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Abstract We consider Maxwell theory on a non-spin manifold. Depending on the choice of statistics for line operators, there are three non-anomalous theories and one anomalous theory with different symmetry fractionalizations. We establish the gauging maps that connect the non-anomalous theories by coupling them to a discrete gauge theory. We also construct topological interfaces associated with SL(2, ℤ) duality and gauging of electric and magnetic one-form symmetries. Finally, by stacking the topological interfaces, we compose various kinds of duality defects, which lead to non-invertible symmetries of non-spin Maxwell theories.

Abstract In the decomposition of gauge-theory amplitudes into kinematic and color factors, the color factors (at a given loop order L) span a proper subspace of the extended trace space (which consists of single and multiple traces of generators of the gauge group, graded by powers of N). Using an iterative process, we systematically construct the L-loop color space of four-point amplitudes of fields in the adjoint representation of SU(N), SO(N), or Sp(N). We define the null space as the orthogonal complement of the color space. For SU(N), we confirm the existence of four independent null vectors (for L ≥ 2) and for SO(N) and Sp(N), we establish the existence of seventeen independent null vectors (for L ≥ 5). Each null vector corresponds to a group-theory constraint on the color-ordered amplitudes of the gauge theory.

Abstract In radial quantization, the ground states of a gauge theory on ADE singularities ℝ4 /Γ are characterized by flat connections that are maps from Γ to the gauge group. We study Class S $$ \mathcal{S} $$ theory of type a 1 $$ {\mathfrak{a}}_1 $$ = su 2 $$ \mathfrak{su}(2) $$ on a Riemann surface of genus g > 1, without punctures. The fundamental building block of Class S $$ \mathcal{S} $$ theory is the trifundamental Trinion theory — a low energy limit of two M5 branes compactified on the three-punctured Riemann sphere. We show, through the superconformal index, that the supersymmetric Casimir energy of the trifundamental theory imposes a constraint on the set of allowed flat connections, which agrees with the prediction of a duality relating the ground state Hilbert space of Class S $$ \mathcal{S} $$ on ADE singularities to the Hilbert space of a certain dual Chern-Simons theory whose gauge group is given by the McKay correspondence. The conjecture is shown to hold for Γ = ℤ k , agreeing with the previous results of Benini et al. and Alday et al. A non-abelian generalization of this duality is analyzed by considering the example of the dicyclic group Γ = Dic2, corresponding to Chern-Simons gauge group SO(8).

Abstract For any causal nonlinear electrodynamics theory that is “self-dual” (electromagnetic U(1)-duality invariant), the Legendre-dual pair of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian densities L H $$ \left\{\mathcal{L},\mathcal{H}\right\} $$ are constructed from functions ℓ h $$ \left\{\ell, \mathfrak{h}\right\} $$ on ℝ + related to a particle-mechanics Lagrangian and Hamiltonian. We show how a ‘duality’ relating ℓ to h $$ \mathfrak{h} $$ implies that L $$ \mathcal{L} $$ and H $$ \mathcal{H} $$ are related by a simple map between appropriate pairs of variables. We also discuss Born’s “Legendre self-duality” and implications of a new “Φ-parity” duality. Our results are illustrated with many examples.

Abstract This study introduces a high-order perturbation methodology to categorize two primary solution types within duality-invariant nonlinear electrodynamic theories, adhering to the differential self-duality criterion. The first solution type aligns with irrelevant stress tensor flows, resembling T T ¯ $$ T\overline{T} $$ dynamics, and the second involves a blend of irrelevant T T ¯ $$ T\overline{T} $$ -like and marginal root- T T ¯ $$ T\overline{T} $$ -like deformations. Our approach facilitates the investigation of diverse duality-invariant nonlinear electrodynamics theories and their stress tensor flows and confirms the commutativity of flows initiated by irrelevant and marginal operators.

Abstract In this paper, we study the newly discovered universal splitting behavior for tree-level scattering amplitudes of particles and strings [1]: when a set of Mandelstam variables (and Lorentz products involving polarizations for gluons/gravitons) vanish, the n-point amplitude factorizes as the product of two lower-point currents with n+3 external legs in total. We refer to any such subspace of the kinematic space of n massless momenta as “2-split kinematics”, where the scattering potential for string amplitudes and the corresponding scattering equations for particle amplitudes nicely split into two parts. Based on these, we provide a systematic and detailed study of the splitting behavior for essentially all ingredients which appear as integrands for open- and closed-string amplitudes as well as Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formulas, including Parke-Taylor factors, correlators in superstring and bosonic string theories, and CHY integrands for a variety of amplitudes of scalars, gluons and gravitons. These results then immediately lead to the splitting behavior of string and particle amplitudes in a wide range of theories, including bi-adjoint ϕ 3 (with string extension known as Z and J integrals), non-linear sigma model, Dirac-Born-Infeld, the special Galileon, etc., as well as Yang-Mills and Einstein gravity (with bosonic and superstring extensions). Our results imply and extend some other factorization behavior of tree amplitudes considered recently, including smooth splittings [2] and factorizations near zeros [3], to all these theories. A special case of splitting also yields soft theorems for gluons/gravitons as well as analogous soft behavior for Goldstone particles near their Adler zeros.

