We study the relation between the partition function of refined SU(N) and SO(2N) Chern-Simons on the 3-sphere and the universal Chern-Simons partition function in the sense of Mkrtchyan and Veselov. We find a four-parameter generalization of the integral representation of universal Chern-Simons that includes refined SU(N) and SO(2N) Chern-Simons for special values of parameters. The large N expansion of the integral representation of refined SU(N) Chern-Simons explicitly shows the replacement of the virtual Euler characteristic of the moduli space of complex curves with a refined Euler characteristic related to the radius deformed c=1 string free energy.
The present thesis represents developments in two main directions related to the simple Lie algebras. The first one is devoted to the representation theory of the simple Lie algebras. Specifically, we present recent results, which include new universal formulae in Vogel's universal description, as well as the discovery of additional properties of those formulae. In the second part of the thesis, we demonstrate applications of Vogel's description to the study of a physical theory. Namely, we explicitly formulate the { \it refined} Chern-Simons theories on $S^3$ for each of the simple gauge grou…
The refined Chern-Simons theory is a one-parameter deformation of the ordinary Chern-Simons theory on Seifert manifolds. It is defined via an index of the theory on N M5 branes, where the corresponding one-parameter deformation is a natural deformation of the geometric background. Analogously with the unrefined case, the solution of refined Chern-Simons theory is given in terms of S and T matrices, which are the proper Macdonald deformations of the usual ones. This provides a direct way to compute refined Chern-Simons invariants of a wide class of three-manifolds and knots. The knot invariants…
We establish a relation between the refined Hopf link invariant and the S-matrix of the refined Chern-Simons theory. We show that the refined open string partition function corresponding to the Hopf link, calculated using the refined topological vertex, when expressed in the basis of Macdonald polynomials gives the S-matrix of the refined Chern-Simons theory.
We invoke universal Chern-Simons theory to analytically calculate the exact free energy of the refined topological string on the resolved conifold. In the unrefined limit we reproduce non-perturbative corrections for the resolved conifold found elsewhere in the literature, thereby providing strong evidence that the Chern-Simons / topological string duality is exact, and in particular holds at arbitrary N as well. In the refined case, the non-perturbative corrections we find are novel and appear to be non-trivial. We show that non-perturbatively special treatment is needed for rational valued d…
We show that the perturbative part of the partition function in the Chern-Simons theory on a 3-sphere as well as the central charge and expectation value of the unknotted Wilson loop in the adjoint representation can be expressed in terms of the universal Vogel's parameters $α, β, γ.$ The derivation is based on certain generalisations of the Freudenthal-de Vries strange formula.
We show that refined Chern-Simons theory and large N duality can be used to study the refined topological string with and without branes. We derive the refined topological vertex of hep-th/0701156 and hep-th/0502061 from a link invariant of the refined SU(N) Chern-Simons theory on S^3, at infinite N. Quiver-like Chern-Simons theories, arising from Calabi-Yau manifolds with branes wrapped on several minimal S^3's, give a dual description of a large class of toric Calabi-Yau. We use this to derive the refined topological string amplitudes on a toric Calabi-Yau containing a shrinking P^2 surface.…
We present the partition function of Chern-Simons theory with the exceptional gauge group on three-sphere in the form of a partition function of the refined closed topological string with relation $2τ=g_s(1-b) $ between single Kähler parameter $τ$, string coupling constant $g_s$ and refinement parameter $b$, where $b=\frac{5}{3},\frac{5}{2},3,4,6$ for $G_2, F_4, E_6, E_7, E_8$, respectively. The non-zero BPS invariants $N^d_{J_L,J_R}$ ($d$ - degree) are $N^2_{0,\frac{1}{2}}=1, N^{11}_{0,1}=1$. Besides these terms, partition function of Chern-Simons theory contains term corresponding to the ref…
We show that integral representation of universal volume function of compact simple Lie groups gives rise to six analytic functions on $CP^2$, which transform as two triplets under group of permutations of Vogel's projective parameters. This substitutes expected invariance under permutations of universal parameters by more complicated covariance. We provide an analytical continuation of these functions and particularly calculate their change under permutations of parameters. This last relation is universal generalization, for an arbitrary simple Lie group and an arbitrary point in Vogel's plan…
We study the partition function of the ABJ theory, which is the N=6 superconformal Chern-Simons matter theory with gauge group U(N)xU(N+M) and Chern-Simons levels (k,-k). We exactly compute the ABJ partition function on a three sphere for various k, M and N via the Fermi gas approach. By using these exact data, we show that the ABJ partition function is completely determined by the refined topological string on local P^1 x P^1, including membrane instanton effects in the M-theory dual.
