We review some recent progress in our understanding of the phase diagram of non abelian gauge theories, by varying their flavor content -- fermion representations and the number of flavors. In particular, we explore the way conformal symmetry can be
restored before the loss of asymptotic freedom, and through a subtle interplay of perturbation theory, chiral dynamics and confining forces. It is with the combination of numerical lattice studies and theoretical insights into gauge theories with and without supersymmetry that we may successfully attempt to clarify the missing pieces of this puzzle.
We discuss the existence of a conformal phase in SU(N) gauge theories in four dimensions. In this lattice study we explore the model in the bare parameter space, varying the lattice coupling and bare mass. Simulations are carried out with three color
s and twelve flavors of dynamical staggered fermions in the fundamental representation. The analysis of the chiral order parameter and the mass spectrum of the theory indicates the restoration of chiral symmetry at zero temperature and the presence of a Coulomb-like phase, depicting a scenario compatible with the existence of an infrared stable fixed point at nonzero coupling. Our analysis supports the conclusion that the onset of the conformal window for QCD-like theories is smaller than Nf=12, before the loss of asymptotic freedom at sixteen and a half flavors. We discuss open questions and future directions.
