We derive a holomorphic anomaly equation for the Vafa-Witten partition function for twisted four-dimensional $\mathcal{N} =4$ super Yang-Mills theory on $\mathbb{CP}^{2}$ for the gauge group $SO(3)$ from the path integral of the effective theory on the Coulomb branch. The holomorphic kernel of this equation, which receives contributions only from the instantons, is not modular but `mock modular'. The partition function has correct modular properties expected from $S$-duality only after including the anomalous nonholomorphic boundary contributions from anti-instantons. Using M-theory duality, we relate this phenomenon to the holomorphic anomaly of the elliptic genus of a two-dimensional noncompact sigma model and compute it independently in two dimensions. The anomaly both in four and in two dimensions can be traced to a topological term in the effective action of six-dimensional (2,0) theory on the tensor branch. We consider generalizations to other manifolds and other gauge groups to show that mock modularity is generic and essential for exhibiting duality when the relevant field space is noncompact.
Mock theta functions were introduced by Ramanujan in 1920 but a proper understanding of mock modularity has emerged only recently with the work of Zwegers in 2002. In these lectures we describe three manifestations of this apparently exotic mathematics in three important physical contexts of holography, topology and duality where mock modularity has come to play an important role.
Using wall-crossing formulae and the theory of mock modular forms we derive a holomorphic anomaly equation for the modified elliptic genus of two M5-branes wrapping a rigid divisor inside a Calabi-Yau manifold. The anomaly originates from restoring modularity of an indefinite theta-function capturing the wall-crossing of BPS invariants associated to D4-D2-D0 brane systems. We show the compatibility of this equation with anomaly equations previously observed in the context of N=4 topological Yang-Mills theory on P^2 and E-strings obtained from wrapping M5-branes on a del Pezzo surface. The non-…
The theory of Topological Modular Forms suggests the existence of deformation invariants for two-dimensional supersymmetric field theories that are more refined than the standard elliptic genus. In this note we give a physical definition of some of these invariants. The theory of mock modular forms makes a surprise appearance, shedding light on the integrality properties of some well-known examples.
The exact degeneracies of quarter-BPS dyons in Type II string theory on $K3 \times T^2$ are given by Fourier coefficients of the inverse of the Igusa cusp form. For a fixed magnetic charge invariant $m$, the generating function of these degeneracies naturally decomposes as a sum of two parts, which are supposed to account for single-centered black holes, and two-centered black hole bound states, respectively. The decomposition is such that each part is separately modular covariant but neither is holomorphic, calling for a physical interpretation of the non-holomorphy. We resolve this puzzle by…
We show that the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer $η$-invariant can be related to the temperature dependent Witten index of a noncompact theory and give a new proof of the APS theorem using scattering theory. We relate the $η$-invariant to a Callias index and compute it using localization of a supersymmetric path integral. We show that the $η$-invariant for the elliptic genus of a finite cigar is related to quantum modular forms obtained from the completion of a mock Jacobi form which we compute from the noncompact path integral.
One of interesting issues in two-dimensional superconformal field theories is the existence of anomalous modular transformation properties appearing in some non-compact superconformal models, corresponding to the `mock modularity' in mathematical literature. I review a series of my studies on this issue in collaboration with T. Eguchi, mainly focusing on the papers [arXiv:1012.5721 [hep-th]], [arXiv:1407.7721 [hep-th]], [arXiv:1603.02903 [hep-th]].
We study complexified elliptic Calogero-Moser integrable systems. We determine the value of the potential at isolated extrema, as a function of the modular parameter of the torus on which the integrable system lives. We calculate the extrema for low rank B,C,D root systems using a mix of analytical and numerical tools. For so(5) we find convincing evidence that the extrema constitute a vector valued modular form for a congruence subgroup of the modular group. For so(7) and so(8), the extrema split into two sets. One set contains extrema that make up vector valued modular forms for congruence s…
We revisit the low-energy effective $U(1)$ action of topologically twisted $\mathcal N=2$ SYM theory with gauge group of rank one on a generic oriented smooth 4-manifold $X$ with nontrivial fundamental group. After including a specific new set of $\mathcal Q$-exact operators to the known action, we express the integrand of the path integral of the low-energy $U(1)$ theory as an anti-holomorphic derivative. This allows us to use the theory of mock modular forms and indefinite theta functions for the explicit evaluation of correlation functions of the theory, including but not restricted to thos…
We find and propose an explanation for a large variety of modularity-related symmetries in problems of 3-manifold topology and physics of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories where such structures a priori are not manifest. These modular structures include: mock modular forms, $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ Weil representations, quantum modular forms, non-semisimple modular tensor categories, and chiral algebras of logarithmic CFTs.
