Pouliot Type Duality via a-Maximization

TL;DR

This paper investigates 4D N=1 Spin(10) gauge theories at superconformal fixed points using duality and a-maximization, revealing equivalences and new massless states when operators hit unitarity bounds.

Contribution

It demonstrates the equivalence of theories with and without superpotential at the IR fixed point and clarifies the emergence of massless degrees of freedom via an auxiliary field approach.

Findings

Electric and magnetic theories are equivalent at the IR fixed point.

Operators hitting unitarity bounds lead to new massless states.

Auxiliary field method clarifies IR dynamics and operator emergence.

Abstract

We study four-dimensional N=1 Spin(10) gauge theory with a single spinor and vectors at the superconformal fixed point via the electric-magnetic duality and a-maximization. When gauge invariant chiral primary operators hit the unitarity bounds, we find that the theory with no superpotential is identical to the one with some superpotential at the infrared fixed point. The auxiliary field method in the electric theory offers a satisfying description of the infrared fixed point, which is consistent with the better picture in the magnetic theory. In particular, it gives a clear description of the emergence of new massless degrees of freedom in the electric theory.