In this paper we propose a linear quiver with gauge groups of increasing rank as field theory dual to the AdS_5 background constructed by Sfetsos and Thompson through non-Abelian T-duality. The formalism to study 4d N=2 SUSY CFTs developed by Gaiotto and Maldacena is essential for our proposal. We point out an interesting relation between (Hopf) Abelian and non-Abelian T-dual backgrounds that allows to see both backgrounds as different limits of a solution constructed by Maldacena and Nunez. This suggests different completions of the long quiver describing the CFT dual to the non-Abelian T-dual background that match different observables.
We give a direct computational proof of N=2 Seiberg duality for arbitrary quivers, and find the action on the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameters. We also find a new analogous classical duality for Kahler potentials of N=1 quivers that generalizes the trivial duality Gr(N,N+M) ~ Gr(M,N+M) for Grassmannians.
We study Wilson loops in the 4-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric quiver/M theory duality recently constructed by Gaiotto and Maldacena, that is conjectured to be dual to M2 branes on AdS_5\times S^4 fibered over Σ_2. We use the localization method raised by Pestun, in order to compute the Wilson loop in 4-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric linear quiver gauge theory. We obtained the consistent results in the quiver gauge theory and the 11-dimensional supergravity. This match supports the N=2 quiver SCFT / M theory supergravity duality.
We study Seiberg duality of quiver gauge theories associated to the complex cone over the second del Pezzo surface. Homomorphisms in the path algebra of the quivers in each of these cases satisfy relations which follow from a superpotential of the corresponding gauge theory as F-flatness conditions. We verify that Seiberg duality between each pair of these theories can be understood as a derived equivalence between the categories of modules of representation of the path algebras of the quivers. Starting from the projective modules of one quiver we construct tilting complexes whose endomorphism…
We consider a general class of symmetries of hyper-Kahler quotients which can be interpreted as classical analogs of Seiberg duality for N=2 supersymmetric quiver gauge theories in the baryonic Higgs branch. Along the way we find that a limit application of this duality yields new exotic realizations of ALE spaces as hyper-Kahler quotients. We also discuss how these results admit in some particular cases a natural interpretation in string theory. We finally comment on a possible relationship with Fourier-Mukai tranforms.
We count Higgs "phase" BPS states of general non-Abelian quiver, possibly with loops, by mapping the problem to its Abelian, or toric, counterpart and imposing Weyl invariance later. Precise Higgs index computation is particularly important for quivers with superpotentials; the Coulomb "phase" index is recently shown to miss important BPS states, dubbed intrinsic Higgs states or quiver invariants. We demonstrate how the refined Higgs index is naturally decomposed to a sum over partitions of the charge. We conjecture, and show in simple cases, that this decomposition expresses the Higgs index a…
We show that not all $(2+1)$ dimensional toric phases are Seiberg-like duals. Particularly, we work out superconformal indices for the toric phases of Fanos ${\cal{C}}_3$, ${\cal{C}}_5$ and ${\cal{B}}_2$. We find that the indices for the two toric phases of Fano ${\cal{B}}_2$ do not match, which implies that they are not Seiberg-like duals. We also take the route of acting Seiberg-like duality transformation on toric quiver Chern-Simons theories to obtain dual quivers. We study two examples and show that Seiberg-like dual quivers are not always toric quivers.
