Non-Lagrangian theories and six-dimensional superconformal theories
Some quantum field theories are known to exist only indirectly, from string theory, and have no formula listing their fields and interactions. The six-dimensional (2,0) theory is the main example: its properties can be computed, but it cannot be written down.
Why it matters
These theories generate and explain large families of four-dimensional theories and show that the usual Lagrangian description of quantum field theory is incomplete.
Review
J. J. Heckman, T. Rudelius, Top Down Approach to 6D SCFTs, J. Phys. A 52, 093001, 2019. https://arxiv.org/abs/1805.06467 reference checked
Timestamp record
- Signed record
- 89c4f4e8e732…
- Public log
- Entry 320, in checkpoint 2,123
- In the log by
- Block 969,698, 2026-10-03
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