Mirror symmetry for N=1 QED in three dimensions

TL;DR

This paper constructs and analyzes a three-dimensional N=1 QED theory with multiple flavors using string theory branes, demonstrating a mirror symmetry that exchanges Higgs and Coulomb branches, and arguing their quantum stability.

Contribution

It introduces a new construction of N=1 QED in three dimensions via branes and establishes its mirror symmetry using S-duality, extending known dualities to less supersymmetric cases.

Findings

Mirror symmetry exchanges Higgs and Coulomb branches.

Parity invariance prevents quantum lifting of branches.

Constructs explicit brane configurations for the theories.

Abstract

We construct three-dimensional N=1 QED with N_f flavors using branes of type IIB string theory. This theory has a mirror, which can be realized using the S-dual brane configuration. As in examples with more supersymmetry, the Higgs branch of the original theory gets mapped into the Coulomb branch of the mirror. We use parity invariance to argue that these branches cannot be lifted by quantum corrections.