We give a construction of general holomorphic quarter BPS operators in $ \mathcal{N}=4$ SYM at weak coupling with $U(N)$ gauge group at finite $N$. The construction employs the Möbius inversion formula for set partitions, applied to multi-symmetric functions, alongside computations in the group algebras of symmetric groups. We present a computational algorithm which produces an orthogonal basis for the physical inner product on the space of holomorphic operators. The basis is labelled by a $U(2)$ Young diagram, a $U(N)$ Young diagram and an additional plethystic multiplicity label. We describe precision counting results of quarter BPS states which are expected to be reproducible from dual computations with giant gravitons in the bulk, including a symmetry relating sphere and AdS giants within the quarter BPS sector. In the case $n \leq N$ ($n$ being the dimension of the composite operator) the construction is analytic, using multi-symmetric functions and $U(2)$ Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. Counting and correlators of the BPS operators can be encoded in a two-dimensional topological field theory based on permutation algebras and equipped with appropriate defects.
We analyse the one-loop dilatation operator with the help of the Brauer algebra. We find some BPS operators in N=4 SYM, which are labelled by irreducible representations of the Brauer algebra. Some of them are quarter BPS operators. The result includes full non-planar corrections. Our construction and proof are based on simple algebraic arguments and are carried out for any number of fields.
We study $N=2$ gauged supergravity with $U(1)$ gauge group coupled to $n_v$ vector multiplets and find quite general analytic solutions for quarter-BPS black holes with mass, NUT and dyonic Maxwell charges. The solutions we find have running scalar fields and flow in the IR region to a horizon geometry of the form AdS$_2\times Σ_g$.
We start a systematic study of quarter-BPS operators in four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super Yang-Mills with gauge group $\mathrm{SU}(N)$ making use of recently developed tools in conformal field theory. We adapt the technology of embedding space tensor structures in four dimensions to the problem of computing R-symmetry tensor structures and we use the underlying chiral algebra to obtain the superconformal Ward identities. This allows us to fix the protected part of the four-point correlators, up to few ambiguities. As applications, we use the Lorentzian inversion formula to study the leadi…
We show how by assuming at least 8 real timelike supersymmetries in the maximally supersymmetric three-dimensional ungauged supergravity and a further simplifying Ansatz, we are naturally led to a pair of Liouville field equations. We also show that there are no solutions that preserve only 6 real timelike supersymmetries. The solution relies on the classification of complex spinors of Spin(8) to which the problem quickly reduces.
We show that the system of $k$ NS5-branes wrapping $\mathbb{T}^4\times S^1$ has non-trivial vacuum structure. Different vacua have different spectra of 1/4 BPS states that carry momentum and winding around the $S^1$. In one vacuum, such states are described by black holes; in another, they can be thought of as perturbative BPS states in Double Scaled Little String Theory. In general, both kinds of states are present. We compute the degeneracy of perturbative BPS states exactly, and show that it differs from that of the corresponding black holes. We comment on the implication of our results to …
Non-Renormalizability Properties of Quarter-BPS Correlators in $\mathcal{N}$=4 SYM
ICTP, International Centre for Theoretical Physics（国际理论物理中心）；INFN, Sezione di Trieste（意大利国家核物理研究所的里雅斯特分部）；Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University（乌普萨拉大学物理与天文系）；Department of Physics, Boston University（波士顿大学物理系）；Fields and Strings Laboratory, Institute of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL)（洛桑联邦理工学院物理学院弦场实验室）；Department of Mathematical Sciences, Durham University（杜伦大学数学科学系）
We study and classify quarter-BPS AdS5 systems in M-theory, whose internal six-dimensional geometry is a T2 bundle over a Riemann surface and two interval directions. The general system presented, provides a unified description of all known AdS5 solutions in M-theory. These systems are governed by two functions, one that corresponds to the conformal factor of the Riemann surface and another that describes the T2 fibration. We find solutions that can be organized into two classes. In the first one, solutions are specified by the conformal factor of the Riemann surface which satisfies a warped g…
Motivated by recent advances in Donaldson-Thomas theory, four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=4$ string-string duality is examined in a reduced rank theory on a less studied BPS sector. In particular we identify candidate partition functions of "untwisted" quarter-BPS dyons in the heterotic $\mathbb{Z}_2$ CHL model by studying the associated chiral genus two partition function, based on the M-theory lift of string webs argument by Dabholkar and Gaiotto. This yields meromorphic Siegel modular forms for the Iwahori subgroup $B(2) \subset \text{Sp}_4 (\mathbb{Z}) $ which generate BPS indices for dyons w…
BPS coherent states closely resemble semiclassical states and they have gravity dual descriptions in terms of semiclassical geometries. The half BPS coherent states have been well studied, however less is known about quarter BPS coherent states. Here we provide a construction of quarter BPS coherent states. They are coherent states built with two matrix fields, generalizing the half BPS case. These states are both the eigenstates of annihilation operators and in the kernel of dilatation operator. Another useful labeling of quarter BPS states is by representations of Brauer algebras and their p…
We study the elliptic genera of two-dimensional orbifold CFTs, where the orbifolding procedure introduces du Val surface singularities on the target space. The N=4 character decompositions of the elliptic genus contributions from the twisted sectors at the singularities obey a consistent scaling property, and contain information about the arrangement of exceptional rational curves in the resolution. We also discuss how these twisted sector elliptic genera are related to twining genera and Hodge elliptic genera for sigma models with K3 target space.
