From Exact Results to Gauge Dynamics on $\mathbb{R}^3\times S^1$

TL;DR

This paper investigates the vacuum structure of a supersymmetric gauge theory on a compactified space, revealing non-perturbative effects that generate a Higgs potential and a novel monopole superpotential, advancing understanding of gauge dynamics.

Contribution

It uncovers non-perturbative effects leading to a Higgs potential and the first example of a quintic monopole superpotential in this context.

Findings

Non-perturbative effects generate a Higgs potential.

Discovery of a quintic monopole superpotential.

Enhanced understanding of gauge dynamics on  space.

Abstract

We revisit the vacuum structure of the $\mathcal{N}=1$ Intriligator-Seiberg-Shenker model on $\mathbb{R}^3\times S^1$. Guided by the Cardy-like asymptotics of its Romelsberger index, and building on earlier semi-classical results by Poppitz and \"{U}nsal, we argue that previously overlooked non-perturbative effects generate a Higgs-type potential on the classical Coulomb branch of the low-energy effective 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theory. In particular, on part of the Coulomb branch we encounter the first instance of a dynamically-generated quintic monopole superpotential.