We study Penner type matrix models in relation with the Nekrasov partition function of four dimensional \mathcal{N}=2, SU(2) supersymmetric gauge theories with N_F=2,3 and 4. By evaluating the resolvent using the loop equation for general β, we explicitly construct the first half-genus correction to the free energy and demonstrate the result coincides with the corresponding Nekrasov partition function with general Ω-background, including higher instanton contributions after modifying the relation of the Coulomb branch parameter with the filling fraction. Our approach complements the proof using the Selberg integrals directly which is useful to find the contribution in the series of instanton numbers for a given deformation parameter.
In this work we study the Nekrasov--Shatashvili limit of the Nekrasov instanton partition function of Yang--Mills field theories with ${\cal N}=2$ supersymmetry and gauge group SU(N). The theories are coupled with fundamental matter. A path integral expression of the full instanton partition function is derived. It is checked that in the Nekrasov--Shatashvili (thermodynamic) limit the action of the field theory obtained in this way reproduces exactly the equation of motion used in the saddle-point calculations.
The five dimensional AGT correspondence implies the connection between the q-deformed Virasoro block and the 5d Nekrasov partition function. In this paper, we determine a q-deformation of the four-point block in the Coulomb gas representation from the 5d Nekrasov function, and obtain an expression of the q-deformed vertex operator. If we use only one kind of the q-vertex operators, one of the insertion points of them must be modified in order to hold the 2d/5d correspondence.
We observe that, at beta-deformed matrix models for the four-point conformal block, the point q=0 is the point where the three-Penner type model becomes a pair of decoupled two-Penner type models and where, in the planar limit, (an array of) two-cut eigenvalue distribution(s) coalesce into (that of) one-cut one(s). We treat the Dotsenko-Fateev multiple integral, with their paths under the recent discussion, as perturbed double-Selberg matrix model (at q=0, it becomes a pair of Selberg integrals) to construct two kinds of generating functions for the q-expansion coefficients and compute some. A…
Nekrasov partition function for the supersymmetric gauge theories with general Lie groups is not so far known in a closed form while there is a definition in terms of the integral. In this paper, as an intermediate step to derive it, we give a recursion formula among partition functions, which can be derived from the integral. We apply the method to a toy model which reflects the basic structure of partition functions for BCD type Lie groups and obtained a closed expression for the factor associated with the generalized Young diagram.
It is known that a 4d N = 1 SCFT lives on D3-branes probing a local del Pezzo Calabi-Yau singularity. The Seiberg (or toric) duality of this SCFT arises from the Picard-Lefshetz transformation of the affine E_N 7-brane background that is associated with the Calabi-Yau threefold. In this paper we study the duality of the affine E_N background itself and a 5-brane probing it. We then find that many different Type IIB 5-brane webs describe the same SCFT in 5d. We check this duality by comparing the Nekrasov partition functions of these 5-brane web configurations.
We relate Nekrasov partition functions, with arbitrary values of $ε_1,ε_2$ parameters, to matrix models for $β$-ensembles. We find matrix models encoding the instanton part of Nekrasov partition functions, whose measure, to the leading order in $ε_2$ expansion, is given by the Vandermonde determinant to the power $β=-ε_1/ε_2$. An additional, trigonometric deformation of the measure arises in five-dimensional theories. Matrix model potentials, to the leading order in $ε_2$ expansion, are the same as in the $β=1$ case considered in 0810.4944 [hep-th]. We point out that potentials for massive hyp…
We study $SU(2)$ gauge theories coupled to $(A_1,D_N)$ theories with or without a fundamental hypermultiplet. For even $N$, a formula for the contribution of $(A_1,D_N)$ to the Nekrasov partition function was recently obtained by us with Y.~Sugawara and T.~Uetoko. In this paper, we generalize it to the case of odd $N$ in the classical limit, under the condition that the relevant couplings and vacuum expectation values of Coulomb branch operators of $(A_1,D_N)$ are all turned off. We apply our formula to the $(A_2,A_5)$ theory to find that its prepotential is related to that of the $SU(2)$ gaug…
We calculate gauge instanton corrections to a class of higher derivative string effective couplings introduced in [1]. We work in Type I string theory compactified on K3xT2 and realise gauge instantons in terms of D5-branes wrapping the internal space. In the field theory limit we reproduce the deformed ADHM action on a general Ω-background from which one can compute the non-perturbative gauge theory partition function using localisation. This is a non-perturbative extension of [1] and provides further evidence for our proposal of a string theory realisation of the Ω-background.