Abstract We study holographic entropy inequalities and their structural properties by making use of a judicious grouping of terms into certain multipartite information quantities. This allows us to recast cumbersome entropic expressions into much simpler ones which share interestingly rigid structures. By performing a systematic search over some of these structures, we are able to discover more than 1800 novel entropy inequalities for six parties, thereby demonstrating that these recastings provide a fruitful generating technique for uncovering new holographic entropy inequalities. In attempting to interpret the corresponding sign-definite quantities as correlation measures, we also obtain a no-go result: the superbalance property of holographic entropy inequalities turns out to preclude them from being monotonic under partial tracing. In the process, we also comment on the geometrical significance of multipartite information quantities and present various structural relations amongst them.

Abstract The phenomenon of BCJ duality implies that gauge theories possess an abstract kinematic algebra, mirroring the non-abelian Lie algebra underlying the colour information. Although the nature of the kinematic algebra is known in certain cases, a full understanding is missing for arbitrary non-abelian gauge theories, such that one typically works outwards from well-known examples. In this paper, we pursue an orthogonal approach, and argue that simpler abelian gauge theories can be used as a testing ground for clarifying our understanding of kinematic algebras. We first describe how classes of abelian gauge fields are associated with well-defined subalgebras of the diffeomorphism algebra. By considering certain special subalgebras, we show that one may construct interacting theories, whose kinematic algebras are inherited from those already appearing in a related abelian theory. Known properties of (anti-)self-dual Yang-Mills theory arise in this way, but so do new generalisations, including self-dual electromagnetism coupled to scalar matter. Furthermore, a recently obtained non-abelian generalisation of the Navier-Stokes equation fits into a similar scheme, as does Chern-Simons theory. Our results provide useful input to further conceptual studies of kinematic algebras.

Abstract We consider 5d KK dualities, that is multiple 5d gauge theories with the same 6d infinite coupling limit. We provide a prescription to associate 4d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 quivers to the 5d dual quivers, such that the 4d quivers are also dual to each other. The 4d dualities are infrared dualities which can be checked matching global symmetry anomalies and in certain cases can be proven using basic Seiberg dualities sequentially. We also consider dualities obtained by Higgsing in two different ways the same 5d theory, in some simple examples.

Abstract In this work, we study the duality symmetry group of Carrollian (nonlinear) electrodynamics and propose a family of Carrollian ModMax theories, which are invariant under Carrollian SO(2) electromagnetic (EM) duality transformations and conformal transformation. We define the Carrollian SO(2) EM transformations, with the help of Hodge duality in Carrollian geometry, then we rederive the Gaillard-Zumino consistency condition for EM duality of Carrollian nonlinear electrodynamics. Together with the traceless condition for the energy-momentum tensor, we are able to determine the Lagrangian of the Carrollian ModMax theories among pure electrodynamics. We furthermore study their behaviors under the T T ¯ $$ \sqrt{T\overline{T}} $$ deformation flow, and show that these theories deform to each other and may reach two endpoints under the flow, with one of the endpoint being the Carrollian Maxwell theory. As a byproduct, we construct a family of two-dimensional Carrollian ModMax-like multiple scalar theories, which are closed under the T T ¯ $$ \sqrt{T\overline{T}} $$ flow and may flow to a BMS free multi-scalar model.

Abstract Self-dual Yang-Mills theory admits an underlying infinite dimensional symmetry algebra, which has been obtained from mode expansion of Mellin transformed 4d scattering amplitudes and separately, Koszul duality on twistor space. In this paper, we propose to derive an explicit 2d realization of the algebra by performing a particular gauge transformation on the twistor action for self-dual Yang-Mills. The gauge parameter used in the transformation generates pure gauge connections corresponding to large gauge transformations on 4d Minkowski space, which localises part of the twistor action to a ℂℙ1 on ℂ* reduction of twistor space. Under a projection, it can be mapped to the celestial sphere at the light-cone cut of the origin on I $$ \mathcal{I} $$ . Geometrically, this is the common boundary celestial sphere shared by Euclidean AdS3 or Lorentzian dS3 slices of Minkowski space. We comment on the geometric meaning of the derivation from the perspective of minitwistor spaces of the 3d slices embedded in 4d Minkowski space. Using the action functional of this 2d CFT, we compute its stress-energy tensor and central charge. By a further marginal deformation, we calculate correlation functions of current algebra generators purely from the 2d side which reproduce full 4d tree-level form factors.

Abstract A certain two-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theory is argued to satisfy a relation that promotes the Zamolodchikov tetrahedron equation to an infrared duality between two quantum field theories. Solutions of the tetrahedron equation with continuous spin variables are obtained from partition functions of this theory and its variants.

