Dualities in 3D large N vector models

Using an explicit path integral approach we derive non-abelian bosonization and duality of 3D systems in the large N limit. We first consider a fermionic U(N) vector model coupled to level k Chern-Simons theory, following standard techniques we gauge the original global symmetry and impose the corresponding field strength F_μν to vanish introducing a Lagrange multiplier Λ. Exchanging the order of integrations we obtain the bosonized theory with Λ as the propagating field using the large N rather than the previously used large mass limit. Next we follow the same procedure to dualize the scalar U (N) vector model coupled to Chern-Simons and find its corresponding dual theory. Finally, we compare the partition functions of the two resulting theories and find that they agree in the large N limit including a level/rank duality. This provides a constructive evidence for previous proposals on level/rank duality of 3D vector models in the large N limit. We also present a partial analysis at subleading order in large N and find that the duality does not generically hold at this level.