On rank two theories with eight supercharges part I: local singularities

Abstract

A complete study of local singularities of rank two $\mathcal{N}=2$ Coulomb branch geometry is given. Low energy theory associated with the local singularity is identified: it can be superconformal field theory (SCFT), or IR free gauge theory, or the combination of them. Various invariants for local singularity are also listed which are essential for the study of global Coulomb branch. As a first application, global Coulomb branch with only simplest local singularities in the bulk are given for 4d theories (including SCFTs and asymptotical free theories), 5d KK theories, and 6d KK theories; those examples appear to cover all the findings in the literature and suggest there are more possibilities. More general global Coulomb branch geometry would be discussed in the sequel of this paper.