Rigorous Test of Non-conformal Holography: Wilson Loops in N=2* Theory

TL;DR

This paper rigorously tests non-conformal holography by comparing field theory and string theory results for Wilson loops and free energy in N=2* gauge theory, confirming the duality's predictions.

Contribution

It provides an exact field-theoretic calculation of Wilson loops and free energy in N=2* theory, validating the supergravity dual description.

Findings

Wilson loops follow a perimeter law at large N

Exact match between field theory and string theory calculations

Computed free energy at large 't Hooft coupling

Abstract

N=2* gauge theory in four space-time dimensions arises as a deformation of the parent N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mill theory under which its hypermultiplet acquires a mass. This theory, on the one hand, has a known supergravity dual and on the other hand is amenable to localization. We explain, using localization, a dynamical selection of the supergravity Coulomb branch vacuum at large N. We also demonstrate that large Wilson loops obey perimeter law, again finding exact match between direct field-theory calculations and string theory. Additionally, we compute free energy at large 't Hooft coupling.