New $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 superconformal field theories from $$ \mathcal{S} $$-folds

Abstract

We study the four-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 2 superconformal field theories that describe D3-branes probing the recently constructed $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 2 $$ \mathcal{S} $$ S -folds in F-theory. We introduce a novel, infinite class of superconformal field theories related to $$ \mathcal{S} $$ S -fold theories via partial Higgsing. We determine several properties of both the $$ \mathcal{S} $$ S -fold models and this new class of theories, including their central charges, Coulomb branch spectrum, and moduli spaces of vacua, by bringing to bear an array of field-theoretical techniques, to wit, torus-compactifications of six-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = (1, 0) theories, class $$ \mathcal{S} $$ S technology, and the SCFT/VOA correspondence.

S-fold magnetic quivers

“…The folding parameter also indicates the multiplicity of the non-simply laced edge. The global symmetry of the magnetic quiver displays the expected enhancement for r = 1 [4]. Recall that a U(1) is ungauged on a long node for all the quivers.…”

“…• For = 2 the allowed solutions are ∆ 7 = 3 , 2, and 3. • For = 3 we can have ∆ 7 = 4 3 and 2. • For = 4 only the 7-branes of type A 2 , namely ∆ 7 = 3 2 is allowed.…”

“…The rank of the theory is r, the number of probe D3 branes, and for r = 1 they coincide with the rank-1 models with non-trivial Enhanced Coulomb Branch (ECB). In [4] it was argued that by moving along the ECB, the S (r) G, theories can be higgsed to another family of theories of the same rank, called T (r) G, . For = 2, this Higgsing can be described by activating a minimal nilpotent vacuum expectation value (VEV) for the moment map of the global symmetry of S (r) G,2 theories, specifically the global symmetry factor arising from the 7-brane of type G. It turns out that the T (r) G, models describe the theory on the world-volume of r D3 branes probing N = 2 S-folds without discrete flux [5,6].…”

“…Recall that a U(1) is ungauged on a long node for all the quivers. G, theories (with ∆ 7 = 6) can alternatively be defined in terms of twisted compactification of 6d N = (1, 0) theories [4]. We exploit this fact in the derivation of magnetic quivers below, so we review this in detail.…”

“…This paper aims to study the Higgs branch of 4d N = 2 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) defined as the world-volume theories on D3 branes probing certain Type IIB backgrounds called S-folds [1][2][3][4][5][6]. At rank 1 these theories are well known; they were constructed through compactifications of 6d N = (1, 0) theories in [7][8][9], their Coulomb JHEP02(2021)054 branches were studied in detail [10][11][12][13][14][15], and their Higgs branches were recently studied through magnetic quivers in [16].…”