One-form symmetries and the 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ $A$-model: Topologically twisted indices and CS theories

TL;DR

This paper analyzes 3d $ ext{N}=2$ Chern-Simons-matter theories with one-form symmetry, computing twisted indices via the $A$-model, exploring symmetry actions, anomalies, and their implications for the structure of ground states and topological quantum field theories.

Contribution

It provides explicit computations of topologically twisted indices for 3d $ ext{N}=2$ theories with one-form symmetry, including new results on symmetry actions, anomalies, and Bethe vacua structure.

Findings

Computed twisted indices for various gauge groups and symmetries.

Identified mixed 't Hooft anomalies affecting the IR TQFT.

Connected index counting to number-theoretic functions like Jordan's totient.

Abstract

We study three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric Chern-Simons-matter gauge theories with a one-form symmetry in the $A$-model formalism on $\Sigma_g\times S^1$. We explicitly compute expectation values of topological line operators that implement the one-form symmetry. This allows us to compute the topologically twisted index on the closed Riemann surface $\Sigma_g$ for any real compact gauge group $G$ as long as the ground states are all bosonic. All computations are carried out in the effective $A$-model on $\Sigma_g$, whose $S^1$ ground states are the so-called Bethe vacua. We discuss how the 3d one-form symmetry acts on the Bethe vacua, and also how its 't Hooft anomaly constrains the vacuum structure. In the special case of the $\text{SU}(N)_K$ $\mathcal{N}=2$ Chern-Simons theory, we obtain results for the $(\text{SU}(N)/\mathbb Z_r)^{\theta}_K$ $\mathcal{N}=2$ Chern-Simons theories, for all non-anomalous $\mathbb Z_r \subseteq \mathbb Z_N$ subgroups of the centre of the gauge group, and with a $\mathbb Z_r$ $\theta$-angle turned on. In the special cases with $N$ even, $\frac{N}{r}$ odd and $\frac{K}{r}$ even, we find a mixed 't Hooft anomaly between gravity and the $\mathbb Z_r^{(1)}$ one-form symmetry of the $\text{SU}(N)_K$ theory, and the infrared 3d TQFT after gauging is spin. In all cases, we count the Bethe states and the higher-genus states in terms of refinements of Jordan's totient function. This counting gives us the twisted indices if and only if the infrared 3d TQFT is bosonic. Our results lead to precise conjectures about integrality of indices, which appear to have a strong number-theoretic flavour. Note: this paper directly builds upon unpublished notes by Brian Willett from 2020.