Vacuum structure of large $N$ QCD$_3$ from holography

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex vacuum structure of large N three-dimensional QCD with a Chern-Simons term and fermions using holographic duality, revealing multiple vacua, phase transitions, and rich phase diagrams.

Contribution

It provides a holographic analysis of the vacuum landscape of 3D large N QCD with Chern-Simons coupling, including phase transitions and subleading corrections.

Findings

Multiple vacua and phase transitions are captured holographically.

The phase diagram includes topological theories and sigma models.

First-order phase transitions are identified in the model.

Abstract

We study the vacuum structure of three-dimensional $SU(N)$ gauge theory coupled to a Chern-Simons term at level $k$ and to $F$ fundamental Dirac fermions. We use a large $N$ holographic description based on a D3/D7 system in type IIB string theory compactified on a supersymmetry breaking circle. The multiple vacua of the theory and the transitions between them are nicely captured by the dual holographic background. The resulting phase diagram, which we derive both at leading and first subleading orders in the $1/N$ expansion, shows a rich structure where topological field theories, non-linear sigma models and first-order phase transitions appear.