We consider extremal correlation functions, involving arbitrary number of BPS (chiral or twisted chiral) operators and exactly one anti-BPS operator in 2D N=(2,2) theories. These correlators define the structure constants in the rings generated by the BPS operators with their operator product expansions. We present a way of computing these correlators from the sphere partition function of a deformed theory using localization. Relating flat space and sphere correlators is nontrivial due to operator mixing on the sphere induced by conformal anomaly. We discuss the supergravitational source of th…
We study the degeneracy of quarter BPS dyons in N =4 type II compactifications of string theory. We find that the genus-two Siegel modular forms generating the degeneracies of the quarter BPS dyons in the type II theories can be expressed in terms of the genus-two Siegel modular forms generating the degeneracies of quarter BPS dyons in the CHL theories and the heterotic string. This helps us in understanding the algebra structure underlying the degeneracy of the quarter BPS states. The Conway group, Co_1, plays a role similar to Mathieu group, M_{24}, in the CHL models with eta quotients appea…
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…
We examine the low-lying quarter BPS spectrum of a 2d conformal field theory with target Sym$^N(K3)$ at various points in the moduli space, and look at a more refined count than the ordinary elliptic genus. We compute growth of the spectrum at both the symmetric orbifold point, as well as at the supergravity point in the moduli space. Finally we do a decomposition of the spectra into $\mathcal{N}=4$ characters and discuss possible relations to interesting symmetry groups. A similar analysis is done with $T^4$.
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 derive a formula for the BPS partition functions of arbitrary S-fold theories. We first generalize the known result for the ${\cal N}=4$ $U(N)$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory to $SO$ and $Sp$ theories, and then we extend the formula to ${\cal N}=3$ theories. We confirm that the results for rank $1$ and $2$ are consistent to the supersymmetry enhancement from ${\cal N}=3$ to ${\cal N}=4$. We also derive the same formula from the quantization of D3-branes in $\boldsymbol{S}^5/\mathbb{Z}_k$.
We use the techniques of supersymmetric localization to compute the BPS black hole entropy in N=2 supergravity. We focus on the n_v+1 vector multiplets on the black hole near horizon background which is AdS_2 x S^2 space. We find the localizing saddle point of the vector multiplets by solving the localization equations, and compute the exact one loop partition function on the saddle point. Furthermore, we propose the appropriate functional integration measure. Through this measure, the one loop determinant is written in terms of the radius of the physical metric, which depends on the localizin…
We find exact spherically symmetric solution of 4d nonlinear bosonic higher-spin gauge theory, that preserves a quarter of supersymmetries of N=2 supersymmetric 4d higher-spin gauge theory. In the weak field regime it describes $AdS_4$ Schwarzschild black hole in the spin two sector along with non-zero massless fields of all integer spins.
We consider N = 4 Yang-Mills theory on a flat four-torus with the R-symmetry current coupled to a flat background connection. The partition function depends on the coupling constant of the theory, but when it is expanded in a power series in the R-symmetry connection around the loci at which one of the supersymmetries is unbroken, the constant and linear terms are in fact independent of the coupling constant and can be computed at weak coupling for all non-trivial 't Hooft fluxes. The case of a trivial 't Hooft flux is difficult because of infrared problems, but the corresponding terms in the …
Open topological string partition function on compact Calabi-Yau threefolds satisfies the extended holomorphic anomaly equation. By direct integration, we solve these equations and obtain partition functions for first several genus and boundaries on complete intersection Calabi-Yau threefolds. Complemented by the unoriented worldsheet contribution, the annulus functions encode the genus one BPS invariants.
We develop a method to identify the BPS states in the Hilbert space of a supersymmetric field theory on a generic curved space which preserves at least two real supercharges. We also propose a one-to-one map between BPS states in d-dimensional field theories and states that contribute to the supersymmetric partition function of a corresponding (d-1)-dimensional field theory. As an application we obtain the superconformal index on rounded and squashed three spheres, and we show a natural reduction of the respective indices to the three-dimensional exact partition functions. We discuss the valid…
We construct a statistical model that correctly reproduces the BPS partition function of D4-D2-D0 bound states on the resolved conifold. We prove that the known partition function of the BPS indices is reproduced by the counting "triangular partitions" problem. The wall-crossing phenomena in our model are also studied.
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 revisit the calculation of one-loop corrections to the partition functions of a string ending on a circular or straight line in type IIB string theory on $AdS_3\times S^3 \times T^4$ supported by a mixture of 3-form fluxes depending on a parameter $q$ (with $q=0$ being R-R and $q=1$ pure NS-NS cases). Correcting earlier results in the literature, we find that the partition function depends on $q$ only through rescaled tension $T= T_0/(1-q^2)$.