Abstract Classically, the ground states of N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory on ℝ × S 3/Γ where Γ is a discrete ADE subgroup of SU(2) are represented by flat Wilson lines winding around the ADE singularity. By a duality relating such ground states to WZW conformal blocks, the ground state degeneracy cannot be lifted by quantum corrections. Using the superconformal index, we compute the supersymmetric Casimir energy of each flat Wilson line for SU(2) SYM on different ADE singularities and find that the flat Wilson lines all have the same supersymmetric Casimir energy. We argue that this exact degeneracy is peculiar to N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 supersymmetry and show that the degeneracy is lifted when the number of supersymmetry is reduced. In particular, we uncover a surprising result for the ground state structure of the conformal N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SU(2) four-flavor theory on S 3/Γ. For N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM, S-duality maps the ground state Wilson lines to ground state t’ Hooft lines taking values in the Langlands dual group. We show that the supersymmetric Casimir energy of the t’ Hooft line ground states is the same as the Wilson line ground states. This can be viewed as a ground state test of S-duality.

Abstract In this paper we present three new families of smooth Type II string theory backgrounds. These are dual to supersymmetry-preserving deformations of 4d SCFTs. The deformations include a VEV for a global current and a ‘twisted compactification’ on a circle. We study various holographic aspects of the dual QFTs, focusing on Wilson loops and Entanglement Entropy. Additionally, we present a monotonic quantity calculating the density of degrees of freedom in terms of the energy, which interpolates between the IR 3d gapped theory and the 4d SCFT result. Other probes related to global aspects of the QFTs are briefly discussed.

Abstract We study classical radiation fields at next-to-leading order using the methods of scattering amplitudes. The fields of interest to us are sourced when two massive, point-like objects scatter inelastically, and can be computed from one-loop amplitudes. The real and imaginary parts of the amplitudes play important but physically distinct roles in the radiation field. We argue that the imaginary part captures the effects of radiation reaction. This aspect of radiation reaction is directly linked to cuts of one-loop amplitudes which expose Compton trees. We also discuss the fascinating interplay between renormalisation, radiation reaction and classical field theory from this perspective.

Abstract We extend the covariant color-kinematics duality introduced by Cheung and Mangan to effective field theories. We focus in particular on relations between the effective field theories of gluons only and of gluons coupled to bi-adjoint scalars. Maps are established between their respective equations of motion and between their tree-level scattering amplitudes. An additional rule for the replacement of flavor structures by kinematic factors realizes the map between higher-derivative amplitudes. As an example of new relations, the pure-gluon amplitudes of mass dimension up to eight, featuring insertions of the F 3 and F 4 operators which satisfy the traditional color-kinematics duality, can be generated at all multiplicities from just renormalizable amplitudes of gluons and bi-adjoint scalars. We also obtain closed-form expressions for the kinematic numerators of the dimension-six gluon effective field theory, which are valid in D space-time dimensions. Finally, we find strong evidence that this extended covariant color-kinematics duality relates the (DF)2+YM(+ϕ 3) theories which, at low energies, generate infinite towers of operators satisfying the traditional color-kinematics duality, beyond aforementioned F 3 and F 4 ones.

Abstract We study the phase diagrams of the bifundamental QCD (QCD(BF)) of different ranks, which is the 4d SU(N 1) × SU(N 2) gauge theory coupled with a bifundamental Dirac fermion. After discussing the anomaly constraints on possible vacuum structures, we apply a novel semiclassical approach on ℝ2 × T 2 with the baryon-’t Hooft flux to obtain the concrete dynamics. The 2d effective theory is derived by the dilute gas approximation of center vortices, and it serves as the basis for determining the phase diagram of the model under the assumption of adiabatic continuity. As an application, we justify the non-supersymmetric duality cascade between different QCD(BF), which has been conjectured in the large-N argument. Combined with the semiclassics and the large-N 1,2 limit, we construct the explicit duality map from the parent theory, SU(N 1) × SU(N 2) QCD(BF), to the daughter theory, SU(N 1) × SU(N 2 − N 1) QCD(BF), including the correspondence of the coupling constants. We numerically examine the validity of the duality also for finite N 1,2 within our semiclassics, finding a remarkable agreement of the phase diagrams between the parent and daughter sides.

Abstract We present higher-derivative deformations of the ModMax theory which preserve both U(1) duality symmetry and Weyl invariance. In particular, we single out a class of deformations expected to describe a low-energy effective action for the ModMax theory. We also elaborate on (higher-derivative) deformations of the N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 super ModMax theory.

Abstract For the general theory of nonlinear electrodynamics (NLED) we prove that causality implies both the Dominant Energy Condition (DEC) and, surprisingly, the Strong Energy Condition (SEC). This has implications for gravitational applications, such as regular black holes supported by NLED matter. For self-dual NLED theories, weak-field causality alone implies both the DEC and SEC, as we illustrate with Born-Infeld and ModMax electrodynamics.

Abstract We study the variance in the measurement of observables during scattering events, as computed using amplitudes. The classical regime, characterised by negligible uncertainty, emerges as a consequence of an infinite set of relationships among multileg, multiloop amplitudes in a momentum-transfer expansion. We discuss two non-trivial examples in detail: the six-point tree and the five-point one-loop amplitudes in scalar QED. We interpret these relationships in terms of a coherent exponentiation of radiative effects in the classical limit which generalises the eikonal formula, and show how to recover the impulse, including radiation reaction, from this generalised eikonal. Finally, we incorporate the physics of spin into our framework.