We study the $m$-graded quiver theories associated to CY $(m+2)$-folds and their order $(m+1)$ dualities. We investigate how monodromies give rise to mutation invariants, which in turn can be formulated as Diophantine equations characterizing the space of dual theories associated to a given geometry. We discuss these ideas in general and illustrate them in the case of orbifold theories. Interestingly, we observe that even in this simple context the corresponding Diophantine equations may admit an infinite number of seeds for $m\geq 2$, which translates into an infinite number of disconnected d…
Chern-Simons quivers for M2-branes at Calabi-Yau singularities are best understood as the low energy theory of D2-branes on a dual type IIA background. We show how the D2-brane point of view naturally leads to three dimensional Seiberg dualities for Chern-Simons quivers with chiral matter content: They arise from a change of brane basis (or mutation), in complete analogy with the better known Seiberg dualities for D3-brane quivers. This perspective reproduces the known rules for Seiberg dualities in Chern-Simons-Yang-Mills theories with unitary gauge groups. We provide explicit examples of dua…
We construct N=1 A-D-E quiver gauge theory with the gauge kinetic term which depends on the adjoint chiral superfields, as a low energy effective theory on D5-branes wrapped on 2-cycles of Calabi-Yau 3-fold in IIB string theory. The field-dependent gauge kinetic term can be engineered by introducing B-field which holomorphically varies on the base space (complex plane) of Calabi-Yau. We consider Weyl reflection on A-D-E node, which acts non-trivially on the gauge kinetic term. It is known that Weyl reflection is related to N=1 electric-magnetic duality. Therefore, the non-trivial action implie…
Supersymmetric Sp(k) quantum chromodynamics with 8 supercharges in space-time dimensions 3 to 6 can be realised by two different Type II brane configurations in the presence of orientifolds. Consequently, two types of magnetic quivers describe the Higgs branch of the Sp(k) SQCD theory. This is a salient example of a general phenomenon: a given hyper-Kahler Higgs branch may admit several magnetic quiver constructions. It is then natural to wonder if these different magnetic quivers, which are described by 3d N=4 theories, are dual theories. In this work, the unitary and orthosymplectic magnetic…
With the deconstruction technique, the geometric information of a torus can be encoded in a sequence of orbifolds. By studying the Matrix Theory on these orbifolds as quiver mechanics, we present a formulation that (de)constructs the torus of {\em generic shape} on which Matrix Theory is ``compactified''. The continuum limit of the quiver mechanics gives rise to a $(1+2)$-dimensional SYM. A hidden (fourth) dimension, that was introduced before in the Matrix Theory literature to argue for the electric-magnetic duality, can be easily identified in our formalism. We construct membrane wrapping st…
We generalize previous results on N=1, (3+1)-dimensional superconformal block quiver gauge theories. It is known that the necessary conditions for a theory to be superconformal, i.e. that the beta and gamma functions vanish in addition to anomaly cancellation, translate to a Diophantine equation in terms of the quiver data. We re-derive results for low block numbers revealing an new intriguing algebraic structure underlying a class of possible superconformal fixed points of such theories. After explicitly computing the five block case Diophantine equation, we use this structure to reorganize t…
In this paper we construct a new Type IIB background with an $AdS_4$ factor that preserves ${\cal N}=4$ Supersymmetry. This solution is obtained using a non-Abelian T-duality transformation on the Type IIA reduction of the $AdS_4\times S^7$ background. We interpret our configuration as a patch of a more general background with localised sources, dual to the renormalisation fixed point of a $T_ρ^{\hatρ} (SU(N))$ quiver field theory. This relates explicitly the $AdS_4$ geometry to a D3-D5-NS5 brane intersection, illuminating what seems to be a more general phenomenon, relating $AdS_{p+1}$ backgr…
In this paper we study an $AdS_5$ solution constructed using non-Abelian T-duality, acting on the Klebanov-Witten background. We show that this is dual to a linear quiver with two tails of gauge groups of increasing rank. The field theory dynamics arises from a D4-NS5-NS5' brane set-up, generalizing the constructions discussed by Bah and Bobev. These realize $\mathcal{N}=1$ quiver gauge theories built out of $\mathcal{N}=1$ and $\mathcal{N}=2$ vector multiplets flowing to interacting fixed points in the infrared. We compute the central charge using $a$-maximization, and show its precise agreem…
A popular way to study N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories is to realize them geometrically in string theory, as suspended brane constructions, D-branes wrapping cycles in Calabi-Yau manifolds, orbifolds, and otherwise. Among the applications of this idea are simple derivations and generalizations of Seiberg duality for the theories which can be so realized. We abstract from these arguments the idea that Seiberg duality arises because a configuration of gauge theory can be realized as a bound state of a collection of branes in more than one way, and we show that different brane world-volume theo…
We present a number of investigations of 5d ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric gauge theories that make use of 5-brane web constructions and the 5d superconformal index. These include an observation of enhanced global symmetry in the 5d fixed point theory corresponding to $SU(N)$ gauge theory with Chern-Simons level $\pm N$, enhanced global symmetries in quiver theories, and dualities between quiver theories and non-quiver theories. Instanton contributions play a crucial role throughout.