A deformation of the N=2 topological string partition function is analyzed by considering higher dimensional F-terms of the type W^{2g}*Upsilon^n, where W is the chiral Weyl superfield and each Upsilon factor stands for the chiral projection of a real function of N=2 vector multiplets. These terms generate physical amplitudes involving two anti-self-dual Riemann tensors, 2g-2 anti-self-dual graviphoton field strengths and 2n self-dual field strengths from the matter vector multiplets. Their coefficients F_{g,n} generalizing the genus g partition function F_{g,0} of the topological twisted type…
We show that Nekrasov instanton partition function for SU(N) gauge theories satisfies recursion relations in the form of U(1)+Virasoro constraints when β = 1. The constraints give a direct support for AGT conjecture for general quiver gauge theories.
Nekrasov-Okounkov identity gives a product representation of the sum over partitions of a certain function of partition hook length. In this paper we give several generalizations of the Nekrasov-Okounkov identity using the cyclic symmetry of the topological vertex.
We discuss the effective twisted superpotentials of 2d $\mathcal{N}=(2,2)$ theories arising upon the reduction of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ gauge theories on the $Ω$-deformed cigar-like geometry. We explain field-theoretic origins of the gaps in the spectrum in the corresponding quantum mechanical (QM) systems. We find local 2d descriptions of the physics near these gaps by resumming the non-perturbative part of the twisted superpotential and discuss arising wall-crossing phenomena. The interpretation of the associated phenomena in the classical Liouville theory and in the scattering of two heavy sta…
In arXiv:0910.5670 we suggested that the Nekrasov function with one non-vanishing deformation parameter εis obtained by the standard Seiberg-Witten contour-integral construction. The only difference is that the Seiberg-Witten differential pdx is substituted by its quantized version for the corresponding integrable system, and contour integrals become exact monodromies of the wave function. This provides an explicit formulation of the earlier guess in arXiv:0908.4052. In this paper we successfully check this suggestion in the first order in ε^2 and the first order in instanton expansion for the…
An attempt is made to formulate Gaiotto's S-duality relations in an explicit quantitative form. Formally the problem is that of evaluation of the Racah coefficients for the Virasoro algebra, and we approach it with the help of the matrix model representation of the AGT-related conformal blocks and Nekrasov functions. In the Seiberg-Witten limit, this S-duality reduces to the Legendre transformation. In the simplest case, its lifting to the level of Nekrasov functions is just the Fourier transform, while corrections are related to the beta-deformation. We calculate them with the help of the mat…
It has been argued that the Nekrasov's partition function gives the generating function of refined BPS state counting in the compactification of M theory on local Calabi-Yau spaces. We show that a refined version of the topological vertex we proposed before (hep-th/0502061) is a building block of the Nekrasov's partition function with two equivariant parameters. Compared with another refined topological vertex by Iqbal-Kozcaz-Vafa (hep-th/0701156), our refined vertex is expressed entirely in terms of the specialization of the Macdonald symmetric functions which is related to the equivariant ch…
We reinterpret the OSV formula for the on-shell action/entropy function of asymptotically flat BPS black holes as a fixed point formula that is formally equivalent to a recent gluing proposal for asymptotically AdS$_4$ black holes. This prompts a conjecture that the complete perturbative answer for the most general gravitational building block of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ supergravity at a single fixed point takes the form of a Nekrasov-like partition function with equivariant parameters related to the higher-derivative expansion of the prepotential. In turn this leads to a simple localization-like p…
We study the beta-deformed matrix models using the method of refined topological string theory. The refined holomorphic anomaly equation and boundary conditions near the singular divisors of the underlying geometry fix the refined amplitudes recursively. We provide exact test of the quantum integrality conjecture in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit. We check the higher genus exact formulae with perturbative matrix model calculations.
