From exact results to gauge dynamics on Double-struck capital R3 x S1

We revisit the vacuum structure of the N = 1 Intriligator-Seiberg-Shenker model on R-3 x S-1. Guided by the Cardy-like asymptotics of its Romelsberger index, and building on earlier semi-classical results by Poppitz and Unsal, we argue that previously overlooked non-perturbative effects generate a Higgs-type potential on the classical Coulomb branch of the low-energy effective 3d N = 2 theory. In particular, on part of the Coulomb branch we encounter the first instance of a dynamically-generated quintic monopole superpotential.