In this paper we study the BPS state counting in the geometry of local obstructed curve with normal bundle O+O(-2). We find that the BPS states have a framed quiver description. Using this quiver description along with the Seiberg duality and the localization techniques, we can compute the BPS state indices in different chambers dictated by stability parameter assignments. This provides a well-defined method to compute the generalized Donaldson-Thomas invariants. This method can be generalized to other affine ADE quiver theories.
Algorithmic Dualization of Unitary Circular Quivers
Abdus Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics, Imperial College London（阿卜杜斯·萨拉姆理论物理中心，伦敦帝国理工学院）；Interdisciplinary Center for Theoretical Study, University of Science and Technology of China（中国科学技术大学交叉理论科学研究中心）；Peng Huanwu Center for Fundamental Theory（彭桓武理论物理中心）；Fakultät für Physik, Universität Wien（维也纳大学物理学院）
A large class of orbifold quiver gauge theories admits the action of finite Heisenberg groups of the form \prod_i Heis(Z_{q_i} x Z_{q_i}). For an Abelian orbifold generated by Γ, the Z_{q_i} shift generator in each Heisenberg group is one cyclic factor of the Abelian group Γ. For general non-Abelian Γ, however, we find that the shift generators are the cyclic factors in the Abelianization of Γ. We explicitly show this for the case Γ=Δ(27), where we construct the finite Heisenberg group symmetries of the field theory. These symmetries are dual to brane number operators counting branes on homolo…
Placing a set of branes at a Calabi-Yau singularity leads to an N=1 quiver gauge theory. We analyze F-term deformations of such gauge theories. A generic deformation can be obtained by making the Calabi-Yau non-commutative. We discuss non-commutative generalisations of well-known singularities such as the Del Pezzo singularities and the conifold. We also introduce new techniques for deriving superpotentials, based on quivers with ghosts and a notion of generalised Seiberg duality. The curious gauge structure of quivers with ghosts is most naturally described using the BV formalism. Finally we …
We use large N duality to study brane/anti-brane configurations on a class of Calabi-Yau manifolds. With only branes present, the Calabi-Yau manifolds in question give rise to N=2 ADE quiver theories deformed by superpotential terms. We show that the large N duality conjecture of hep-th/0610249 reproduces correctly the known qualitative features of the brane/anti-brane physics. In the supersymmetric case, the gauge theories have Seiberg dualities which are represented as flops in the geometry. Moreover, the holographic dual geometry encodes the whole RG flow of the gauge theory. In the non-sup…
We study the duality group of $\hat{A}_{n-1}$ quiver gauge theories, primarily using their M5-brane construction. For $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry, this duality group was first noted by Witten to be the mapping class group of a torus with $n$ punctures. We find that it is a certain quotient of this group that acts faithfully on gauge couplings. This quotient group contains the affine Weyl group of $\hat{A}_{n-1}$, $\mathbb{Z}_n$ and $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$. In fact there are $n$ non-commuting $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ subgroups, related to each other by conjugation using the $\mathbb{Z}_n$. When supersym…
We explore nonrelativistic limits of $\mathcal{N}=1$ quiver gauge theories in 5d. The stringy counterpart of these SCFTs is characterised by torsional string Newton-Cartan (TSNC) sigma models those are defined over non-Lorentzian manifolds. We further show that under transverse T-duality, these TSNC sigma models are mapped into another new class of nonrelativistic sigma models those are defined over a T-dual TSNC background. Considering nonrelativistic limits of various field theory observables in a holographic set up, we further estimate corresponding entities in the TSNC limit of $ \mathcal{…
We study Ihara zeta function for graphs in the context of quivers arising from gauge theories, especially under Seiberg duality transformations. The distribution of poles is studied as we proceed along the duality tree, in light of the weak and strong graph versions of the Riemann Hypothesis. As a by-product, we find a refined version of Ihara zeta function to be the generating function for the generic superpotential of the gauge theory.
