particular emphasis is put on developing a formalism that can deal with any number of instantons. This…
We construct a supersymmetric version of instanton operators in five-dimensional Yang-Mills theories. This is possible by considering a five-dimensional generalization of the familiar four-dimensional topologically twisted theory, where the…
Non-perturbative effects of instanton-like solutions are studied within the framework of supergravity theories with field-dependent gauge functions. Fermionic zero modes are constructed and some typical correlation functions are evaluated.…
Supersymmetric gauge theories in five dimensions often exhibit less symmetry than the ultraviolet fixed points from which they flow. The fixed points might have larger flavor symmetry or they might even be secretly six-dimensional theories…
In this talk I review some recent results concerning multi-instanton calculus in supersymmetric field theories. More in detail, I will show how these computations can be efficiently performed using the formalism of topological field…
We discuss the spontaneous breakdown of chiral symmetry in Quantum Chromodynamics by considering gluonic instanton configurations in the partition function. It is shown that in order to obtain nontrivial fermionic correlators in a two…
Using an instanton effective action formalism, we compute the critical coupling for the nonperturbative formation of a dynamical mass via instantons in non-Abelian gauge theories with N_f massless fermions. Only continuous phase transitions…
The arcane ADHM construction of Yang-Mills instantons can be very naturally understood in the framework of D-brane dynamics in string theory. In this point-of-view, the mysterious auxiliary symmetry of the ADHM construction arises as a…
Powerful methods based on supersymmetry allow one to find exact solutions to certain problems in strong coupling gauge theories. The inception of some of these methods (holomorphy in the gauge coupling and other chiral parameters, in…
The instanton approach to spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking is reviewed, with emphasis on the connection to chiral random matrix theory. We extend the approach to discuss the finite density, zero-temperature behaviour of quark matter.…
We revisit two longstanding puzzles in supersymmetric gauge theories. The first concerns the question of the holomorphy of the coupling, and related to this the possible definition of an exact (NSVZ) beta function. The second concerns…
We consider non-perturbative effects in theories with extra dimensions and the deconstructed versions of these theories. We establish the rules for instanton calculations in 5D theories on the circle, and use them for an explicit…
We study N=2 supersymmetric Abelian gauge model with the Fayet-Iliopoulos term and an arbitrary number of chiral matter multiplets in two dimensions. By analyzing the instanton contribution we compute the non-perturbative corrections to the…