We propose refined topological vertex formalism for 5-brane systems with ON-planes by introducing a new vertex associated with reflection over an ON-plane, which gives rise to new vertex and edge factors. We test our proposal against various 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theories which can be realized as 5-brane webs with ON-planes, which include $D$-type quiver theories. In particular, we compute the refined partition functions for 6d E-string theory on a circle as well as 5d SU(3) theory at the Chern-Simons level 9, which can be realized as 5-brane webs with two ON-planes. Our results completely agree with the known results.
We define a refined topological vertex which depends in addition on a parameter, which physically corresponds to extending the self-dual graviphoton field strength to a more general configuration. Using this refined topological vertex we compute, using geometric engineering, a two-parameter (equivariant) instanton expansion of gauge theories which reproduce the results of Nekrasov. The refined vertex is also expected to be related to Khovanov knot invariants.
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 find an explicit matrix model computing the refined topological vertex, starting from its representation in terms of plane partitions. We then find the spectral curve of that matrix model, and thus the mirror symmetry of the refined vertex. With the same method we also find a matrix model for the strip geometry, and we find its mirror curve. The fact that there is a matrix model shows that the refined topological string amplitudes also satisfy the remodeling the B-model construction.
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 study the partition function of the compactified 5D U(1) gauge theory (in the Omega-background) with a single adjoint hypermultiplet, calculated using the refined topological vertex. We show that this partition function is an example a periodic Schur process and is a refinement of the generating function of cylindric plane partitions. The size of the cylinder is given by the mass of adjoint hypermultiplet and the parameters of the Omega-background. We also show that this partition function can be written as a trace of operators which are generalizations of vertex operators studied by Carlss…
It has been proposed recently that the topological A-model string theory on local toric Calabi-Yau manifolds has a two parameter extension. Amplitudes of the two parameter topological strings can be computed using a diagrammatic method called the refined topological vertex. In this paper we study properties of the refined amplitudes under the flop transition of toric Calabi-Yau three-folds. We also discuss that the slicing invariance and the flop transition imply a simple formula for the homological sl(N) invariants of the Hopf link. The new expression for the invariants gives a simple refinem…
We calculate the refined topological string partition function of the Calabi-Yau threefold which is the total space of the canonical bundle on $\mathbb{P}^2$ (the local $\mathbb{P}^2$). The refined topological vertex formalism can not be directly applied to local $\mathbb{P}^2$ therefore we use the properties of the refined Hopf link to define a new two legged vertex which together with the refined vertex gives the partition function of the local $\mathbb{P}^2$.
We consider Type IIB 5-brane web diagrams for a 5D $Sp(N)$ gauge theory with an antisymmetric hypermultiplet and $N_f$ fundamental hypermultiplets. The corresponding 5-branes can be obtained by Higgsing a 5-brane web for quiver gauge theory. We use the refined topological vertex formalism to compute Nekrasov partition functions of 5D $Sp(2)$ theories with one antisymmetric hypermultiplet and flavors. Our results agree with the known results obtained from the ADHM method. We also discuss a particular tuning of Kähler parameters associated with this Higgsing.
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…
We derive a one-parameter deformation of the refined topological vertex that, when used to compute non-periodic web diagrams, reproduces the six-dimensional topological string partition functions that are computed using the refined vertex and periodic web diagrams.
We extend the definition of the refined topological vertex C to an n-coloured refined topological vertex C_n that depends on n free bosons, and compute the 5D strip partition function made of N pairs of C_n vertices and conjugate C*_n vertices. Using geometric engineering and the AGT correspondence, the 4D limit of this strip partition function is identified with a (normalized) matrix element of a (primary state) vertex operator that intertwines two (arbitrary descendant) states in a (generically non-rational) 2D conformal field theory with Z_n parafermion primary states.