Abstract We study three approaches to electric-magnetic duality in the 4-dimensional Maxwell theory coupled to a dyonic point charge and in the 5-dimensional Maxwell-Chern-Simons (MCS) theory coupled to an electric point charge and a magnetic string charge. The three approaches have been developed by Dirac, Bunster and Henneaux, and Pasti, Sorokin and Tonin (PST). In Dirac’s formulation, the electric magnetic duality is realized only on the level of the equations of motion. The other two formulations introduce a dual (magnetic) gauge potential to induce manifest twisted self-duality in the action. In particular, we study the relations connecting the three approaches. The main results of this paper are the Bunster-Henneaux and PST formulations of the MCS theory with sources. We compare our result to the PST formulation of 11-dimensional supergravity coupled to the M2- and M5-brane by Bandos, Berkovits, and Sorokin.

Abstract We explore the difference Langlands correspondence using the four dimensional N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 super-QCD. Surface defects and surface observables play the crucial role. As an application, we give the first construction of the full set of quantum integrals, i.e. commuting differential operators, such that the partition function of the so-called regular monodromy surface defect is their joint eigenvectors in an evaluation module over the Yangian Y gl 2 $$ \left(\mathfrak{gl}(2)\right) $$ , making it the wavefunction of a N-site gl 2 $$ \mathfrak{gl}(2) $$ spin chain with bi-infinite spin modules. We construct the Q- and Q ~ $$ \overset{\sim }{\textbf{Q}} $$ -surface observables which are believed to be the Q-operators on the bi-infinite module over the Yangian Y gl 2 $$ \left(\mathfrak{gl}(2)\right) $$ , and compute their eigenvalues, the Q-functions, as vevs of the surface observables.

Abstract The Seiberg-Witten solution to four-dimensional N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 super-Yang-Mills theory with gauge group SU(N) and without hypermultiplets is used to investigate the neighborhood of the maximal Argyres-Douglas points of type a 1 a N − 1 $$ \left({\mathfrak{a}}_1,{\mathfrak{a}}_{N-1}\right) $$ . A convergent series expansion for the Seiberg-Witten periods near the Argyres-Douglas points is obtained by analytic continuation of the series expansion around the ℤ 2N symmetric point derived in arXiv:2208.11502. Along with direct integration of the Picard-Fuchs equations for the periods, the expansion is used to determine the location of the walls of marginal stability for SU(3). The intrinsic periods and Kähler potential of the a 1 a N − 1 $$ \left({\mathfrak{a}}_1,{\mathfrak{a}}_{N-1}\right) $$ superconformal fixed point are computed by letting the strong coupling scale tend to infinity. We conjecture that the resulting intrinsic Kähler potential is positive definite and convex, with a unique minimum at the Argyres-Douglas point, provided only intrinsic Coulomb branch operators with unitary scaling dimensions ∆ > 1 acquire a vacuum expectation value, and provide both analytical and numerical evidence in support of this conjecture. In all the low rank examples considered here, it is found that turning on moduli dual to ∆ ≤ 1 operators spoils the positivity and convexity of the intrinsic Kähler potential.

Abstract We find that point particles interacting with a self-dual Yang-Mills field and self-dual gravity manifestly satisfy color-kinematics duality at the level of action. In a similar way color-kinematics duality also holds for a scalar field minimally coupled to a self-dual Yang-Mills field and self-dual gravity. By applying the appropriate limiting procedure to these scalar field theories we reproduce point particle theories we started from. This allows us to connect worldline color-kinematics duality to amplitude color-kinematics duality in field theory. Considering that point particles act as sources of classical solutions, our results may be regarded as a step towards establishing a precise relation between the amplitude and the classical double copies in the self-dual sector. Finally, we briefly mention that the extension of this discussion to the higher-spin case suggests that scalar point particles cannot interact with chiral higher-spin fields.

Abstract We catalog all the electromagnetic-like dualities that exist between free dynamical bosonic fields of arbitrary symmetry type and mass on (anti-) de Sitter space in all dimensions, including dualities among the partially massless and shift symmetric fields. This generalizes to all these field types the well known fact that a massless p-form is dual to a massless (D − p − 2)-form in D spacetime dimensions. In the process, we describe the structure of the Weyl modules (the spaces of local operators linear in the fields and their derivative relations) for all the massive, partially massless and shift symmetric fields.

Abstract We study the Wilson line defect half-indices of 3d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 supersymmetric SU(N) Chern-Simons theories of level k ≤ – N with Neumann boundary conditions for the gauge fields, together with 2d Fermi multiplets and fundamental 3d chiral multiplets to cancel the gauge anomaly. We derive some exact results and also make some conjectures based on expansions of the q-series. We find several interesting connections with special functions known in the literature, including Rogers-Ramanujan functions for which we conjecture integral representations, and the appearance of Appell-Lerch sums for certain Wilson line half-index grand canonical ensembles which reveal an unexpected appearance of mock modular functions. We also find intriguing q-difference equations relating half-indices to Wilson line half-indices. Some of these results also have a description in terms of a dual theory with Dirichlet boundary conditions for the vector multiplet in the dual theory.