We present a new expression for the partition function of refined Chern-Simons theory on $S^3$ with arbitrary gauge group, which is explicitly equal to $1$, when the coupling constant is zero. Using this form of partition function we show that the previously known Krefl-Schwarz representation of partition function of refined Chern-Simons theory on $S^3$ can be generalized to all simply-laced algebras. For all non-simply-laced gauge algebras, we derive similar representations of that partition function, which makes it possible to transform it into a product of multiple sine functions aiming at …
We consider the link average of the half-BPS Wilson loop operators in N = 6 superconformal Chern-Simons-matter theory, which is called ABJM theory. We show that this loop average is reduced to a (super)matrix integral by the localization method, in a similar way to the bosonic U(N) Chern-Simons theory. Using this matrix integral, we compute the two- and three-link averages with an operator formalism inspired by a three-dimensional topological field theory. We obtain a factorization of the link average, and the Verlinde formula in a sector of supergroup representations. We also propose a refine…
We study the relationship between refined Chern-Simons theory on lens spaces S^3/Z_p and (q,t)-deformed Yang-Mills theory on the sphere S^2. We derive the instanton partition function of (q,t)-deformed U(N) Yang-Mills theory and describe it explicitly as an analytical continuation of the semi-classical expansion of refined Chern-Simons theory. The derivations are based on a generalization of the Weyl character formula to Macdonald polynomials. The expansion is used to formulate q-generalizations of beta-deformed matrix models for refined Chern-Simons theory, as well as conjectural formulas for…
It was known that the ABJM matrix model is dual to the topological string theory on a Calabi-Yau manifold. Using this relation it was possible to write down the exact instanton expansion of the partition function of the ABJM matrix model. The expression consists of a universal function constructed from the free energy of the refined topological string theory with an overall topological invariant characterizing the Calabi-Yau manifold. In this paper we explore two other superconformal Chern-Simons theories of the circular quiver type. We find that the partition function of one theory enjoys the…
The Coulomb branch indices of Argyres-Douglas theories on $L(k,1)\times S^{1}$ are recently identified with matrix elements of modular transforms of certain $2d$ vertex operator algebras in a particular limit. A one parameter generalization of the modular transformation matrices of $(2N+3,2)$ minimal models are proposed to compute the full Coulomb branch index of $(A_{1},A_{2N})$ Argyres-Douglas theories on the same space. Morever, M-theory construction of these theories suggests direct connection to the refined Chern-Simons theory. The connection is made precise by showing how the modular tra…
We consider the matrix model of $U(N)$ refined Chern-Simons theory on $S^3$ for the unknot. We derive a $q$-difference operator whose insertion in the matrix integral reproduces an infinite set of Ward identities which we interpret as $q$-Virasoro constraints. The constraints are rewritten as difference equations for the generating function of Wilson loop expectation values which we solve as a recursion for the correlators of the model. The solution is repackaged in the form of superintegrability formulas for Macdonald polynomials. Additionally, we derive an equivalent $q$-difference operator …
We study refined topological string theory in the presence of orientifolds by counting second-quantized BPS states in M-theory. This leads us to propose a new integrality condition for both refined and unrefined topological strings when orientifolds are present. We define the SO(2N) refined Chern-Simons theory which computes refined open string amplitudes for branes wrapping Seifert three-manifolds. We use the SO(2N) refined Chern-Simons theory to compute new invariants of torus knots that generalize the Kauffman polynomials. At large N, the SO(2N) refined Chern-Simons theory on the three-sphe…
We formulate a refinement of SU(N) Chern-Simons theory on a three-manifold via the refined topological string and the (2,0) theory on N M5 branes. The refined Chern-Simons theory is defined on any three-manifold with a semi-free circle action. We give an explicit solution of the theory, in terms of a one-parameter refinement of the S and T matrices of Chern-Simons theory, related to the theory of Macdonald polynomials. The ordinary and refined Chern-Simons theory are similar in many ways; for example, the Verlinde formula holds in both. We obtain new topological invariants of Seifert three-man…
Closed simple integral representation through Vogel's universal parameters is found both for perturbative and nonperturbative (which is inverse invariant group volume) parts of free energy of Chern-Simons theory on $S^3$. This proves the universality of that partition function. For classical groups it manifestly satisfy N \rightarrow -N duality, in apparent contradiction with previously used ones. For SU(N) we show that asymptotic of nonperturbative part of our partition function coincides with that of Barnes G-function, recover Chern-Simons/topological string duality in genus expansion and re…
Aganagic and Shakirov propose a refinement of the SU(N) Chern-Simons theory for links in three manifolds with S^1-symmetry, such as torus knots in S^3, based on deformation of the S and T matrices, originally found by Kirillov and Cherednik. We relate the large N limit of the S matrix to the Hilbert schemes of points on the affine plane. As an application, we find an explicit formula for the Euler characteristics of the universal sheaf, applied arbitrary Schur functor.
