Discrete Global Symmetries: Gauging and Twisted Compactification

Abstract: Discrete global symmetries of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs are studied via two operations: gauging and twisted compactification. We consider gauging of discrete symmetries in several well-known 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs, including $\mathrm{SU}(n)$ SQCD with $2n$ flavors, theories of class $\mathcal{S}$ of type $A_{2n-1}$, and Argyres--Douglas theories of type $(A_N, A_N)$, as well as propose new 4d SCFTs as a result. The wreathing technique, which involves gauging a subgroup of the automorphism group of the quiver diagram of the corresponding 3d mirror theory, is exploited. This allows us to understand several properties of discretely gauged theories, including moduli spaces and how discrete gauging affects the mixed 't Hooft anomaly between the 1-form symmetry and the 0-form flavor symmetry. Many examples are viewed through the lens of the Argyres--Seiberg duality and its generalization. We also examine discrete gauging of $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ SQCD with 4 flavors by various $\mathbb{Z}_2$ and $\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2$ subgroups of the permutation group $S_4$ using the superconformal index. Regarding compactification, we propose a magnetic quiver for 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ $\mathrm{SU}(n)$ SQCD with $2n$ flavors compactified on a circle with a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ twist. The twisted compactification by non-invertible symmetries of the 4d $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM theory with gauge group $\mathrm{SU}(N)$ is revisited. The non-invertible symmetry naturally gives rise to a $\mathbb{Z}_k$ action on the scalar fields parametrizing the moduli space. Upon examining the $\mathbb{Z}_k$ invariant chiral ring of the Higgs branch, we find that, in addition to the largest branch of the moduli space that is expected to be captured by the ABJ(M) theory, there exist in general nilpotent operators that lead to a branch of the moduli space which is a radical ideal.