We study the phase diagrams of the bifundamental QCD (QCD(BF)) of different ranks, which is the 4d SU(N1) × SU(N2) gauge theory coupled with a bifundamental Dirac fermion. After discussing the anomaly constraints on possible vacuum structures, we apply a novel semiclassical approach on ℝ2× T2 with the baryon-’t Hooft flux to obtain the concrete dynamics. The 2d effective theory is derived by the dilute gas approximation of center vortices, and it serves as the basis for determining the phase diagram of the model under the assumption of adiabatic continuity. As an application, we justify the non-supersymmetric duality cascade between different QCD(BF), which has been conjectured in the large-N argument. Combined with the semiclassics and the large-N1,2 limit, we construct the explicit duality map from the parent theory, SU(N1) × SU(N2) QCD(BF), to the daughter theory, SU(N1) × SU(N2− N1) QCD(BF), including the correspondence of the coupling constants. We numerically examine the validity of the duality also for finite N1,2 within our semiclassics, finding a remarkable agreement of the phase diagrams between the parent and daughter sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study classical radiation fields at next-to-leading order using the methods of scattering amplitudes. The fields of interest to us are sourced when two massive, point-like objects scatter inelastically, and can be computed from one-loop amplitudes. The real and imaginary parts of the amplitudes play important but physically distinct roles in the radiation field. We argue that the imaginary part captures the effects of radiation reaction. This aspect of radiation reaction is directly linked to cuts of one-loop amplitudes which expose Compton trees. We also discuss the fascinating interplay between renormalisation, radiation reaction and classical field theory from this perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend the covariant color-kinematics duality introduced by Cheung and Mangan to effective field theories. We focus in particular on relations between the effective field theories of gluons only and of gluons coupled to bi-adjoint scalars. Maps are established between their respective equations of motion and between their tree-level scattering amplitudes. An additional rule for the replacement of flavor structures by kinematic factors realizes the map between higher-derivative amplitudes. As an example of new relations, the pure-gluon amplitudes of mass dimension up to eight, featuring insertions of the F3 and F4 operators which satisfy the traditional color-kinematics duality, can be generated at all multiplicities from just renormalizable amplitudes of gluons and bi-adjoint scalars. We also obtain closed-form expressions for the kinematic numerators of the dimension-six gluon effective field theory, which are valid in D space-time dimensions. Finally, we find strong evidence that this extended covariant color-kinematics duality relates the (DF)2+YM(+ϕ3) theories which, at low energies, generate infinite towers of operators satisfying the traditional color-kinematics duality, beyond aforementioned F3 and F4 ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the general theory of nonlinear electrodynamics (NLED) we prove that causality implies both the Dominant Energy Condition (DEC) and, surprisingly, the Strong Energy Condition (SEC). This has implications for gravitational applications, such as regular black holes supported by NLED matter. For self-dual NLED theories, weak-field causality alone implies both the DEC and SEC, as we illustrate with Born-Infeld and ModMax electrodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the variance in the measurement of observables during scattering events, as computed using amplitudes. The classical regime, characterised by negligible uncertainty, emerges as a consequence of an infinite set of relationships among multileg, multiloop amplitudes in a momentum-transfer expansion. We discuss two non-trivial examples in detail: the six-point tree and the five-point one-loop amplitudes in scalar QED. We interpret these relationships in terms of a coherent exponentiation of radiative effects in the classical limit which generalises the eikonal formula, and show how to recover the impulse, including radiation reaction, from this generalised eikonal. Finally, we incorporate the physics of spin into our framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present higher-derivative deformations of the ModMax theory which preserve both U(1) duality symmetry and Weyl invariance. In particular, we single out a class of deformations expected to describe a low-energy effective action for the ModMax theory. We also elaborate on (higher-derivative) deformations of the N = 1 super ModMax theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study three approaches to electric-magnetic duality in the 4-dimensional Maxwell theory coupled to a dyonic point charge and in the 5-dimensional Maxwell-Chern-Simons (MCS) theory coupled to an electric point charge and a magnetic string charge. The three approaches have been developed by Dirac, Bunster and Henneaux, and Pasti, Sorokin and Tonin (PST). In Dirac’s formulation, the electric magnetic duality is realized only on the level of the equations of motion. The other two formulations introduce a dual (magnetic) gauge potential to induce manifest twisted self-duality in the action. In particular, we study the relations connecting the three approaches. The main results of this paper are the Bunster-Henneaux and PST formulations of the MCS theory with sources. We compare our result to the PST formulation of 11-dimensional supergravity coupled to the M2- and M5-brane by