Infinite coupling duals of N=2 gauge theories and new rank 1 superconformal field theories

TL;DR

This paper explores dualities between infinitely coupled gauge theories and new rank 1 superconformal field theories, revealing theories with unique Coulomb branch structures and no weak-coupling limits, expanding the landscape of N=2 SCFTs.

Contribution

It predicts the existence of new rank 1 SCFTs with specific Coulomb branch features and demonstrates their dualities with gauge theories, including examples with no weak-coupling limits.

Findings

Discovery of new rank 1 SCFTs with specific Coulomb branch singularities.

Identification of dualities involving gauging subalgebras of flavor symmetries.

Examples of N=2 conformal theories with marginal couplings and no weak-coupling limits.

Abstract

We show that a proposed duality [arXiv:0711.0054] between infinitely coupled gauge theories and superconformal field theories (SCFTs) with weakly gauged flavor groups predicts the existence of new rank 1 SCFTs. These superconformal fixed point theories have the same Coulomb branch singularities as the rank 1 E_6, E_7, and E_8 SCFTs, but have smaller flavor symmetry algebras and different central charges. Gauging various subalgebras of the flavor algebras of these rank 1 SCFTs provides many examples of infinite-coupling dualities, satisfying an intricate set of consistency checks. They also provide examples of N=2 conformal theories with marginal couplings but no weak-coupling limits.