Abstract
We consider three-dimensional \( \mathcal{N}=2 \) superconformal field theories on a threesphere and analyze their free energy F as a function of background gauge and supergravity fields. A crucial role is played by certain local terms in these background fields, including several Chern-Simons terms. The presence of these terms clarifies a number of subtle properties of F . This understanding allows us to prove the F -maximization principle. It also explains why computing F via localization leads to a complex answer, even though we expect it to be real in unitary theories. We discuss several corollaries of our results and comment on the relation to the F -theorem.
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Closset, C., Dumitrescu, T.T., Festuccia, G. et al. Contact terms, unitarity, and F -maximization in three-dimensional superconformal theories. J. High Energ. Phys. 2012, 53 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP10(2012)053
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP10(2012)053