We study the multi-instanton partition functions of the $Ω$-deformed $\mathcal N =2^{*}$ $SU(2) $ gauge theory in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili (NS) limit. They depend on the deformation parameters $ε_{1}$, the scalar field expectation value $a$, and the hypermultiplet mass $m$. At fixed instanton number $k$, they are rational functions of $ε_{1}, a, m$ and we look for possible regularities that admit a parametrical description in the number of instantons. In each instanton sector, the contribution to the deformed Nekrasov prepotential has poles for "large" deformation parameters. To clarify the pr…
We extend the graviphoton-corrected prepotential of five-dimensional pure U(N) super Yang-Mills, which was originally proposed by Nekrasov, by incorporating the effect of the five-dimensional Chern-Simons term. This extension allows us to reproduce by a gauge theory calculation the partition functions of corresponding topological A-model on local toric Calabi-Yau manifolds X^m_N for all m=0,1,...,N. The original proposal corresponds to the case m=0.
We show that the three different looking BPS partition functions, namely the elliptic genus of the 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ $Sp(1)$ gauge theory with $10$ flavors and a tensor multiplet, the Nekrasov partition function of the 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ $Sp(2)$ gauge theory with $10$ flavors, and the Nekrasov partition function of the 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ $SU(3)$ gauge theory with $10$ flavors, are all equal to each other under specific maps among gauge theory parameters. This result strongly suggests that the three gauge theories have an identical UV fixed point. Type IIB 5-brane web diagrams play an esse…
We evaluate the Nekrasov partition function of 5d gauge theories engineered by webs of 5-branes, using the refined topological vertex on the dual Calabi-Yau threefolds. The theories include certain non-Lagrangian theories such as the T_N theory. The refined topological vertex computation generically contains contributions from decoupled M2-branes which are not charged under the 5d gauge symmetry engineered. We argue that, after eliminating them, the refined topological string partition function agrees with the 5d Nekrasov partition function. We explicitly check this for the T_3 theory as well …
We derive an infinite set of recursion formulae for Nekrasov instanton partition function for linear quiver U(N) supersymmetric gauge theories in 4D. They have a structure of a deformed version of W_{1+\infty} algebra which is called SH^c algebra (or degenerate double affine Hecke algebra) in the literature. The algebra contains W_N algebra with general central charge defined by a parameter β, which gives the $Ω$ background in Nekrasov's analysis. Some parts of the formulae are identified with the conformal Ward identity for the conformal block function of Toda field theory.
This paper studies geometric engineering, in the simplest possible case of rank one (Abelian) gauge theory on the affine plane and the resolved conifold. We recall the identification between Nekrasov's partition function and a version of refined Donaldson-Thomas theory, and study the relationship between the underlying vector spaces. Using a purity result, we identify the vector space underlying refined Donaldson-Thomas theory on the conifold geometry as the exterior space of the space of polynomial functions on the affine plane, with the (Lefschetz) SL(2)-action on the threefold side being du…
We study β-deformed matrix models with Penner type potentials, which correspond to N=2 SU(2) supersymmetric gauge theories with N_F=2,3, and 4 flavors. We compute explicitly the genus one corrections to the free energy of the matrix model and show that they match the corresponding results obtained from the Nekrasov partition function.