Bandos, Berkovits, and Sorokin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the difference Langlands correspondence using the four dimensional N = 2 super-QCD. Surface defects and surface observables play the crucial role. As an application, we give the first construction of the full set of quantum integrals, i.e. commuting differential operators, such that the partition function of the so-called regular monodromy surface defect is their joint eigenvectors in an evaluation module over the Yangian Y gl 2 , making it the wavefunction of a N-site gl 2 spin chain with bi-infinite spin modules. We construct the Q- and Q ~ -surface observables which are believed to be the Q-operators on the bi-infinite module over the Yangian Y gl 2 , and compute their eigenvalues, the Q-functions, as vevs of the surface observables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We find that point particles interacting with a self-dual Yang-Mills field and self-dual gravity manifestly satisfy color-kinematics duality at the level of action. In a similar way color-kinematics duality also holds for a scalar field minimally coupled to a self-dual Yang-Mills field and self-dual gravity. By applying the appropriate limiting procedure to these scalar field theories we reproduce point particle theories we started from. This allows us to connect worldline color-kinematics duality to amplitude color-kinematics duality in field theory. Considering that point particles act as sources of classical solutions, our results may be regarded as a step towards establishing a precise relation between the amplitude and the classical double copies in the self-dual sector. Finally, we briefly mention that the extension of this discussion to the higher-spin case suggests that scalar point particles cannot interact with chiral higher-spin fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Seiberg-Witten solution to four-dimensional N = 2 super-Yang-Mills theory with gauge group SU(N) and without hypermultiplets is used to investigate the neighborhood of the maximal Argyres-Douglas points of type a 1 a N − 1 . A convergent series expansion for the Seiberg-Witten periods near the Argyres-Douglas points is obtained by analytic continuation of the series expansion around the ℤ2N symmetric point derived in arXiv:2208.11502. Along with direct integration of the Picard-Fuchs equations for the periods, the expansion is used to determine the location of the walls of marginal stability for SU(3). The intrinsic periods and Kähler potential of the a 1 a N − 1 superconformal fixed point are computed by letting the strong coupling scale tend to infinity. We conjecture that the resulting intrinsic Kähler potential is positive definite and convex, with a unique minimum at the Argyres-Douglas point, provided only intrinsic Coulomb branch operators with unitary scaling dimensions ∆ > 1 acquire a vacuum expectation value, and provide both analytical and numerical evidence in support of this conjecture. In all the low rank examples considered here, it is found that turning on moduli dual to ∆ ≤ 1 operators spoils the positivity and convexity of the intrinsic Kähler potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We catalog all the electromagnetic-like dualities that exist between free dynamical bosonic fields of arbitrary symmetry type and mass on (anti-) de Sitter space in all dimensions, including dualities among the partially massless and shift symmetric fields. This generalizes to all these field types the well known fact that a massless p-form is dual to a massless (D − p − 2)-form in D spacetime dimensions. In the process, we describe the structure of the Weyl modules (the spaces of local operators linear in the fields and their derivative relations) for all the massive, partially massless and shift symmetric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Wilson line defect half-indices of 3d N = 2 supersymmetric SU(N) Chern-Simons theories of level k ≤ – N with Neumann boundary conditions for the gauge fields, together with 2d Fermi multiplets and fundamental 3d chiral multiplets to cancel the gauge anomaly. We derive some exact results and also make some conjectures based on expansions of the q-series. We find several interesting connections with special functions known in the literature, including Rogers-Ramanujan functions for which we conjecture integral representations, and the appearance of Appell-Lerch sums for certain Wilson line half-index grand canonical ensembles which reveal an unexpected appearance of mock modular functions. We also find intriguing q-difference equations relating half-indices to Wilson line half-indices. Some of these results also have a description in terms of a dual theory with Dirichlet boundary conditions for the vector multiplet in the dual theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper we initiate the study of six-dimensional non-linear chiral two-form gauge theories as deformations of free chiral two-form gauge theories driven by stress-tensor T T ¯ $$ T\overline{T} $$ -like flows. To lay the background for this study, we elaborate on the relationship between different Lagrangian formulations of duality-invariant p-form theories and corresponding T T ¯ $$ T\overline{T} $$ -like flows in various dimensions. To this end we propose a new formulation which (i) is a generalization of the four-dimensional construction by Ivanov, Nurmagambetov and Zupnik (INZ) and (ii) turns into the PST formulation upon integrating out an auxiliary self-dual field. We elucidate space-time covariant properties of the PST formulation by clarifying and making use of its relation to the INZ-type formulation and to a so-called “clone” construction.

