Superconformal index on $\mathbb{RP}^2 \times \mathbb{S}^1$ and mirror symmetry

TL;DR

This paper computes the superconformal index for 3d $ ext{N}=2$ theories on $ ext{RP}^2 imes ext{S}^1$, demonstrating independence from squashing and verifying mirror symmetry using mathematical identities.

Contribution

It introduces a new superconformal index on $ ext{RP}^2 imes ext{S}^1$ that is independent of squashing and applies it to confirm 3d mirror symmetry via the $q$-binomial theorem.

Findings

Superconformal index on $ ext{RP}^2 imes ext{S}^1$ computed using localization.

Index is independent of the squashing parameter $b$.

Mirror symmetry between SQED and XYZ model verified using the index.

Abstract

We study $\mathcal{N} = 2$ supersymmetric gauge theories on $\mathbb{RP}^2 \times \mathbb{S}^1$ and compute the superconformal index by using the localization technique. We consider not only the round real projective plane $\mathbb{RP}^2$ but also the squashed real projective plane $\mathbb{RP}^2_b$ which turns back to $\mathbb{RP}^2$ by taking a squashing parameter $b$ as $1$. In addition, we found that the result is independent of the squashing parameter $b$. We apply our new superconformal index to the check of the simplest 3d mirror symmetry, i.e. the equivalence between the $\mathcal{N}=2$ SQED and the XYZ model on $\mathbb{RP}^2 \times \mathbb{S}^1$. We prove it by using a mathematical formula called the $q$-binomial theorem. We comment on the $\mathcal{N}=4$ version of mirror symmetry, mirror symmetry via generalized indices, and possibilities of generalizations from mathematical viewpoints.