Generalized Yukawa couplings and matrix models

In this article we investigate U(N) gauge theories with matter in the fundamental and adjoint representations of the gauge group, interacting via generalized Yukawa terms of the form Tr[QPhi (Q) over tilde]. We find agreement between the matrix model and the gauge theory descriptions of these theories. The analysis leads to a partial description of the Higgs branch of the gauge theory. We argue that the transition between phases with different unbroken flavor symmetry groups is related to the appearance of cuts in the matrix model computation. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.