Massive N=2 Gauge Theories at Large N

TL;DR

This paper investigates the large N behavior of N=2 super-Yang-Mills theories with massive matter using localization on S^4, revealing quantum phase transitions and solvable matrix models.

Contribution

It provides exact large N solutions for N=2 theories with massive matter, highlighting phase transitions and novel phenomena not previously characterized.

Findings

Identification of quantum phase transitions at finite 't Hooft coupling

Derivation of solvable matrix models for large N limit

Analysis of different matter representations in N=2 theories

Abstract

Using exact results obtained from localization on S^4, we explore the large N limit of N=2 super-Yang-Mills theories with massive matter multiplets. We focus on three cases: N=2* theory, describing a massive hypermultiplet in the adjoint representation, SU(N) super-Yang-Mills with 2N massive hypermultiplets in the fundamental, and super-QCD with massive quarks. When the radius of the four-sphere is sent to infinity the theories at hand are described by solvable matrix models, which exhibit a number of interesting phenomena including quantum phase transitions at finite 't Hooft coupling.