Dynamical Generation of the VY Superpotential in $N=1$ SYM: A Higher-Form Perspective

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Auteur principal: Gu, Wei
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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_version_ 1866914467512582144
author Gu, Wei
author_facet Gu, Wei
contents We present a semiclassical account of the Veneziano-Yankielowicz (VY) superpotential in four-dimensional $N=1$ super Yang-Mills theory. Motivated by two-dimensional gauged linear sigma models, where superpotentials arise from vortex dynamics, we reinterpret domain walls as fundamental objects associated with higher-form gauge fields. In this formulation, the vacuum structure is encoded in a compact three-form gauge field, whose four-form flux labels topological sectors. In the presence of charged matter with total charge $N$, these sectors exhibit a natural $\mathbb{Z}_N$ structure, leading to a decomposition into $N$ semiclassical contributions. These contributions arise from Euclidean point-like configurations in the higher-form sector, analogous to fractional instantons. We show that these configurations provide the relevant non-perturbative contributions to the effective superpotential. Integrating out the associated degrees of freedom reproduces the VY superpotential in the infrared. This gives a semiclassical origin of the VY superpotential in terms of higher-form gauge dynamics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_10919
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Dynamical Generation of the VY Superpotential in $N=1$ SYM: A Higher-Form Perspective
Gu, Wei
High Energy Physics - Theory
We present a semiclassical account of the Veneziano-Yankielowicz (VY) superpotential in four-dimensional $N=1$ super Yang-Mills theory. Motivated by two-dimensional gauged linear sigma models, where superpotentials arise from vortex dynamics, we reinterpret domain walls as fundamental objects associated with higher-form gauge fields. In this formulation, the vacuum structure is encoded in a compact three-form gauge field, whose four-form flux labels topological sectors. In the presence of charged matter with total charge $N$, these sectors exhibit a natural $\mathbb{Z}_N$ structure, leading to a decomposition into $N$ semiclassical contributions. These contributions arise from Euclidean point-like configurations in the higher-form sector, analogous to fractional instantons. We show that these configurations provide the relevant non-perturbative contributions to the effective superpotential. Integrating out the associated degrees of freedom reproduces the VY superpotential in the infrared. This gives a semiclassical origin of the VY superpotential in terms of higher-form gauge dynamics.
title Dynamical Generation of the VY Superpotential in $N=1$ SYM: A Higher-Form Perspective
topic High Energy Physics - Theory
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.10919