Superconformal R-charges and dyon multiplicities in N=2 gauge theories

Abstract

N=(2,2) theories in 1+1D exhibit a direct correspondence between the R-charges of chiral operators at a conformal point and the multiplicities of BPS kinks in a massive deformation, as shown by Cecotti and Vafa. We obtain an analogous relation in 3+1D for N=2 gauge theories that are massive perturbations of Argyres-Douglas fixed points, utilizing the geometric engineering approach to N=2 vacua within IIB string theory. In this case the scaling dimensions of a certain subset of chiral operators at the UV fixed point are related to the multiplicities of BPS dyons. When the Argyres-Douglas SCFT is realized at the root of a baryonic Higgs branch, this translation from 1+1D to 3+1D can be understood physically from the relation between the bulk dynamics and the N=(2,2) worldsheet dynamics of vortices in the baryonic Higgs phase. Under a relevant perturbation, the BPS kink multiplicity on the vortex worldsheet translates to that of the bulk dyonic states. The latter viewpoint suggests the 3+1D version of the Cecotti-Vafa relation may hold more generally, and simple tests provide evidence in favor of this for more generic choices of the baryonic root.