We show that applying the Bailey lemma to elliptic hypergeometric integrals on the $A_n$ root system leads to a large web of dualities for $\mathcal{N} = 1$ supersymmetric linear quiver theories. The superconformal index of Seiberg's SQCD with $SU(N_c)$ gauge group and $SU(N_f)\times SU(N_f)\times U(1)$ flavour symmetry is equal to that of $N_f-N_c-1$ distinct linear quivers. Seiberg duality further enlarges this web by adding new quivers. In particular, both interacting electric and magnetic theories with arbitrary $N_c$ and $N_f$ can be constructed by quivering an $s$-confining theory with $…
We study half-BPS surface operators in N=2supersymmetric asymptotically conformal gauge theories in four dimensions with SU(N) gauge group and 2N fundamental flavours using localization methods and coupled 2d/4d quiver gauge theories. We show that contours specified by a particular Jeffrey-Kirwan residue prescription in the localization analysis map to particular realizations of the surface operator as flavour defects. Seiberg duality of the 2d/4d quivers is mapped to contour deformations of the localization integral which in this case involves a residue at infinity. This is reflected as a mod…
For a quiver with potential, Derksen, Weyman and Zelevinsky defined a combinatorial transformation - mutations. Mukhopadhyay and Ray, on the other hand, tell us how to compute Seiberg dual quivers for some quivers with potentials through a tilting procedure, thus obtaining derived equivalent algebras. In this text, we compare mutations with the concept of Seiberg duality, concluding that for a certain class of potentials (the good ones) mutations coincide with Seiberg duality, therefore giving derived equivalences.
Toric Duality arises as an ambiguity in computing the quiver gauge theory living on a D3-brane which probes a toric singularity. It is reviewed how, in simple cases Toric Duality is Seiberg Duality. The set of all Seiberg Dualities on a single node in the quiver forms a group which is contained in a larger group given by a set of Picard-Lefschetz transformations. This leads to elements in the group (sometimes called fractional Seiberg Duals) which are not Seiberg Duality on a single node, thus providing a new set of gauge theories which flow to the same universality class in the Infra Red.
We compute the NSVZ beta functions for N = 1 four-dimensional quiver theories arising from D-brane probes on singularities, complete with anomalous dimensions, for a large set of phases in the corresponding duality tree. While these beta functions are zero for D-brane probes, they are non-zero in the presence of fractional branes. As a result there is a non-trivial RG behavior. We apply this running of gauge couplings to some toric singularities such as the cones over Hirzebruch and del Pezzo surfaces. We observe the emergence in string theory, of ``Duality Walls,'' a finite energy scale at wh…
This paper tests a conjecture on discrete non-Abelian gauging of 3d $\mathcal{N} = 4$ supersymmetric quiver gauge theories. Given a parent quiver with a bouquet of $n$ nodes of rank $1$, invariant under a discrete $S_n$ global symmetry, one can construct a daughter quiver where the bouquet is substituted by a single adjoint $n$ node. Based on the main conjecture in this paper, the daughter quiver corresponds to a theory where the $S_n$ discrete global symmetry is gauged and the new Coulomb branch is a non-Abelian orbifold of the parent Coulomb branch. We demonstrate and test the conjecture for…
We analyze the action of Toric (Seiberg) duality on the combined mesonic and baryonic moduli space of quiver gauge theories obtained from D3 branes at Calabi-Yau singularities. We analyze in particular the structure of the master space, the complete moduli space for one brane, for different toric phases of a given singularity. We show that the Hilbert Series for the largest component of the master space of different phases is the same, when refined with all the non anomalous charges. This reflects the fact that the quiver gauge theories associated with different phases are related by Seiberg d…
The partition functions of refined topological strings(A-models) are computed, which give rise to the circle-compactified five-dimensional supersymmetric linear quiver gauge theories in generic (not necessarily self-dual) Omega backgrounds. Based on the slicing independence conjecture of refined topological string partition functions, it is demonstrated explicitly that the duality exists between $SU(N)^{M-1}$ and $SU(M)^{N-1}$ supersymmetric linear quiver gauge theories, even in generic Omega backgrounds. It is found that the relations between string moduli and gauge moduli are deformed from t…
