F-theorem, duality and SUSY breaking in one-adjoint Chern-Simons-Matter theories

We extend previous work on N = 2 Chern-Simons theories coupled to a single adjoint chiral superfield using localization techniques and the F-maximization principle. We provide tests of a series of proposed 3D Seiberg dualities and a new class of tests of the conjectured F-theorem. In addition, a proposal is made for a modification of the F-maximization principle that takes into account the effects of decoupling fields. Finally, we formulate and provide evidence for a new general non-perturbative constraint on spontaneous supersymmetry breaking in three dimensions based on Q-deformed S-3 partition functions. An explicit illustration based on the known analytic solution of the Chern-Simons matrix model is presented. (C) 2012 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.