False theta functions form a family of functions with intriguing modular properties and connections to mock modular forms. In this paper, we take the first step towards investigating modular transformations of higher rank false theta functions, following the example of higher depth mock modular forms. In particular, we prove that under quite general conditions, a rank two false theta function is determined in terms of iterated, holomorphic, Eichler-type integrals. This provides a new method for examining their modular properties and we apply it in a variety of situations where rank two false t…
We study a perturbation family of N=2 3d gauge theories and its relation to quantum K-theory. A 3d version of the Intriligator-Vafa formula is given for the quantum K-theory ring of Grassmannians. The 3d BPS half-index of the gauge theory is connected to the theory of bilateral hypergeometric q-series, and to modular q-characters of a class of conformal field theories in a certain massless limit. Turning on 3d Wilson lines at torsion points leads to mock modular behavior. Perturbed correlators in the IR regime are computed by determining the UV-IR map in the presence of deformations.
Recently a conjecture has been proposed which attaches (mock) modular forms to the largest Mathieu group. This may be compared to monstrous moonshine, in which modular functions are attached to elements of the Monster group. One of the most remarkable aspects of monstrous moonshine is the following genus zero property: the modular functions turn out to be the generators for the function fields of their invariance groups. In particular, these invariance groups define genus zero quotients of the upper half plane. It is therefore natural to ask if there is an analogue of this property in the Math…
Scaling black holes are solutions of supergravity with multiple black hole singularities, which can be adiabatically connected to a single center black hole solution. We develop techniques to determine partition functions for such scaling black holes, if each constituent carries a non-vanishing magnetic charge corresponding to a D4-brane in string theory, or equivalently M5-brane in M-theory. For three constituents, we demonstrate that the partition function is a mock modular form of depth two, and we determine the appropriate non-holomorphic completion using generalized error functions. From …
The 6d (2,0) theory of $N$ M5 branes compactified on the product geometry $T^2\times S$, where $S$ is a Kähler 4-manifold, can be studied in two different limits. In one limit, the size of $T^2$ is taken to zero and together with a topological twist one arrives at the Vafa-Witten partition function on $S$. On the other hand, taking the size of $S$ to zero leads to a 2d $\mathcal{N}=(0,4)$ theory. This gives rise to a 2d-4d correspondence where the Vafa-Witten partition functions are identified with the characters of the 2d theory. In this paper, we test this conjecture for Hirzebruch and Del P…
The D-instanton corrected hypermultiplet moduli space of type II string theory compactified on a Calabi-Yau threefold is known in the type IIA picture to be determined in terms of the generalized Donaldson-Thomas invariants, through a twistorial construction. At the same time, in the mirror type IIB picture, and in the limit where only D3-D1-D(-1)-instanton corrections are retained, it should carry an isometric action of the S-duality group SL(2,Z). We prove that this is the case in the one-instanton approximation, by constructing a holomorphic action of SL(2,Z) on the linearized twistor space…
We determine threshold corrections to the gauge couplings in local models of N=2 smooth heterotic compactifications with torsion, given by the direct product of a warped Eguchi-Hanson space and a two-torus, together with a line bundle. Using the worldsheet CFT description previously found and by suitably regularising the infinite target space volume divergence, we show that threshold corrections to the various gauge factors are governed by the non-holomorphic completion of the Appell-Lerch sum. While its holomorphic Mock-modular component captures the contribution of states that localise on th…
The goal of these lectures is to present an informal but precise introduction to a body of concepts and methods of interest in number theory and string theory revolving around modular forms and their generalizations. Modular invariance lies at the heart of conformal field theory, string perturbation theory, Montonen-Olive duality, Seiberg-Witten theory, and S-duality in Type IIB superstring theory. Automorphic forms with respect to higher arithmetic groups as well as mock modular forms enter in toroidal string compactifications and the counting of black hole microstates. After introducing the …
Motivated by S-duality modularity conjectures in string theory, we define new invariants counting a restricted class of 2-dimensional torsion sheaves, enumerating pairs $Z\subset H$ in a Calabi-Yau threefold X. Here H is a member of a sufficiently positive linear system and Z is a 1-dimensional subscheme of it. The associated sheaf is the ideal sheaf of $Z\subset H$, pushed forward to X and considered as a certain Joyce-Song pair in the derived category of X. We express these invariants in terms of the MNOP invariants of X.
Vafa-Witten (VW) theory is a topologically twisted version of N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. S-duality suggests that the partition function of VW theory with gauge group SU(N) transforms as a modular form under duality transformations. Interestingly, Vafa and Witten demonstrated the presence of a modular anomaly, when the theory has gauge group SU(2) and is considered on the complex projective plane P2. This modular anomaly could be expressed as an integral of a modular form, and also be traded for a holomorphic anomaly. We demonstrate that the modular anomaly for gauge group SU(3) invo…
Motivated by S-duality modularity conjectures in string theory, we study the Donaldson-Thomas type invariants of pure 2-dimensional sheaves inside a nonsingular threefold X in three different situations: (1). X is a K3 fibration over a curve. We study the Donaldson-Thomas invariants of the 2 dimensional Gieseker stable sheaves in X supported on the fibers. Analogous to the Gromov-Witten theory formula established in the work of Maulik-Pandharipande, we express these invariants in terms of the Euler characteristic of the Hilbert scheme of points on the K3 surface and the Noether-Lefschetz numbe…