T-duality of string theory can be extended to the Poisson-Lie T-duality when the target space has a generalized isometry group given by a Drinfel'd double. In M-theory, T-duality is understood as a subgroup of U-duality, but the non-Abelian extension of U-duality is still a mystery. In this paper, we study membrane theory on a curved background with a generalized isometry group given by the $\mathcal{E}_n$ algebra. This provides a natural setup to study non-Abelian U-duality because the $\mathcal{E}_n$ algebra has been proposed as a U-duality extension of the Drinfel'd double. We show that the…
We explore 1d vortex dynamics of 3d supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories, as inferred from factorization of exact partition functions. Under Seiberg-like dualities, the 3d partition function must remain invariant, yet it is not a priori clear what should happen to the vortex dynamics. We observe that the 1d quivers for the vortices remain the same, and the net effect of the 3d duality map manifests as 1d Wall-Crossing phenomenon; Although the vortex number can shift along such duality maps, the ranks of the 1d quiver theory are unaffected, leading to a notion of fundamental vortices as basic bui…
The act of implementing non-Abelian duality in two dimensional sigma models results unavoidably in an additional reducible symmetry. The Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism is employed to handle this new symmetry. Valuable lessons are learnt here with respect to non-Abelian duality. We emphasise, in particular, the effects of the ghost sector corresponding to this symmetry on non-Abelian duality.
We explore BPS quivers for D=5 theories, compactified on a circle and geometrically engineered over local Calabi-Yau 3-folds, for which many of known machineries leading to (refined) indices fail due to the fine-tuning of the superpotential. For Abelian quivers, the counting reduces to a geometric one, but the technically challenging $L^2$ cohomology proved to be essential for sensible BPS spectra. We offer a mathematical theorem to remedy the difficulty, but for non-Abelian quivers, the cohomology approach itself fails because the relevant wavefunctions are inherently gauge-theoretical. For t…
We study various duality webs involving the 3d FT[SU(N)] theory, a close relative of the T[SU(N)] quiver tail. We first map the partition functions of FT[SU(N)] and its 3d spectral dual to a pair of spectral dual q-Toda conformal blocks. Then we show how to obtain the FT[SU(N)] partition function by Higgsing a 5d linear quiver gauge theory, or equivalently from the refined topological string partition function on a certain toric Calabi-Yau three-fold. 3d spectral duality in this context descends from 5d spectral duality. Finally we discuss the 2d reduction of the 3d spectral dual pair and stud…
We consider a pure U(1) quantum gauge field theory on a general Riemannian compact four manifold. We compute the partition function with Abelian Wilson loop insertions. We find its duality covariance properties and derive topological selection rules. Finally, we show that, to have manifest duality, one must assume the existence of twisted topological sectors besides the standard untwisted one.
A new dynamic SU(3)-structure solution in type-IIA is found by T-dualising a deformation of the Maldacena-Nastase solution along an SU(2) isometry. It is argued that this is dual to a quiver gauge theory with multiple Chern-Simons levels. A clear way of defining Chern-Simons levels in terms of Page charges is presented, which is also used to define a Chern-Simons term for the G2-structure analogue of Klebanov-Strassler, providing evidence of a cascade in both the ranks and levels of the dual quiver.
In this paper we study the relation between pyramid partitions with a general empty room configuration (ERC) and the BPS states of D-branes on the resolved conifold. We find that the generating function for pyramid partitions with a length n ERC is exactly the same as the D6/D2/D0 BPS partition function on the resolved conifold in particular Kaehler chambers. We define a new type of pyramid partition with a finite ERC that counts the BPS degeneracies in certain other chambers. The D6/D2/D0 partition functions in different chambers were obtained by applying the wall crossing formula. On the oth…
In this paper we discuss an infinite family of new solutions in massive Type IIA supergravity with AdS$_3\times$S$^2$ factors, preserving ${\cal N}=(0,4)$ SUSY. After studying geometrical aspects of the backgrounds we propose a duality with a precise family of quivers that flow to (0,4) fixed points at low energies. These quivers consist on two families of (4,4) linear quivers coupled by matter fields. We present various tests of our proposal.