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 establish the equivalence between the refined topological vertex of Iqbal-Kozcaz-Vafa and a certain representation theory of the quantum algebra of type W_{1+infty} introduced by Miki. Our construction involves trivalent intertwining operators Phi and Phi^* associated with triples of the bosonic Fock modules. Resembling the topological vertex, a triple of vectors in Z^2 is attached to each intertwining operator, which satisfy the Calabi-Yau and smoothness conditions. It is shown that certain matrix elements of Phi and Phi^* give the refined topological vertex C_{lambda mu nu}(t,q) of Iqbal-…
We compute the motivic Donaldson-Thomas theory of the resolved conifold, in all chambers of the space of stability conditions of the corresponding quiver. The answer is a product formula whose terms depend on the position of the stability vector, generalizing known results for the corresponding numerical invariants. Our formulae imply in particular a motivic form of the DT/PT correspondence for the resolved conifold. The answer for the motivic PT series is in full agreement with the prediction of the refined topological vertex formalism.
We study the open refined topological string amplitudes using the refined topological vertex. We determine the refinement of holonomies necessary to describe the boundary conditions of open amplitudes (which in particular satisfy the required integrality properties). We also derive the refined holonomies using the refined Chern-Simons theory.
We consider the refined topological vertex of Iqbal et al, as a function of two parameters (x, y), and deform it by introducing Macdonald parameters (q, t), as in the work of Vuletic on plane partitions, to obtain 'a Macdonald refined topological vertex'. In the limit q -> t, we recover the refined topological vertex of Iqbal et al. In the limit x -> y, we obtain a qt-deformation of the topological vertex of Aganagic et al. Copies of the vertex can be glued to obtain qt-deformed 5D instanton partition functions that have well-defined 4D limits and, for generic values of (q, t), contain infinit…
We establish a direct map between refined topological vertex and sl(N) homological invariants of the of Hopf link, which include Khovanov-Rozansky homology as a special case. This relation provides an exact answer for homological invariants of the of Hopf link, whose components are colored by arbitrary representations of sl(N). At present, the mathematical formulation of such homological invariants is available only for the fundamental representation (the Khovanov-Rozansky theory) and the relation with the refined topological vertex should be useful for categorifying quantum group invariants a…
We analyse the computation of the partition function of 5d $T_N$ theories in Higgs branches using the topological vertex. The theories are realised by a web of $(p,q)$ 5-branes whose dual description may be given by an M-theory compactification on a certain local non-toric Calabi-Yau threefold. We explicitly show how it is possible to directly apply the topological vertex to the non-toric geometry. Using this novel technique, which considerably simplifies the computation by the existing method, we are able to compute the partition function of the higher rank $E_6$, $E_7$ and $E_8$ theories. Mo…
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 consider the issue of the slice invariance of refined topological string amplitudes, which means that they are independent of the choice of the preferred direction of the refined topological vertex. We work out two examples. The first example is a geometric engineering of five-dimensional U(1) gauge theory with a matter. The slice invariance follows from a highly non-trivial combinatorial identity which equates two known ways of computing the chi_y genus of the Hilbert scheme of points on C^2. The second example is concerned with the proposal that the superpolynomials of the colored Hopf li…
We propose a new vertex formalism, called anti-refined topological vertex (anti-vertex for short), to compute the generalized topological string amplitude, which gives rise to the supergroup gauge theory partition function. We show the one-to-many correspondence between the gauge theory and the Calabi--Yau geometry, which is peculiar to the supergroup theory, and the relation between the ordinary vertex formalism and the vertex/anti-vertex formalism through the analytic continuation.
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 study aspects of the refining and shifting properties of the 3d MacMahon function $\mathcal{C}_{3}(q) $ used in topological string theory and BKP hierarchy. We derive the explicit expressions of the shifted topological vertex $\mathcal{S}_{λμν}(q) $ and its refined version $\mathcal{T}_{λμν}(q,t) $. These vertices complete results in literature.
The open-closed vertex in the maximally supersymmetric type IIB plane-wave light-cone string field theory is considered and an explicit solution for the bosonic part of the vertex is derived, valid for all values of the mass parameter, μ. This vertex is of relevance to IIB plane-wave orientifolds, as well as IIB plane-wave strings in the presence of D-branes and their gauge theory duals. Methods of complex analysis are used to develop a systematic procedure for obtaining the solution. This procedure is first applied to the vertex in flat space and then extended to the plane-wave case. The plan…
In this work we verify consistency of refined topological string theory from several perspectives. First, we advance the method of computing refined open amplitudes by means of geometric transitions. Based on such computations we show that refined open BPS invariants are non-negative integers for a large class of toric Calabi-Yau threefolds: an infinite class of strip geometries, closed topological vertex geometry, and some threefolds with compact four-cycles. Furthermore, for an infinite class of toric geometries without compact four-cycles we show that refined open string amplitudes take for…
In this work we give an explicit construction for the vertex operators of massless states in the pure spinor superstring in a plane wave background. The construction is based on the observation that the full action can be divided in two parts, where the simpler one is based on a smaller coset and closely resembles the gauge fixed Green-Schwarz action.