We present the partition function of the refined Chern-Simons theory on $S^3$ with arbitrary A,B,C,D gauge algebra in terms of multiple sine functions. For B and C cases this representation is novel. It allows us to conjecture duality to some refined and orientifolded versions of the topological string on the resolved conifold, and carry out the detailed identification of different contributions. The free energies for D and C algebras possess the usual halved contribution from the A theory, i.e. orientable surfaces, and contributions of non-orientable surfaces with one cross-cup, with opposite…
We show that partition function of Chern-Simons theory on three-sphere with classical and exceptional groups (actually on the whole corresponding lines in Vogel's plane) can be represented as ratio of respectively triple and double sine functions (last function is essentially a modular quantum dilogarithm). The product representation of sine functions gives Gopakumar-Vafa structure form of partition function, which in turn gives a corresponding integer invariants of manifold after geometrical transition. In this way we suggest to extend gauge/string duality to exceptional groups, although one …
We formulate large $N$ duality of $\mathrm{U}(N)$ refined Chern-Simons theory with a torus knot/link in $S^3$. By studying refined BPS states in M-theory, we provide the explicit form of low-energy effective actions of Type IIA string theory with D4-branes on the $Ω$-background. This form enables us to relate refined Chern-Simons invariants of a torus knot/link in $S^3$ to refined BPS invariants in the resolved conifold. Assuming that the extra $\mathrm{U}(1)$ global symmetry acts on BPS states trivially, the duality predicts graded dimensions of cohomology groups of moduli spaces of M2-M5 bou…
A refined expression for the Faddeev-Popov determinant is derived for gauge theories quantised around a reducible classical solution. We apply this result to Chern-Simons perturbation theory on compact spacetime 3-manifolds with quantisation around an arbitrary flat gauge field isolated up to gauge transformations, pointing out that previous results on the finiteness and formal metric-independence of perturbative expansions of the partition function continue to hold.
We study junctions of Wilson lines in refined SU(N) Chern-Simons theory and their local relations. We focus on junctions of Wilson lines in antisymmetric and symmetric powers of the fundamental representation and propose a set of local relations which realize one-parameter deformations of quantum groups $\dot{U}_{q}(\mathfrak{sl}_{m})$ and $\dot{U}_{q}(\mathfrak{sl}_{n|m})$.
We study the entanglement for a state on linked torus boundaries in $3d$ Chern-Simons theory with a generic gauge group and present the asymptotic bounds of Rényi entropy at two different limits: (i) large Chern-Simons coupling $k$, and (ii) large rank $r$ of the gauge group. These results show that the Rényi entropies cannot diverge faster than $\ln k$ and $\ln r$, respectively. We focus on torus links $T(2,2n)$ with topological linking number $n$. The Rényi entropy for these links shows a periodic structure in $n$ and vanishes whenever $n = 0 \text{ (mod } \textsf{p})$, where the integer $\t…
We derive an index theorem for the Dirac operator in the background of various topological excitations on an R^3 \times S^1 geometry. The index theorem provides more refined data than the APS index for an instanton on R^4 and reproduces it in decompactification limit. In the R^3 limit, it reduces to the Callias index theorem. The index is expressed in terms of topological charge and the eta-invariant associated with the boundary Dirac operator. Neither topological charge nor eta-invariant is typically an integer, however, the non-integer parts cancel to give an integer-valued index. Our deriva…
In (3+1)-dimensional SU(Nc) Yang-Mills (YM) theory, the Chern-Simons diffusion rate, Gamma_{CS}, is determined by the zero-momentum, zero-frequency limit of the retarded two-point function of the CP-odd operator tr[F ^ F], with F the YM field strength. The Chern-Simons diffusion rate is a crucial ingredient for many CP-odd phenomena, including the chiral magnetic effect in the quark-gluon plasma. We compute Gamma_{CS} in the high-temperature, deconfined phase of Improved Holographic QCD, a refined holographic model for large-Nc YM theory. Our result for Gamma_{CS}/(sT), where s is entropy dens…
The proper action functional of (4k+3)-dimensional U(1)-Chern-Simons theory including the instanton sectors has a well known description: it is given on the moduli space of fields by the fiber integration of the cup product square of classes in degree-(2k+2) differential cohomology. We first refine this statement from the moduli space to the full higher smooth moduli stack of fields, to which the higher order-ghost BRST complex is the infinitesimal approximation. Then we generalize the refined formulation to cup product Chern-Simons theories of nonabelian and higher nonabelian gauge fields, su…
The study of the partition function in M-theory involves the use of index theory on a twelve-dimensional bounding manifold. In eleven dimensions, viewed as a boundary, this is given by secondary index invariants such as the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer eta-invariant, the Chern-Simons invariant, or the Adams e-invariant. If the eleven-dimensional manifold itself has a boundary, the resulting ten-dimensional manifold can be viewed as a codimension two corner. The partition function in this context has been studied by the author in relation to index theory for manifolds with corners, essentially on the p…