Recent development on non-Abeliann vortices and monopoles is reviewed with an emphasis on their relevance on confinement and duality. A very recent construction of non-Abelian vortices which do not dynamically Abelianize is crucial in this context.
We start by describing two of the main proposals for duality in Abelian gauge theories, namely $F$(ield strength)-duality approach and the $S$% -duality formalism. We then discuss how $F$-duality and $S$-duality can be applied to the case of linearized gravity. By emphasizing the similarities and differences between these two type of dualities we explore the possibility of combining them in just one duality formalism.
The quantum Yang-Mills theory describing dual ($\tilde g$) and non-dual ($g$) charges and revealing the generalized duality symmetry was developed by analogy with the Zwanziger formalism in QED.
We compute the partition function of five-dimension Abelian sYM including a graviphoton term on a five-torus. The result agrees with Abelian M5 brane partition function with zero characteristics on an associated six-torus.
For non-Abelian tensor gauge fields we have found an alternative form of duality transformation, which has the property that the direct and the inverse transformations coincide. This duality transformation has the desired property that the direct and the inverse transformations map Lagrangian forms into each other.
A method for implementing non-Abelian duality on string backgrounds is given. It is shown that a direct generalisation of the familiar Abelian duality induces an extra local symmetry in the gauge invariant theory. The non-Abelian isometry group is shown to be enlarged to a non-semi-simple group. However, upon eliminating the gauge fields to obtain the dual theory the new algebra does not close. Therefore the gauge fixing procedure becomes problematic. The new method proposed here avoids these issues and leads to a dual theory in the proper sense of duality.
We find new type II backgrounds with non-relativistic symmetries via non-Abelian T-duality. First we consider geometries with Galilean symmetries in type IIA, which have been identified as non-relativistic generalizations of the ABJM background and massive IIA supergravities. We then consider the non-Abelian T-duality transformation on the backgrounds with Lifshitz symmetry constructed by Donos and Gauntlett. Using gauge/gravity duality we study aspects of the field theory dual to these backgrounds.
We construct the duality-symmetric actions for a large class of six-dimensional models describing hierarchies of non-Abelian scalar, vector and tensor fields related to each other by first-order (self-)duality equations that follow from these actions. In particular, this construction provides a Lorentz invariant action for non-Abelian self-dual tensor fields. The class of models includes the bosonic sectors of the 6d (1,0) superconformal models of interacting non-Abelian self-dual tensor, vector, and hypermultiplets.
We construct explicit canonical transformations producing non-abelian duals in principal chiral models with arbitrary group G. Some comments concerning the extension to more general $σ$-models, like WZW models, are given.
In this short article we develop recent proposals to relate Yang-Baxter sigma-models and non-abelian T-duality. We demonstrate explicitly that the holographic space-times associated to both (multi-parameter)-$β$-deformations and non-commutative deformations of ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills gauge theory including the RR fluxes can be obtained via the machinery of non-abelian T-duality in Type II supergravity.
The standard notion of the non-Abelian duality in string theory is generalized to the class of $\si$-models admitting `non-commutative conserved charges'. Such $\si$-models can be associated with every Lie bialgebra $(\cg ,\cgt)$ and they possess an isometry group iff the commutant $[\cgt,\cgt]$ is not equal to $\cgt$. Within the enlarged class of the backgrounds the non-Abelian duality {\it is} a duality transformation in the proper sense of the word. It exchanges the roles of $\cg$ and $\cgt$ and it can be interpreted as a symplectomorphism of the phase spaces of the mutually dual theories. …
We examine the electric-magnetic duality for a U(1) gauge theory on a general 4-manifold. The partition function for such a theory transforms as a modular form of specific weight. However, in the canonical approach, we show that S-duality, like T-duality, is generated by a canonical transformation leading to a modular invariant partition function.
We examine T-duality transformations for supersymmetric strings with target space geometry with compact abelian isometries. We consider the partition function of these models and we show that although T-duality is not a symmetry, due to an anomaly, it relates type IIA to type IIB strings. In this way we extend the corresponding result for toroidal compactification to the general case of non-trivial backgrounds with abelian isometries and for world sheets of any genera.
