Four-dimensional N=2 Field Theory and Physical Mathematics

Abstract

We give a summary of a talk delivered at the 2012 International Congress on Mathematical Physics. We review d=4, N=2 quantum field theory and some of the exact statements which can be made about it. We discuss the wall-crossing phenomenon. An interesting application is a new construction of hyperkahler metrics on certain manifolds. Then we discuss geometric constructions which lead to exact results on the BPS spectra for some d=4, N=2 field theories and on expectation values of -- for example -- Wilson line operators. These new constructions have interesting relations to a number of other areas of physical mathematics.