We use mirror symmetry, quantum geometry and modularity properties of elliptic curves to calculate the refined free energies in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit on non-compact toric Calabi-Yau manifolds, based on del Pezzo surfaces. Quantum geometry here is to be understood as a quantum deformed version of rigid special geometry, which has its origin in the quantum mechanical behaviour of branes in the topological string B-model. We will argue that, in the Seiberg-Witten picture, only the Coulomb parameters lead to quantum corrections, while the mass parameters remain uncorrected. In certain cas…
In this paper we summarise the localisation calculation of 5D super Yang-Mills on simply connected toric Sasaki-Einstein (SE) manifolds. We show how various aspects of the computation, including the equivariant index, the asymptotic behaviour and the factorisation property are governed by the combinatorial data of the toric geometry. We prove that the full perturbative partition function on a simply connected SE manifold corresponding to an n-gon toric diagram factorises to n copies of perturbative Nekrasov partition function. This leads us to conjecture the full partition function as gluing n…
We prove functional equations of Nekrasov partition functions for $A_{1}$-singularity, suggested by Ito-Maruyoshi-Okuda. Our proof uses the method by Nakajima-Yoshioka based on the theory of wall-crossing formula developed by Mochizuki.
In this paper, we study 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ $Sp(N)$ gauge theory with $N_f ( \leq 2N + 3 )$ flavors based on 5-brane web diagram with $O5$-plane. On the one hand, we discuss Seiberg-Witten curve based on the dual graph of the 5-brane web with $O5$-plane. On the other hand, we compute the Nekrasov partition function based on the topological vertex formalism with $O5$-plane. Rewriting it in terms of profile functions, we obtain the saddle point equation for the profile function after taking thermodynamic limit. By introducing the resolvent, we derive the Seiberg-Witten curve and its boundary cond…
We propose a new prescription for computing the Nekrasov partition functions of five-dimensional theories with eight supercharges realized by gauging non-perturbative flavor symmetries of three five-dimensional superconformal field theories. The topological vertex formalism gives a way to compute the partition functions of the matter theories with flavor instanton backgrounds, and the gauging is achieved by summing over Young diagrams. We apply the prescription to calculate the Nekrasov partition functions of various five-dimensional gauge theories such as $\mathrm{SO}(2N)$ gauge theories with…
Recently Alday, Gaiotto and Tachikawa have proposed relation between 2- and 4-dimensional conformal field theories. The relation implies that the Nekrasov partition functions of N=2 superconformal gauge theories are equal to conformal blocks associated with the conformal algebra. Likewise, a counterpart in pure super Yang-Mills theory exists in conformal field theory. We propose a simple relation between the Shapovalov matrix of the W_3-algebra and the Nekrasov partition function of N=2 SU(3) Yang-Mills theory.
We consider the Hanany-Witten type brane configuration in a background of RR 4-form field strength and examine the behavior of Euclidean D0-branes propagating between two NS5-branes. We evaluate the partition function of the D0-branes and show that it coincides with the Nekrasov partition function of instantons for four-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. In this analysis, the Myers effect plays a crucial role. We apply the same method to the brane configuration realizing four-dimensional N=2 theory with hypermultiplets in the fundamental representation and reproduce the correspo…
The AGT conjecture relates \mathcal{N}=2 4d SUSY gauge theories to 2d CFTs. Matrix model techniques can be used to investigate both sides of this relation. The large N limit refers here to the size of Young tableaux in the expression of the gauge theory partition function. It corresponds to the vanishing of Omega-background equivariant deformation parameters, and should not be confused with the t'Hooft expansion at large number of colors. In this paper, a saddle point approach is employed to study the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit of the gauge theory, leading to define beta-deformed, or quantized…
It is shown that the generating function of $\mathscr{N}=2$ topological strings, in the heterotic weak coupling limit, is identified with the partition function of a six-dimensional Melvin background. This background, which corresponds to an exact CFT, realises in string theory the six-dimensional $\varOmega$-background of Nekrasov, in the case of opposite deformation parameters $ε_1=-ε_2$, thus providing the known perturbative part of the Nekrasov partition function in the field theory limit. The analysis is performed on both heterotic and type I strings and for the cases of ordinary $\mathsc…
The instanton partition function of N=2, D=4 SU(2) gauge theory is obtained by taking the field theory limit of the topological open string partition function, given by a Chern-Simons theory, of a CY3-fold. The CY3-fold on the open string side is obtained by geometric transition from local F_0 which is used in the geometric engineering of the SU(2) theory. The partition function obtained from the Chern-Simons theory agrees with the closed topological string partition function of local F_0 proposed recently by Nekrasov. We also obtain the partition functions for local F_1 and F_2 CY3-folds and …
We discuss an analog of the AGT relation in five dimensions. We define a q-deformation of the beta-ensemble which satisfies q-W constraint. We also show a relation with the Nekrasov partition function of 5D SU(N) gauge theory with N_f=2N.