Abstract We examine the Abelian Higgs model in (d + 1)-dimensional anti-de Sitter space with an ultraviolet brane. The gauge symmetry is broken by a bulk Higgs vacuum expectation value triggered on the brane. We propose two separate Goldstone boson equivalence theorems for the boundary and bulk degrees of freedom. We compute the holographic self-energy of the gauge field and show that its spectrum is either a continuum, gapped continuum, or a discretuum as a function of the Higgs bulk mass. When the Higgs has no bulk mass, the AdS isometries are unbroken. We find in that case that the dual CFT has a non-conserved U(1) current whose anomalous dimension is proportional to the square of the Higgs vacuum expectation value. When the Higgs background weakly breaks the AdS isometries, we present an adapted WKB method to solve the gauge field equations. We show that the U(1) current dimension runs logarithmically with the energy scale in accordance with a nearly-marginal U(1)-breaking deformation of the CFT.

Abstract The newly established Seiberg-Witten (SW)/Quasinormal Modes (QNM) correspondence offers an efficient analytical approach to calculate the QNM frequencies, which was only available numerically before. This is based on the fact that both sides are characterized by Heun-type equations. We find that a similar duality exists between Seiberg-Witten theory and black hole superradiance, since the latter can also be linked to confluent Heun equation after proper transformation. Then a dictionary is constructed, with the superradiance frequencies written in terms of gauge parameters. Further by instanton counting, and taking care of the boundary conditions through connection formula, the relating frequencies are obtained analytically, which show consistency with known numerical results.

Abstract Symmetries and conserved charges are investigated for linearised gravity and its dual formulation in terms of the dual graviton field. Conserved charges are constructed for the dual graviton theory that are associated with invariances of the dual graviton theory. These invariances arise for gauge parameters that are certain generalised Killing tensors. These electric-type charges for the dual graviton are then shown to give magnetic-type charges for the graviton. One of the magnetic-type gravitational charges obtained in this way is the linearisation of the gravitational charge in d ≥ 5 dimensions that arises as a central charge in the supersymmetry algebra and is carried by Kaluza-Klein monopoles. Solutions of linearised gravity carrying the magnetic gravitational charges are discussed. The application of the approach used here to other gauge theories is discussed.

Abstract We present a non-perturbative framework for incorporating gauge field fluctuations into effective actions of QED3 in the infrared using fermionic particle-vortex duality. This approach is demonstrated through the applications to models containing N species of 2-component Dirac fermions in solvable and interpretable electromagnetic backgrounds, focusing on N = 1 or 2. For the N = 1 model, we establish a correspondence between fermion Casimir energy at finite density and the magnetic Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian, and further evaluate the corrections to their amplitudes. This predicts amplification of charge susceptibility and reduction of magnetic permeability. We additionally provide physical interpretations for each component of our calculation and offer alternative derivations based on energy density measurements in different characteristic lengths. For N = 2, we show that magnetic catalysis is erased in a U(1) × U(1) QED3, indicating no breakdown of chiral symmetry. Reasoning is offered based on the properties of the lowest Landau level wave functions.

Abstract In this paper, we derive the Carrollian amplitude in the framework of bulk reduction. The Carrollian amplitude is shown to relate to the scattering amplitude by a Fourier transform in this method. We propose Feynman rules to calculate the Carrollian amplitude where the Fourier transforms emerge as the integral representation of the external lines in the Carrollian space. Then we study the four-point Carrollian amplitude at loop level in massless Φ4 theory. As a consequence of Poincaré invariance, the four-point Carrollian amplitude can be transformed to the amplitude that only depends on the cross ratio z of the celestial sphere and a variable χ invariant under translation. The four-point Carrollian amplitude is a polynomial of the two-point Carrollian amplitude whose argument is replaced with χ. The coefficients of the polynomial have branch cuts in the complex z plane. We also show that the renormalized Carrollian amplitude obeys the Callan-Symanzik equation. Moreover, we initiate a generalized Φ4 theory by designing the Feynman rules for more general Carrollian amplitude.

Abstract Integrated correlation functions in N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with gauge group SU(N) can be expressed in terms of the localised S 4 partition function, Z N , deformed by a mass m. Two such cases are C N = Im τ 2 ∂ τ ∂ τ ¯ ∂ m 2 log Z N m = 0 $$ {\mathcal{C}}_N={\left(\operatorname{Im}\tau \right)}^2{\partial}_{\tau }{\partial}_{\overline{\tau}}{\partial}_m^2\log {\left.{Z}_N\right|}_{m=0} $$ and H N = ∂ m 4 log Z N m = 0 $$ {\mathcal{H}}_N={\partial}_m^4\log {\left.{Z}_N\right|}_{m=0} $$ , which are modular invariant functions of the complex coupling τ. While C N $$ {\mathcal{C}}_N $$ was recently written in terms of a two-dimensional lattice sum for any N and τ, H N $$ {\mathcal{H}}_N $$ has only been evaluated up to order 1/N 3 in a large-N expansion in terms of modular invariant functions with no known lattice sum realisation. Here we develop methods for evaluating H N $$ {\mathcal{H}}_N $$ to any desired order in 1/N and finite τ. We use this new data to constrain higher loop corrections to the stress tensor correlator, and give evidence for several intriguing relations between H N $$ {\mathcal{H}}_N $$ and C N $$ {\mathcal{C}}_N $$ to all orders in 1/N. We also give evidence that the coefficients of the 1/N expansion of H N $$ {\mathcal{H}}_N $$ can be written as lattice sums to all orders. Lastly, these large N and finite τ results are used to accurately estimate the integrated correlators at finite N and finite τ.

