Superconformal line defects in 3D

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding line defects in 3D superconformal field theories, especially ABJM, highlighting topological sectors, exact evaluations of Wilson loops, and their connections to physical quantities.

Contribution

It introduces new insights into topological and dynamical line defects in 3D superconformal theories, linking localization, integrability, and bootstrap methods.

Findings

Topological correlators evaluated via mass-deformed ABJM partition function

Existence of a topological quantum mechanics on the line

Exact evaluation of latitude BPS Wilson loops using a Matrix Model

Abstract

We review recent progress in the study of line defects in three-dimensional Chern-Simons-matter superconformal field theories, notably the ABJM theory. The first part is focused on kinematical defects supporting a topological sector of the theory. After reviewing the construction of this sector, we concentrate on the evaluation of topological correlators from the partition function of the mass-deformed ABJM theory and provide evidence on the existence of a topological quantum mechanics living on the line. In the second part, we consider dynamical defects realized as latitude BPS Wilson loops for which an exact evaluation is available in terms of a latitude Matrix Model. We discuss the fundamental relation between these operators, the defect superconformal field theory and bulk physical quantities like the Bremsstrahlung function. This relation assigns a privileged role to BPS Wilson operators, which become the meeting point for three exact approaches, localization, integrability and conformal bootstrap.