In this work we study the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit of the Nekrasov instanton partition function of Yang-Mills field theories with N=2 supersymmetry and gauge group SU(n). The theories are coupled with fundamental matter. The equation that determines the density of eigenvalues at the leading order in the saddle-point approximation is exactly solved. The dominating contribution to the instanton free energy is computed. The requirement that this energy is finite imposes quantization conditions on the parameters of the theory that are in agreement with analogous conditions that have been derived…
The Spherical Hecke central (SHc) algebra has been shown to act on the Nekrasov instanton partition functions of $\mathcal{N}=2$ gauge theories. Its presence accounts for both integrability and AGT correspondence. On the other hand, a specific limit of the Omega background, introduced by Nekrasov and Shatashvili (NS), leads to the appearance of TBA and Bethe like equations. To unify these two points of view, we study the NS limit of the SHc algebra. We provide an expression of the instanton partition function in terms of Bethe roots, and define a set of operators that generates infinitesimal v…
It has been proposed recently that topological A-model string amplitudes for toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds in non self-dual graviphoton background can be caluculated by a diagrammatic method that is called the ``refined topological vertex''. We compute the extended A-model amplitudes for SU(N)-geometries using the proposed vertex. If the refined topological vertex is valid, these computations should give rise to the Nekrasov's partition functions of N=2 SU(N) gauge theories via the geometric engineering. In this article, we verify the proposal by confirming the equivalence between the refined A-mod…
We investigate the quasi-Hopf twist of the quantum toroidal algebra of $\mathfrak{gl}_1$ as an elliptic deformation. Under the quasi-Hopf twist the underlying algebra remains the same, but the coproduct is deformed, where the twist parameter $p$ is identified as the elliptic modulus. Computing the quasi-Hopf twist of the $R$ matrix, we uncover the relation to the elliptic lift of the Nekrasov factor for instanton counting of the quiver gauge theories on $\mathbb{R}^4 \times T^2$. The same $R$ matrix also appears in the commutation relation of the intertwiners, which implies an elliptic quantum…
We consider the half-genus expansion of the resolvent function in the $β$-deformed matrix model with three-Penner potential under the AGT conjecture and the $0d-4d$ dictionary. The partition function of the model, after the specification of the paths, becomes the DF conformal block for fixed $c$ and provides the Nekrasov partition function expanded both in $g_s = \sqrt{-ε_1 ε_2}$ and in $ε= ε_1+ε_2$. Exploiting the explicit expressions for the lower terms of the free energy extracted from the above expansion, we derive the first few $ε$ corrections to the Seiberg-Witten prepotential in terms o…
We study Nekrasov's deformed partition function of 5-dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory compactified on a circle. Mathematically it is the generating function of the characters of the coordinate rings of the moduli spaces of instantons on $\mathbb R^4$. We show that it satisfies a system of functional equations, called blowup equations, whose solution is unique. As applications, we prove (a) logarithm of the partition function times $ε_1ε_2$ is regular at $ε_1 = ε_2 = 0$, (a part of Nekrasov's conjecture), and (b) the genus 1 parts, which are first several Taylor coefficients of the …
We study the beta-ensemble that represents conformal blocks of Liouville theory on the sphere. This quantity is related through AGT conjecture to the Nekrasov instanton partition function of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SU(2) gauge theory with four flavors. We focus on the large N limit, equivalent to the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit where one of the Omega-background deformation parameters is vanishing. A quantized Seiberg-Witten differential form is defined perturbatively in h-bar as the singular part of the beta-ensemble resolvent. Using the Dyson collective field action, we show that the free energy ob…
The Nekrasov conjecture predicts a relation between the partition function for N=2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory and the Seiberg-Witten prepotential. For instantons on R^4, the conjecture was proved, independently and using different methods, by Nekrasov-Okounkov, Nakajima-Yoshioka, and Braverman-Etingof. We prove a generalized version of the conjecture for instantons on noncompact toric surfaces.