Göttsche-Nakajima-Yoshioka K-theoretic blowup equations characterize the Nekrasov partition function of five dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric gauge theories compactified on a circle, which via geometric engineering correspond to the refined topological string theory on $SU(N)$ geometries. In this paper, we study the K-theoretic blowup equations for general local Calabi-Yau threefolds. We find that both vanishing and unity blowup equations exist for the partition function of refined topological string, and the crucial ingredients are the $\bf r$ fields introduced in our previous paper…
We argue the connection of Nekrasov's partition function in the Ωbackground and the moduli space of D-branes, suggested by the idea of geometric engineering and Gopakumar-Vafa invariants. In the instanton expansion of N=2 SU(2) Yang-Mills theory the Nakrasov's partition function with equivariant parameters ε_1, ε_2 of toric action on C^2 factorizes correctly as the character of SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R spin representation. We show that up to two instantons the spin contents are consistent with the Lefschetz action on the moduli space of D2-branes on (local) F_0. We also present an attempt at con…
The exact bosonic Neumann matrices of the cubic vertex in plane-wave light-cone string field theory are derived using the contour integration techniques developed in our earlier paper. This simplifies the original derivation of the vertex. In particular, the Neumann matrices are written in terms of μ-deformed Gamma-functions, thus casting them into a form that elegantly generalizes the well-known flat-space solution. The asymptotics of the μ-deformed Gamma-functions allow one to determine the large-μbehaviour of the Neumann matrices including exponential corrections. We provide an explicit exp…
The three string vertex for Type IIB superstrings in a maximally supersymmetric plane-wave background can be constructed in a light-cone gauge string field theory formalism. The detailed formula contains certain Neumann coefficients, which are functions of a momentum fraction y and a mass parameter μ. This paper reviews the derivation of useful explicit expressions for these Neumann coefficients generalizing flat-space (μ= 0) results obtained long ago. These expressions are then used to explore the large μasymptotic behavior, which is required for comparison with dual perturbative gauge theory…
We compute the partition function for 6d $\mathcal{N}=1$ $SO(2N)$ gauge theories compactified on a circle with $\mathbb{Z}_2$ outer automorphism twist. We perform the computation based on 5-brane webs with two O5-planes using topological vertex with two O5-planes. As representative examples, we consider 6d $SO(8)$ and $SU(3)$ gauge theories with $\mathbb{Z}_2$ twist. We confirm that these partition functions obtained from the topological vertex with O5-planes indeed agree with the elliptic genus computations.
We write the vertex operators of massless NS-NS and RR states of Type II superstring theory in the presence of Orientifold p-planes. They include the usual vertex operators of Type II theory and their images. We then calculate the two-point functions of these vertex operators at the projective plane PR_2 level. We show that the result can be written in the Veneziano-type formulae, with the same kinematic factor that appears in the D_p-branes amplitudes. While the scattering amplitudes with the usual vertex operators are not gauge invariant, the above amplitudes are invariant. From the amplitud…
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 find new universal factorization identities for generalized Macdonald polynomials on the topological locus. We prove the identities (which include all previously known forumlas of this kind) using factorization identities for matrix model averages, which are themselves consequences of Ding-Iohara-Miki constraints. Factorized expressions for generalized Macdonald polynomials are identified with refined topological string amplitudes containing a toric brane on an intermediate preferred leg, surface operators in gauge theory and certain degenerate CFT vertex operators.
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 construct the cubic interaction vertex and dynamically generated supercharges in light-cone superstring field theory for a large class half-supersymmetric D-branes in the plane-wave background. We show that these satisfy the plane-wave superalgebra at first order in string coupling. The cubic interaction vertex and dynamical supercharges presented here are given explicitly in terms of oscilators and can be used to compute three-point functions of open strings with endpoints on half-supersymmetric D-branes.
