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arXiv · 1601.03414

New Methods in QFT and QCD: From Large-N Orbifold Equivalence to Bions and Resurgence

Gerald V. Dunne·Mithat Unsal
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Abstract

We present a broad conceptual introduction to some new ideas in non-perturbative QFT. The large-$N$ orbifold-orientifold equivalence connects a natural large-$N$ limit of QCD to QCD with adjoint fermions. QCD(adj) with periodic boundary conditions and double-trace deformation of Yang-Mills theory satisfy large-$N$ volume independence, a type of orbifold equivalence. Certain QFTs that satisfy volume independence at $N=\infty$ exhibit adiabatic continuity at finite-$N$, and also become semi-classically calculable on small $\mathbb R^3 \times S^1$. We discuss the role of monopole-instantons, and magnetic and neutral bion saddles in connection to mass gap, and center and chiral symmetry realizations. Neutral bions also provide a weak coupling semiclassical realization of infrared-renormalons. These considerations help motivate the necessity of complexification of path integrals (Picard-Lefschetz theory) in semi-classical analysis, and highlights the importance of hidden topological angles. Finally, we briefly review the resurgence program, which potentially provides a novel non-perturbative continuum definition of QFT. All these ideas are continuously connected.

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Gerald V. Dunne, Mithat Unsal. 2016-01-13. New Methods in QFT and QCD: From Large-N Orbifold Equivalence to Bions and Resurgence. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nucl-102115-044755

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