We obtain bilinear relations on Nekrasov partition functions, arising from study of tau functions of quantum $q$-Painlevé equations, from Nakajima-Yoshioka blowup relations by an elementary algebraic approach. Additionaly, using this approach, we prove certain relations on Nekrasov partition functions, modified by Chern-Simons term.
In this article, we calculated the refined topological vertex for the one parameter case using the Jack symmetric functions. Also, we obtain the partition function for elliptic N=2 models, the results coincide with those of Nekrasov instanton counting partition functions for the $N=2^{\ast}$ theories.
We exactly compute the partition function for $U(2)_k\times U(2)_{-k}$ ABJM theory on $\mathbb S^3$ deformed by mass $m$ and Fayet-Iliopoulos parameter $ζ$. For $k=1,2$, the partition function has an infinite number of Lee-Yang zeros. For general $k$, in the decompactification limit the theory exhibits a quantum (first-order) phase transition at $m=2ζ$.
We describe the general strategy for lifting the Wess-Zumino-Witten model from the level of one-loop Kac-Moody $U_q(\widehat{\mathfrak{g}})_k$ to generic quantum toroidal algebras. A nearly exhaustive presentation is given for the two series $U_{q,t}(\widehat{\widehat{\mathfrak{gl}}}_1)$ and $U_{q,t}(\widehat{\widehat{\mathfrak{gl}}}_n)$, when screenings do not exist and thus all the correlators are purely algebraic, i.e. do not include additional hypergeometric type integrations/summations. Generalizing the construction of the intertwiner (refined topological vertex) of the Ding-Iohara-Miki (…
AGT conjecture connects Nekrasov instanton partition function of 4D quiver gauge theory with 2D Liouville conformal blocks. We re-investigate this connection using the central extension of spherical Hecke algebra in q-coordinate representation, q being the instanton expansion parameter. Based on AFLT basis together with interwiners we construct gauge conformal state and demonstrate its equivalence to the Liouville conformal state, with careful attention to the proper scaling behavior of the state. Using the colliding limit of regular states, we obtain the formal expression of irregular conform…
We construct the ($β$-deformed) partition function hierarchies with $W$-representations. Based on the $W$-representations, we analyze the superintegrability property and derive their character expansions with respect to the Schur functions and Jack polynomials, respectively. Some well known superintegrable matrix models such as the Gaussian hermitian one-matrix model (in the external field), $N\times N$ complex matrix model, $β$-deformed Gaussian hermitian and rectangular complex matrix models are contained in the constructed hierarchies.
We demonstrate the presence of modular properties in partition functions of $T\bar{T}$ deformed conformal field theories. These properties are verified explicitly for the deformed free boson. The modular features facilitate a derivation of the asymptotic density of states in these theories, which turns out to interpolate between Cardy and Hagedorn behaviours. We also point out a sub-sector of the spectrum that remains undeformed under the $T\bar{T}$ flow. Finally, we comment on the deformation of the CFT vacuum character and its implications for the holographic dual.
