Holomorphy, triality and non-perturbative beta function in 2d supersymmetric QCD

Certain perturbative aspects of two-dimensional sigma models with (0,2) supersymmetry are investigated. The main goal is to understand in physical terms how the mathematical theory of ``chiral differential operators'' is related to sigma models. In the process, we obtain, for example, an understanding of the one-loop beta function in terms of holomorphic data. A companion paper will study nonperturbative behavior of these theories.

In this paper we consider perturbation theory in generic two-dimensional sigma models in the so-called first-order formalism, using the coordinate regularization approach. Our goal is to analyze the first-order formalism in application to $\beta$ functions and compare its results with the standard geometric calculations. Already in the second loop, we observe deviations from the geometric results that cannot be explained by the regularization/renormalization scheme choices. M...

We study regularization scheme dependence of K\"ahler ($N=2$) supersymmetric sigma models. At the one-loop order the metric $\beta$ function is the same as in non-supersymmetric case and coincides with the Ricci tensor. First correction in MS scheme is known to appear in the fourth loop. We show that for certain integrable K\"ahler backgrounds, such as complete $T-$dual of $\eta$-deformed $\mathbb{CP}(n)$ sigma models, there is a scheme in which the fourth loop contribution v...

We study N=(0,2) deformed (2,2) two-dimensional sigma models. Such heterotic models were discovered previously on the world sheet of non-Abelian strings supported by certain four-dimensional N=1 theories. We study geometric aspects and holomorphic properties of these models, and derive a number of exact expressions for the beta functions in terms of the anomalous dimensions analogous to the NSVZ beta function in four-dimensional Yang-Mills. Instanton calculus provides a strai...

The purpose of this note is two give a mathematical treatment to the low energy effective theory of the two-dimensional sigma model. Perhaps surprisingly, our low energy effective theory encodes much of the topology and geometry of the target manifold. In particular, we relate the $\beta$-function of our theory to the Ricci curvature of the target, recovering the physical result of Friedan.

The three dimensional nonlinear sigma model is unrenormalizable in perturbative method. By using the $\beta$ function in the nonperturbative Wilsonian renormalization group method, we argue that ${\cal N}=2$ supersymmetric nonlinear $\sigma$ models are renormalizable in three dimensions. When the target space is an Einstein-K\"{a}hler manifold with positive scalar curvature, such as C$P^N$ or $Q^N$, there are nontrivial ultraviolet (UV) fixed point, which can be used to defin...

We consider the renormalization group flow equation for the two-dimensional sigma models with the K\"ahler target space. The first-order formulation allows us to treat perturbations in these models as current-current deformations. We demonstrate, however, that the conventional first-order formalism misses certain anomalies in the measure, and should be amended. We reconcile beta functions obtained within the conformal perturbation theory for the current-current deformations w...

In this paper we begin the study of renormalizations in the heterotically deformed N=(0,2) CP(N-1) sigma models. In addition to the coupling constant g^2 of the undeformed N=(2,2) model, there is the second coupling constant \gamma describing the strength of the heterotic deformation. We calculate both \beta functions, \beta_g and \beta_\gamma at one loop, determining the flow of g^2 and \gamma. Under a certain choice of the initial conditions, the theory is asymptotically fr...

Using Wilsonian methods, we study the renormalization group flow of the Nonlinear Sigma Model in any dimension $d$, restricting our attention to terms with two derivatives. At one loop we always find a Ricci flow. When symmetries completely fix the internal metric, we compute the beta function of the single remaining coupling, without any further approximation. For $d>2$ and positive curvature, there is a nontrivial fixed point, which could be used to define an ultraviolet li...

We review N=(2,2) supersymmetric non-linear sigma-models in two dimensions and their relation to generalized Kahler and Calabi-Yau geometry. We illustrate this with an explicit non-trivial example.