We consider some aspects of counting BPS operators which are annihilated by two supercharges, in superconformal field theories. For non-zero coupling, the corresponding multi-variable partition functions can be written in terms of generating functions for vector partitions or their weighted generalisations. We derive asymptotics for the density of states for a wide class of such multi-variable partition functions. We also point out a particular factorisation property of the finite N partition functions. Finally, we discuss the concept of a limit curve arising from the large N partition functions, which is related to the notion of a typical state and discuss some implications for the holographic duals.
We introduce a novel harmonic superspace for $3d$ $\mathcal{N}=6$ superconformal field theories that is tailor made for the study of correlation functions of BPS operators. We calculate a host of two- and three-point functions in full generality and put strong constraints on the form of four-point functions of some selected BPS multiplets. For the four-point function of $\frac{1}{2}$-BPS operators we obtain the associated Ward identities by imposing the absence of harmonic singularities. The latter imply the existence of a solvable subsector in which the correlator becomes topological. This me…
For SCFTs with an $SU(2)$ R-symmetry, we determine the superconformal blocks that contribute to the four-point correlation function of a priori distinct half-BPS superconformal primaries as an expansion in terms of the relevant bosonic conformal blocks. This is achieved by using the superconformal Casimir equation and the superconformal Ward identity to fix the coefficients of the bosonic blocks uniquely in a dimension-independent way. In addition we find that many of the resulting coefficients are related through a web of linear transformations of the conformal data.
We present a unifying theme relating BPS partition functions and superconformal indices. In the case with complex SUSY central charges (as in N=2 in d=4 and N=(2,2) in d=2) the known results can be reinterpreted as the statement that the BPS partition functions can be used to compute a specialization of the superconformal indices. We argue that in the case with real central charge in the supersymmetry algebra, as in N=1 in d=5 (or the N=2 in d=3), the BPS degeneracy captures the full superconformal index. Furthermore, we argue that refined topological strings, which captures 5d BPS degeneracie…
We study the BPS index for the four-dimensional rank-one N=2 superconformal field theories H_0, H_1, H_2, E_6, E_7, E_8. We consider compactifications of the E-string theory on T^2 in which these theories arise as low energy limits. Using this realization we clarify the general structure of the BPS index. The index is characterized by two exponents and a sequence of invariants. We determine the exponents and the first few invariants.
We find a simple relation between two-dimensional BPS N=2 superconformal blocks and bosonic Virasoro conformal blocks, which allows us to analyze the crossing equations for BPS 4-point functions in unitary (2,2) superconformal theories numerically with semidefinite programming. We constrain gaps in the non-BPS spectrum through the operator product expansion of BPS operators, in ways that depend on the moduli of exactly marginal deformations through chiral ring coefficients. In some cases, our bounds on the spectral gaps are observed to be saturated by free theories, by N=2 Liouville theory, an…
We explicitly construct the holographic dual configuration for the four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=4$ superconformal block containing half-BPS scalar primary operators by considering its full $AdS_5 \times S^5$ dual geometry. We extend the embedding space formalism and the related Harmonic analysis to general $d$-dimensional sphere $S^d$, and obtain precisely the $R$-symmetry contribution to the half-BPS scalar superconformal blocks, which we refer as "$R$-symmetry block". We also observe that the $R$-symmetry quadratic Casimir operator can be mapped to BC$_{2}$ Calogero-Sutherland system Hamilt…
In $\mathcal N \geq 2$ superconformal Chern-Simons-matter theories we construct the infinite family of Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) Wilson loops featured by constant parametric couplings to scalar and fermion matter, including both line Wilson loops in Minkowski spacetime and circle Wilson loops in Euclidean space. We find that the connection of the most general BPS Wilson loop cannot be decomposed in terms of double-node connections. Moreover, if the quiver contains triangles, it cannot be interpreted as a supermatrix inside a superalgebra. However, for particular choices of the param…
We study the superconformal index of $\mathcal N=1$ quiver theories at large-$N$ for general values of electric charges and angular momenta, using both the Bethe Ansatz formulation and the more recent elliptic extension method. We are particularly interested in the case of unequal angular momenta, $J_1\ne J_2$, which has only been partially considered in the literature. We revisit the previous computation with the Bethe Ansatz formulation with generic angular momenta and extend it to encompass a large class of competing exponential terms. In the process, we also provide a simplified derivation…
We consider four-dimensional dyonic single-center BPS black holes in the $N=2$ STU model of Sen and Vafa. By working in a region of moduli space where the real part of two of the three complex scalars $S, T, U$ are taken to be large, we evaluate the quantum entropy function for these BPS black holes. In this regime, the subleading corrections point to a microstate counting formula partly based on a Siegel modular form of weight two. This is supplemented by another modular object that takes into account the dependence on $Y^0$, a complex scalar field belonging to one of the four off-shell vecto…
