Supersymmetric vortex loops in 3D gauge theories

Abstract

We give a precise definition of BPS vortex loops in 3D non-abelian gauge theories with ${\cal N}=2$ SUSY by the path integral over fields with a prescribed singular behavior. We compute the expectation value of a BPS vortex loop on an ellipsoid. Using the result we revisit the known equivalence between Wilson and vortex loops in pure Chern-Simons theory. Naive computations of expectation values in ${\cal N}=2$ theory leads to an unwanted shift of parameters in the rule of correspondence. We resolve the problem by relating the shift to the global anomaly of ${\cal N}=2$ SUSY quantum mechanics. For theories with $U(N)$ gauge group we also develop an alternative description of vortex loops in terms of 1D ${\cal N}=2$ SUSY quantum mechanics on their worldline. For vortex loops in ${\cal N}=4$ theories, our construction reproduces some of the quiver GLSMs of Assel and Gomis.