Low Energy Effective Action in N=2 Yang-Mills as an Integrated Anomaly

TL;DR

This paper interprets the holomorphic effective action in N=2 Yang-Mills theory as an integrated anomaly, providing a field theory perspective that connects anomalies, chiral ring relations, and the geometry of the theory.

Contribution

It offers a novel field theory interpretation of the effective action as an integrated anomaly, bypassing the need for special geometry.

Findings

Effective action viewed as an integrated U(1) anomaly

Physical interpretation of Riemann surface periods without special geometry

Implications for multi-instanton calculus in N=2 Yang-Mills

Abstract

Based on chiral ring relations and anomalies, as described by Cachazo, Douglas, Seiberg and Witten, we argue that the holomorphic effective action in N=2 Yang-Mills theory can be understood as an integrated U(1) anomaly from a purely field theory point of view. In particular, we show that the periods of the Riemann surface arising from the generalized Konishi anomaly can be given a physical interpretation without referring to special geometry. We also discuss consequences for the multi-instanton calculus in N=2 Yang-Mills theory.