We consider the expectation value $\langle \cal W \rangle$ of the circular BPS Wilson loop in ${\cal N}=2$ superconformal $SU(N)$ gauge theory containing a vector multiplet coupled to two hypermultiplets in rank-2 symmetric and antisymmetric representations. This model admits a regular large $N$ expansion, is planar-equivalent to ${\cal N}=4$ SYM theory and is expected to be dual to a certain orbifold/orientifold projection of AdS$_5\times S^5$ superstring theory. On the string theory side $\langle\cal W \rangle $ is represented by the path integral expanded near the same AdS$_2$ minimal surfa…
We construct for the first time Drukker-Trancanelli (DT) type fermionic Bogomolnyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) Wilson loops in four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal $SU(N)\times SU(N)$ quiver theory and $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory. The connections of these fermionic BPS Wilson loops have a supermatrix structure. We construct timelike BPS Wilson lines in Minkowski spacetime and circular BPS Wilson loops in Euclidean space. These Wilson loops involve dimensionful parameters. For generic values of parameters, they preserve one real (complex) supercharge in Lorentzian (Euclidean…
We consider the Nekrasov-Shatashvili (NS) limit of the five-dimensional superconformal index and propose a novel prescription for selecting the finite contributions. Applying the latter to various examples of U(1) theories, we find that the 5D NS index can be reproduced using recent techniques of Córdova and Shao, who related the 4D Schur index to the BPS spectrum of the theory on the Coulomb branch. In this picture, the 5D instanton solitons are interpreted as additional flavour nodes in an associated 5D BPS quiver.
We study 2d N=4 superconformal field theories, focusing on its application on numerical bootstrap study. We derive the superconformal block by utilizing the global part of the super Virasoro algebra and set up the crossing equations for the non-BPS long-multiplet 4-point function. Along the way, we build global N=4 superconformal short and long multiplets, and compute all possible 2,3-point functions of long-multiplets that are needed to construct the superconformal blocks and the crossing equations. Since we consider a long-multiplet 4-point function, the number of crossing equations is huge …
We discuss a supersymmetric extension of a non-relativistic Chern-Simons matter theory, known as the SUSY Jackiw-Pi model, in a harmonic trap. We show that the non-relativistic version of the superconformal symmetry, called the super-Schrödinger symmetry, is not spoiled by an external field including the harmonic potential. It survives as a modified symmetry whose generators have explicit time dependences determined by the strength of the trap, the rotation velocity of the system and the fermion number chemical potential. We construct 1/3 BPS states of trapped Jackiw-Pi vortices preserving a p…
We review some recent developments in the 6 dimensional (2, 0) superconformal field theories, focusing on their BPS spectra in the Coulomb and symmetric phases computed by various Witten indices. We shall discuss the instanton partition function of 5d maximal super-Yang-Mills theory, and the 6d superconformal index.
We study BPS spectra of D-branes on local Calabi-Yau threefolds $\mathcal{O}(-p)\oplus\mathcal{O}(p-2)\to \mathbb{P}^1$ with $p=0,1$, corresponding to $\mathbb{C}^3/\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ and the resolved conifold. Nonabelianization for exponential networks is applied to compute directly unframed BPS indices counting states with D2 and D0 brane charges. Known results on these BPS spectra are correctly reproduced by computing new types of BPS invariants of 3d-5d BPS states, encoded by nonabelianization, through their wall-crossing. We also develop the notion of exponential BPS graphs for the simplest …
As a continuation of the study (in arXiv:2102.07696 and arXiv:2104.12625) of strong-coupling expansion of non-planar corrections in $\mathcal N=2$ 4d superconformal models we consider two special theories with gauge groups $SU(N)$ and $Sp(2N)$. They contain $N$-independent numbers of hypermultiplets in rank 2 antisymmetric and fundamental representations and are planar-equivalent to the corresponding $\mathcal N=4$ SYM theories. These $\mathcal N=2$ theories can be realised on a system of $N$ D3-branes with a finite number of D7-branes and O7-plane; the dual string theories should be particula…
We review the problem of BPS state counting described by the generalized quiver matrix model of ADHM type. In four dimensions the generating function of the counting gives the Nekrasov partition function and we obtain generalization in higher dimensions. By the localization theorem, the partition function is given by the sum of contributions from the fixed points of the torus action, which are labeled by partitions, plane partitions and solid partitions. The measure or the Boltzmann weight of the path integral can take the form of the plethystic exponential. Remarkably after integration the pa…
We discuss relations between quantum BPS invariants defined in terms of a product decomposition of certain series, and difference equations (quantum A-polynomials) that annihilate such series. We construct combinatorial models whose structure is encoded in the form of such difference equations, and whose generating functions (Hilbert-Poincaré series) are solutions to those equations and reproduce generating series that encode BPS invariants. Furthermore, BPS invariants in question are expressed in terms of Lyndon words in an appropriate language, thereby relating counting of BPS states to the …
