Exact results on N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories

TL;DR

This collection introduces the physical motivations and recent developments in N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories, providing an accessible overview for a broad audience and summarizing key research progress in the field.

Contribution

It compiles and reviews exact results and developments in N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories, making advanced concepts accessible to a wider scientific audience.

Findings

Overview of physical motivations and developments

Summary of exact results in N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories

Discussion of related recent research

Abstract

This is the introduction to the collection of review articles "Exact results on N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories". The first three sections are intended to give a general overview over the physical motivations behind this direction of research, and some of the developments that initiated this project. These sections are written for a broad audience of readers with interest in quantum field theory, assuming only very basic knowledge of supersymmetric gauge theories and string theory. This will be followed by a brief overview over the different chapters collected in this volume, while the last section indicates some related developments that we were unfortunately not able to cover.