Open accessJournal Article

# Elliptic quantum curves of class S k $${\mathcal{S}}_k$$

02 Mar 2021-Journal of High Energy Physics (Springer Science and Business Media LLC)-Vol. 2021, Iss: 3, pp 1-75
Abstract: Quantum curves arise from Seiberg-Witten curves associated to 4d $$\mathcal{N}$$ = 2 gauge theories by promoting coordinates to non-commutative operators. In this way the algebraic equation of the curve is interpreted as an operator equation where a Hamiltonian acts on a wave-function with zero eigenvalue. We find that this structure generalises when one considers torus-compactified 6d $$\mathcal{N}$$ = (1, 0) SCFTs. The corresponding quantum curves are elliptic in nature and hence the associated eigenvectors/eigenvalues can be expressed in terms of Jacobi forms. In this paper we focus on the class of 6d SCFTs arising from M5 branes transverse to a ℂ2/ℤk singularity. In the limit where the compactified 2-torus has zero size, the corresponding 4d $$\mathcal{N}$$ = 2 theories are known as class $${\mathcal{S}}_k$$ . We explicitly show that the eigenvectors associated to the quantum curve are expectation values of codimension 2 surface operators, while the corresponding eigenvalues are codimension 4 Wilson surface expectation values.

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Abstract: We propose a systematic approach to computing the BPS spectrum of any 5d/6d supersymmetric quantum field theory in Coulomb phases, which admits either gauge theory descriptions or geometric descriptions, based on the Nakajima-Yoshioka’s blowup equations. We provide a significant generalization of the blowup equation approach in terms of both properly quantized magnetic fluxes on the blowup $$\hat{\mathrm{\mathbb{C}}}$$ 2 and the effective prepotential for 5d/6d field theories on the Omega background which is uniquely determined by the Chern-Simons couplings on their Coulomb branches. We employ our method to compute BPS spectra of all rank-1 and rank-2 5d Kaluza-Klein (KK) theories descending from 6d $$\mathcal{N}$$ = (1, 0) superconformal field theories (SCFTs) compactified on a circle with/without twist. We also discuss various 5d SCFTs and KK theories of higher ranks, which include a few exotic cases such as new rank-1 and rank-2 5d SCFTs engineered with frozen singularity as well as the 5d SU(3)8 gauge theory currently having neither a brane web nor a smooth shrinkable geometric description. The results serve as non-trivial checks for a large class of non-trivial dualities among 5d theories and also as independent evidences for the existence of certain exotic theories.

16 Citations

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Norton Lee1, Nikita Nekrasov1Institutions (1)
Abstract: The relation between supersymmetric gauge theories in four dimensions and quantum spin systems is exploited to find an explicit formula for the Jost function of the $N$ site $\mathfrak{sl}_{2}$ $XXX$ spin chain (for infinite dimensional complex spin representations), as well as the $SL_N$ Gaudin system, which reduces, in a limiting case, to that of the $N$-particle periodic Toda chain. Using the non-perturbative Dyson-Schwinger equations of the supersymmetric gauge theory we establish relations between the spin chain commuting Hamiltonians with the twisted chiral ring of gauge theory. Along the way we explore the chamber dependence of the supersymmetric partition function, also the expectation value of the surface defects, giving new evidence for the AGT conjecture.

11 Citations

Open accessPosted Content
Jin Chen1, Babak Haghighat1, Hee-Cheol Kim1, Marcus Sperling2  +1 moreInstitutions (3)
Abstract: In this work we study the quantisation of the Seiberg-Witten curve for the E-string theory compactified on a two-torus. We find that the resulting operator expression belongs to the class of elliptic quantum curves. It can be rephrased as an eigenvalue equation with eigenvectors corresponding to co-dimension 2 defect operators and eigenvalues to co-dimension 4 Wilson surfaces wrapping the elliptic curve, respectively. Moreover, the operator we find is a generalised version of the van Diejen operator arising in the study of elliptic integrable systems. Although the microscopic representation of the co-dimension 4 defect only furnishes an $\mathrm{SO}(16)$ flavour symmetry in the UV, we find an enhancement in the IR to representations in terms of affine $E_8$ characters. Finally, using the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit of the E-string BPS partition function, we give a path integral derivation of the quantum curve.