We construct the partition function of 1/8 BPS dyons in type II string theory on T^6 from counting of microstates of a D1-D5 system in Taub-NUT space. Our analysis extends the earlier ones by Shih, Strominger and Yin and by Pioline by taking into account the walls of marginal stability on which a 1/8 BPS dyon can decay into a pair of half-BPS dyons. Across these walls the dyon spectrum changes discontinuously, and as a result the spectrum is not manifestly invariant under S-duality transformation of the charges. However the partition function is manifestly S-duality invariant and takes the sam…
In this paper, we show how to get matrix models corresponding to the refined BPS states partition functions of $\mathbb{C}^3$, resolved conifold and $\mathbb{C}^3/\mathbb{Z}_2$ by inserting the identity operator at a proper position in the fermionic expression of the refined BPS states partition functions.
We compute the 1-loop partition function for strings in $AdS_4\times\mathbb{CP}^3$, whose worldsheets end along a line with small cusp angles in the boundary of AdS. We obtain these 1-loop results in terms of the vacuum energy for on-shell modes. Our results verify the proposal by Lewkowycz and Maldacena in arXiv:1312.5682 for the exact Bremsstrahlung function up to the next to leading order in the strong coupling expansion. The agreement is observed for cusps distorting either the 1/2 BPS or the 1/6 BPS Wilson line.
We exactly evaluate the partition function (index) of N=4 supersymmetric quiver quantum mechanics in the Higgs phase by using the localization techniques. We show that the path integral is localized at the fixed points, which are obtained by solving the BRST equations, and D-term and F-term conditions. We turn on background gauge fields of R-symmetries for the chiral multiplets corresponding to the arrows between quiver nodes, but the partition function does not depend on these R-charges. We give explicit examples of the quiver theory including a non-coprime dimension vector. The partition fun…
We consider the four-point function of the lowest scalar in the stress-energy tensor multiplet in $\mathcal{N}=8$ ABJ(M) theory \cite{Aharony:2008ug, Aharony:2008gk}. At large central charge $c_T\sim N^{3/2}$, this correlator is given by the corresponding holographic correlation function in 11d supergravity on $AdS_4\times S^7$. We use Mellin space techniques to compute the leading $1/c_T$ correction to anomalous dimensions and OPE coefficients of operators that appear in this holographic correlator. For half and quarter-BPS operators, we find exact agreement with previously computed localizat…
We construct SO(2,1) x SO(3)-invariant half-BPS solutions in six-dimensional (0,4) supergravity with m tensor multiplets. The space-time manifold of each one of these solutions consists of an AdS_2 x S^2 warped over a Riemann surface Sigma with boundary. The most general local solution is parametrized by one real harmonic function, and m+2 holomorphic functions which are subject to a quadratic constraint and a hermitian inequality, both of which are manifestly SO(2,m) invariant. Imposing suitable conditions on these harmonic and holomorphic functions, we construct globally regular supergravity…
We define new partition functions for theories with targets on toric singularities via products of old partition functions on crepant resolutions. We compute explicit examples and show that the new partition functions turn out to be homogeneous on MacMahon factors.
We investigate the connections between flavored quivers, dimer models, and BPS pyramids for generic toric Calabi-Yau threefolds from various perspectives. We introduce a purely field theoretic definition of both finite and infinite pyramids in terms of quivers with flavors. These pyramids are associated to the counting of BPS invariants for generic toric Calabi-Yau threefolds. We discuss how cluster transformations provide an efficient recursive method for computing pyramid partition functions and show that the recursion is equivalent to the multidimensional octahedron recurrence. Transitions …
We extend the recent conjecture on the relation between a certain 1/8 BPS subsector of 4d N=4 SYM on S^2 and 2d Yang-Mills theory by turning on circular 1/2 BPS 't Hooft operators linked with S^2. We show that localization predicts that these 't Hooft operators and their correlation functions with Wilson operators on S^2 are captured by instanton contributions to the partition function of the 2d Yang-Mills theory. Based on this prediction, we compute explicitly correlation functions involving the 't Hooft operator, and observe precise agreement with S-duality predictions.
We illustrate the use of the theory of $qq$-characters by deriving the BPZ and KZ-type equations for the partition functions of certain surface defects in quiver ${\mathcal N}=2$ theories. We generate a surface defect in the linear quiver theory by embedding it into a theory with additional node, with specific masses of the fundamental hypermultiplets. We prove that the supersymmetric partition function of this theory with $SU(2)^{r-3}$ gauge group verifies the celebrated Belavin-Polyakov-Zamolodchikov equation of two dimensional Liouville theory. We also study the $SU(N)$ theory with $2N$ fun…
We compute a twisted index for an orbifold theory when the twist generating group does not commute with the orbifold group. The twisted index requires the theory to be defined on moduli spaces that are compatible with the twist. This is carried out for CHL models at special points in the moduli space where they admit dihedral symmetries. The commutator subgroup of the dihedral groups are cyclic groups that are used to construct the CHL orbifolds. The residual reflection symmetry is chosen to act as a `twist' on the partition function. The reflection symmetries do not commute with the orbifoldi…
