Localization of Gauge Theories on the Three-Sphere

Citation

Yaakov, Itamar (2012) Localization of Gauge Theories on the Three-Sphere. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/8AMG-0B70. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05312012-204458381

Abstract

We describe the application of localization techniques to the path integral for supersymmetric gauge theories in three dimensions. The localization procedure reduces the computation of the expectation value of BPS observables to a calculation in a matrix model. We describe the ingredients of this model for a general quiver gauge theory and the incorporation of supersymmetric deformations and observables.

We use the matrix model expressions to test several duality conjectures for supersymmetric gauge theories. We perform tests of mirror symmetry of three-dimensional quiver gauge theories and of Seiberg-like dualities. Specifically, we explicitly show that the partition functions of the dual pairs, which are highly nontrivial functions of the deformations, agree. We describe extensions of these dualities which can be inferred from the form of the partition functions. We review the application of the matrix model to the study of renormalization group flow and the space of conformal field theories in three dimensions.

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