We consider Yang-Mills theories quantized in the Landau gauge in the presence of the Gribov horizon via the refined Gribov Zwanziger (RGZ) framework. As the restriction of the gauge path integral to the Gribov region is taken into account, the resulting gauge field propagators display a nontrivial infrared behavior, being very close to the ones observed in lattice gauge field theory simulations. In this work, we explore a higher correlation function in the Refined Gribov-Zwanziger theory: the ghost-gluon interaction vertex, at one-loop level. We show explicit compatibility with kinematical con…
We propose a concrete form of a vertex function, which we call O-vertex, for the intersection between an O5-plane and a 5-brane in the topological vertex formalism, as an extension of the work of arXiv:1709.01928. Using the O-vertex it is possible to compute the Nekrasov partition functions of 5d theories realized on any 5-brane web diagrams with O5-planes. We apply our proposal to 5-brane webs with an O5-plane and compute the partition functions of pure SO($N$) gauge theories and the pure $G_2$ gauge theory. The obtained results agree with the results known in the literature. We also compute …
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 propose the refined topological string correspondence to the expectation values of half-BPS Wilson loop operators in 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theory partition function on the Omega-deformed background $\mathbb{R}^4_{ε_{1,2}}\times S^1$. We provide the refined topological vertex method and the refined holomorphic anomaly equation method in the topological string theory, from which we have exact computations on the 5d Wilson loops partition functions in both A- and B-models. Finally, with the exact results we have in B-model, we recover the quantum periods of local $\mathbb{P}^1\times\mathbb{…
In [1], Nakatsu and Takasaki have shown that the melting crystal model behind the topological strings vertex provides a tau-function of the KP hierarchy after an appropriate time deformation. We revisit their derivation with a focus on the underlying quantum $W_{1+\infty}$ symmetry. Specifically, we point out the role played by automorphisms and the connection with the intertwiner - or vertex operator - of the algebra. This algebraic perspective allows us to extend part of their derivation to the refined melting crystal model, lifting the algebra to the quantum toroidal algebra of $\mathfrak{g…
We propose a generalization of the topological vertex, which we call the "non-commutative topological vertex". This gives open BPS invariants for a toric Calabi-Yau manifold without compact 4-cycles, where we have D0/D2/D6-branes wrapping holomorphic 0/2/6-cycles, as well as D2-branes wrapping disks whose boundaries are on D4-branes wrapping non-compact Lagrangian 3-cycles. The vertex is defined combinatorially using the crystal melting model proposed recently, and depends on the value of closed string moduli at infinity. The vertex in one special chamber gives the same answer as that computed…
The intersection of a complex plane curve with a small three-sphere surrounding one of its singularities is a non-trivial link. The refined punctual Hilbert schemes of the singularity parameterize subschemes supported at the singular point of fixed length and whose defining ideals have a fixed number of generators. We conjecture that the generating function of Euler characteristics of refined punctual Hilbert schemes is the HOMFLY polynomial of the link. The conjecture is verified for irreducible singularities y^k = x^n, whose links are the k,n torus knots, and for the singularity y^4 = x^7 - …
The topological vertex formalism for 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theories is not only a convenient tool to compute the instanton partition function of these theories, but it is also accompanied by a nice algebraic structure that reveals various kinds of nice properties such as dualities and integrability of the underlying theories. The usual refined topological vertex formalism is derived for gauge theories with $A$-type quiver structure (and $A$-type gauge groups). In this article, we propose a construction with a web of vertex operators for all $ABCDEFG$-type and affine quivers by introducing s…
We discuss the homological aspects of the connection between quantum string generating function and the formal power series associated to the dimensions of chains and homologies of suitable Lie algebras. Our analysis can be considered as a new straightforward application of the machinery of modular forms and spectral functions (with values in the congruence subgroup of $SL(2,{\mathbb Z})$) to the partition functions of Lagrangian branes, refined vertex and open string partition functions, represented by means of formal power series that encode Lie algebra properties. The common feature in our …