We study the dual descriptions recently discovered for the Seiberg-Witten theory in the presence of surface operators. The Nekrasov partition function for a four-dimensional N=2 gauge theory with a surface operator is believed equal to the wave-function of the corresponding integrable system, or the Hitchin system, and is identified with the conformal block with a degenerate field via the AGT relation. We verify the conjecture by showing that the null state condition leads to the Schrodinger equations of the integrable systems. Furthermore, we show that the deformed prepotential emerging from …
We consider $\mathcal N=2$ $SU(2)$ gauge theories in four dimensions (pure or mass deformed) and discuss the properties of the simplest chiral observables in the presence of a generic $Ω$-deformation. We compute them by equivariant localization and analyze the structure of the exact instanton corrections to the classical chiral ring relations. We predict exact relations valid at all instanton number among the traces $\langle\text{Tr}φ^{n}\rangle$, where $φ$ is the scalar field in the gauge multiplet. In the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit, such relations may be explained in terms of the available q…
We derive the relation between the Hilbert space of certain geometries under the Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization and the perturbative prepotentials for the supersymmetric five-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories with massive fundamental matters and with one massive adjoint matter. The gauge theory with one adjoint matter shows interesting features. A five-dimensional generalization of Nekrasov's partition function can be written as a correlation function of two-dimensional chiral bosons and as a partition function of a statistical model of partitions. From a ground state of the statistical model we …
We propose $q$-deformation of the Gamayun-Iorgov-Lisovyy formula for Painlevé $τ$ function. Namely we propose formula for $τ$ function for $q$-difference Painlevé equation corresponding to $A_7^{(1)}{}'$ surface (and $A_1^{(1)}$ symmetry) in Sakai's classification. In this formula $τ$ function equals the series of $q$-Virasoro Whittaker conformal blocks (equivalently Nekrasov partition functions for pure $SU(2)$ 5d theory).
Nekrasov's partition function is defined on a flat bundle of R^4 over S^1 called the Omega background. When the fibration is self-dual, the partition function is known to be equal to the topological string partition function, which computes scattering amplitudes of self-dual gravitons and graviphotons in type II superstring compactified on a Calabi-Yau manifold. We propose a generalization of this correspondence when the fibration is not necessarily self-dual.
We compute the partition functions of $\mathcal{N} = 1$ gauge theories on $S^2 \times \mathbb{R}^2_\varepsilon$ using supersymmetric localization. The path integral reduces to a sum over vortices at the poles of $S^2$ and at the origin of $\mathbb{R}^2_\varepsilon$. The exact partition functions allow us to test Seiberg duality beyond the supersymmetric index. We propose the $\mathcal{N} = 1$ partition functions on the $Ω$-background, and show that the Nekrasov partition functions can be recovered from these building blocks.
We study the non-perturbative properties of N=2 super conformal field theories in four dimensions using localization techniques. In particular we consider SU(2) gauge theories, deformed by a generic epsilon-background, with four fundamental flavors or with one adjoint hypermultiplet. In both cases we explicitly compute the first few instanton corrections to the partition function and the prepotential using Nekrasov's approach. These results allow to reconstruct exact expressions involving quasi-modular functions of the bare gauge coupling constant and to show that the prepotential terms satisf…
We consider a series of massive scaling limits m_1 -> infty, q -> 0, lim m_1 q = Lambda_{3} followed by m_4 -> infty, Lambda_{3} -> 0, lim m_4 Lambda_{3} = (Lambda_2)^2 of the beta-deformed matrix model of Selberg type (N_c=2, N_f=4) which reduce the number of flavours to N_f=3 and subsequently to N_f=2. This keeps the other parameters of the model finite, which include n=N_L and N=n+N_R, namely, the size of the matrix and the "filling fraction". Exploiting the method developed before, we generate instanton expansion with finite g_s, epsilon_{1,2} to check the Nekrasov coefficients (N_f =3,2 c…