3 Citations

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Abstract: We consider supersymmetric surface defects in compactifications of the $6d$ minimal $(D_{N+3},D_{N+3})$ conformal matter theories on a punctured Riemann surface. For the case of $N=1$ such defects are introduced into the supersymmetric index computations by an action of the $BC_1\,(\sim A_1\sim C_1)$ van Diejen model. We (re)derive this fact using three different field theoretic descriptions of the four dimensional models. The three field theoretic descriptions are naturally associated with algebras $A_{N=1}$, $C_{N=1}$, and $(A_1)^{N=1}$. The indices of these $4d$ theories give rise to three different Kernel functions for the $BC_1$ van Diejen model. We then consider the generalizations with $N>1$. The operators introducing defects into the index computations are certain $A_{N}$, $C_N$, and $(A_1)^{N}$ generalizations of the van Diejen model. The three different generalizations are directly related to three different effective gauge theory descriptions one can obtain by compactifying the minimal $(D_{N+3},D_{N+3})$ conformal matter theories on a circle to five dimensions. We explicitly compute the operators for the $A_N$ case, and derive various properties these operators have to satisfy as a consequence of $4d$ dualities following from the geometric setup. In some cases we are able to verify these properties which in turn serve as checks of said dualities. As a by-product of our constructions we also discuss a simple Lagrangian description of a theory corresponding to compactification on a sphere with three maximal punctures of the minimal $(D_5,D_5)$ conformal matter and as consequence give explicit Lagrangian constructions of compactifications of this 6d SCFT on arbitrary Riemann surfaces.

Topics: Riemann surface (50%)

1 Citations

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Jin Chen1, Babak Haghighat1, Hee-Cheol Kim1, Kimyeong Lee  +2 moreInstitutions (2)
Abstract: We discuss supersymmetric defects in 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ SCFTs with $\mathrm{SO}(N_c)$ gauge group and $N_c-8$ fundamental flavors. The codimension 2 and 4 defects are engineered by coupling the 6d gauge fields to charged free fields in four and two dimensions, respectively. We find that the partition function in the presence of the codimension 2 defect on $\mathbb{R}^4\times \mathbb{T}^2$ in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit satisfies an elliptic difference equation which quantizes the Seiberg-Witten curve of the 6d theory. The expectation value of the codimension 4 defect appearing in the difference equation is an even (under reflection) degree $N_c$ section over the elliptic curve when $N_c$ is even, and an odd section when $N_c$ is odd. We also find that RG-flows of the defects and the associated difference equations in the 6d $\mathrm{SO}(2N+1)$ gauge theories triggered by Higgs VEVs of KK-momentum states provide quantum Seiberg-Witten curves for $\mathbb{Z}_2$ twisted compactifications of the 6d $\mathrm{SO}(2N)$ gauge theories.

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78 results found

Open accessJournal Article
Nikita Nekrasov1Institutions (1)
Abstract: Direct evaluation of the Seiberg-Witten prepotential is accomplished following the localization programme suggested in [1]. Our results agree with all low-instanton calculations available in the literature. We present a two-parameter generalization of the Seiberg-Witten prepotential, which is rather natural from the M-theory/five dimensional perspective, and conjecture its relation to the tau-functions of KP/Toda hierarchy.

Topics: , Instanton (51%), K-theory (physics) (50%)

2,062 Citations

Open accessJournal Article
Abstract: We study the generalization of S-duality and Argyres-Seiberg duality for a large class of N = 2 superconformal gauge theories. We identify a family of strongly interacting SCFTs and use them as building blocks for generalized superconformal quiver gauge theories. This setup provides a detailed description of the “very strongly coupled” regions in the moduli space of more familiar gauge theories. As a byproduct, we provide a purely four dimensional construction of N = 2 theories defined by wrapping M5 branes over a Riemann surface.

1,357 Citations

Open access
01 Jul 1995-
Abstract: Three subjects are considered here: a self-dual non-critical string that appears in Type IIB superstring theory at points in ${\rm K3}$ moduli space where the Type IIA theory has extended gauge symmetry; a conformal field theory singularity at such points which may signal quantum effects that persist even at weak coupling; and the rich dynamics of the real world under compactification, which may be relevant to some attempts to explain the vanishing of the cosmological constant.

736 Citations

Open accessJournal Article
Andrew Strominger1Institutions (1)
22 Aug 1996-Physics Letters B
Abstract: It is shown that many of the p -branes of type II string theory and d = 11 supergravity can have boundaries on other p -branes. The rules for when this can and cannot occur are derived from charge conservation. For example it is found that membranes in d = 11 supergravity and IIA string theory can have boundaries on fivebranes. The boundary dynamics are governed by the self-dual d = 6 string. A collection of N parallel fivebranes contains 1 2 N(N − 1) self-dual strings which become tensionless as the fivebranes approach one another.

732 Citations

Open accessJournal Article
Luis F. Alday, Davide Gaiotto, Sergei Gukov1, Sergei Gukov2  +2 moreInstitutions (3)
Abstract: Recently, a duality between Liouville theory and four dimensional N = 2 gauge theory has been uncovered by some of the authors. We consider the role of extended objects in gauge theory, surface operators and line operators, under this correspondence. We map such objects to specific operators in Liouville theory. We employ this connection to compute the expectation value of general supersymmetric ’t Hooft-Wilson line operators in a variety of N = 2 gauge theories.

530 Citations

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