Generalized Schur partition functions and RG flows

Abstract

We revisit a double-scaled limit of the superconformal index of ${\cal N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) which generalizes the Schur index. The resulting partition function, $\hat {\cal Z}(q,\alpha)$, has a standard $q$-expansion with coefficients depending on a continuous parameter $\alpha$. The Schur index is a special case with $\alpha=1$. Through explicit computations we argue that this partition function is an invariant of certain mass deformations and vacuum expectation value (vev) deformations of the SCFT. In particular, two SCFTs residing in different corners of the same Coulomb branch, satisfying certain restrictive conditions, have the same partition function with a non-trivial map of the parameters, $\hat {\cal Z}_1(q,\alpha_1)=\hat {\cal Z}_2(q,\alpha_2(\alpha_1))$. For example, we show that the Schur index of all the SCFTs in the Deligne-Cvitanovi\'c series is given by special values of $\alpha$ of the partition function of the SU(2) $N_f=4$ ${\cal N}=2$ SQCD.