Abstract We consider two dimensional (2D) gauged linear sigma models (GLSMs) with (0, 2) supersymmetry and U(1) gauge group which posses global symmetries. We distinguish between two cases: one obtained as a reduction from the (2, 2) supersymmetric GLSM and another not coming from a reduction. In the first case we find the Abelian T-dual, comparing with previous studies. Then, the Abelian T-dual model of the second case is found. Instanton corrections are also discussed in both situations. We explore the vacua for the scalar potential and we analyse the target space geometry of the dual model. An example with gauge symmetry U(1) × U(1) is discussed, which posses non-Abelian global symmetry. Non-Abelian T-dualization of U(1) (0, 2) 2D GLSMs is implemented for models that arise as a reduction from the (2, 2) case; we study a model with U(1) gauge symmetry and SU(2) global symmetry. It is shown that for a positive definite scalar potential, the dual vacua to $${\mathbb{P}}^{1}$$ constitutes a disk. Instanton corrections to the superpotential are obtained and are shown to be encoded in a shift of the holomorphic function E. We conclude by analyzing an example with SU(2) × SU(2) global symmetry, obtaining that the space of dual vacua to $${\mathbb{P}}^{1}$$ × $${\mathbb{P}}^{1}$$ consists of two copies of the disk, also for the case of positive definite potential. Here we are able to fully integrate the equations of motion of non-Abelian T-duality, improving the analysis with respect to the studies in (2, 2) models.

Abstract We show that a large subclass of 3d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 quiver gauge theories consisting of unitary and special unitary gauge nodes with only fundamental/bifundamental matter have multiple Seiberg-like IR duals. A generic quiver T $$ \mathcal{T} $$ in this subclass has a non-zero number of balanced special unitary gauge nodes and it is a good theory in the Gaiotto-Witten sense. We refer to this phenomenon as IR N-ality and the set of mutually IR dual theories as the N-al set associated with the quiver T $$ \mathcal{T} $$ . Starting from T $$ \mathcal{T} $$ , we construct a sequence of dualities by step-wise implementing a set of quiver mutations which act locally on the gauge nodes. The associated N-al theories can then be read off from this duality sequence. The quiver T $$ \mathcal{T} $$ generically has an emergent Coulomb branch global symmetry in the IR, such that the rank of the IR symmetry is always greater than the rank visible in the UV. We show that there exists at least one theory in the N-al set for which the rank of the IR symmetry precisely matches the rank of the UV symmetry. In certain special cases that we discuss in this work, the correct emergent symmetry algebra itself may be read off from this preferred theory (or theories) in addition to the correct rank. Finally, we give a recipe for constructing the 3d mirror associated with a given N-al set and show how the emergent Coulomb branch symmetry of T $$ \mathcal{T} $$ is realized as a UV-manifest Higgs branch symmetry of the 3d mirror. This paper is the second in a series of four papers on 3d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 Seiberg-like dualities, preceded by the work [1].

Abstract As a generalisation of the correspondence linking 2D integrable systems with 4D Chern-Simons (CS) gauge theory, superspin chains are realized by means of crossing electric and magnetic super line defects in the 4D CS with super gauge symmetry. The oscillator realization of Lax operators solving the RLL relations of integrability is obtained in the gauge theory by extending the notion of Levi decomposition to Lie superalgebras. Based on particular 3-gradings of Lie superalgebras, we obtain graded oscillator Lax matrices for superspin chains with internal symmetries given by A(m − 1 | n − 1), B(m | n), C(n) and D(m | n).

Abstract Sen’s action for a p-form gauge field with self-dual field strength coupled to a spacetime metric g involves an explicit Minkowski metric and the presence of this raises questions as to whether the action is coordinate independent and whether it can be used on a general spacetime manifold. A natural generalisation of Sen’s action is presented in which the Minkowski metric is replaced by a second metric $$\overline{g }$$ on spacetime. The theory is covariant and can be formulated on any spacetime. The theory describes a physical sector, consisting of the chiral p-form gauge field coupled to the dynamical metric g, plus a shadow sector consisting of a second chiral p-form and the second metric $$\overline{g }$$ . The fields in this shadow sector only couple to each other and have no interactions with the physical sector, so that they decouple from the physical sector. The resulting theory is covariant and can be formulated on any spacetime. Explicit expressions are found for the interactions and extensions to include interactions with other physical fields or higher-derivative field equations are given. A spacetime with two metrics has some interesting geometry and some of this is explored here and used in the construction of the interactions. The action has two diffeomorphism-like symmetries, one acting only on the physical sector and one acting only on the shadow sector, with the spacetime diffeomorphism symmetry arising as the diagonal subgroup. This allows a further generalisation in which $$\overline{g }$$ is not a tensor field but is instead a gauge field whose transition functions involve the usual coordinate transformation together with a shadow sector gauge transformation.

Abstract Recently an algorithm to build SL(2, ℤ) duals, including mirror duals, of 3d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 quiver theories and their 4d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 uplift has been introduced. In this work we use this new tool to study the so-called bad theories. Our approach allows us to determine exactly indices/partition functions for generic values of fugacities/real mass and FI parameters revealing their surprising feature: the 4d index/3d partition function of a bad theory behaves as a sum of distributions rather than an ordinary function of the deformation parameters. We focus on the bad SQCD, with U(N c ) gauge group in 3d and USp(2N c ) in 4d, while in an upcoming paper we will consider linear quivers which, in the 3d case, have both unitary and special unitary bad nodes.