Higgsing M2-brane theories

Accepted versio

M2-Branes and Fano 3-folds

A class of supersymmetric gauge theories arising from M2-branes probing Calabi-Yau 4-folds which are cones over smooth toric Fano 3-folds is investigated. For each model, the toric data of the mesonic moduli space is derived using the forward algorithm. The generators of the mesonic moduli space are determined using Hilbert series. The spectrum of scaling dimensions for chiral operators is computed.Comment: 128 pages, 39 figures, 42 table

The Hilbert Series of the One Instanton Moduli Space

The moduli space of k G-instantons on R^4 for a classical gauge group G is known to be given by the Higgs branch of a supersymmetric gauge theory that lives on Dp branes probing D(p + 4) branes in Type II theories. For p = 3, these (3 + 1) dimensional gauge theories have N = 2 supersymmetry and can be represented by quiver diagrams. The F and D term equations coincide with the ADHM construction. The Hilbert series of the moduli spaces of one instanton for classical gauge groups is easy to compute and turns out to take a particularly simple form which is previously unknown. This allows for a G invariant character expansion and hence easily generalisable for exceptional gauge groups, where an ADHM construction is not known. The conjectures for exceptional groups are further checked using some new techniques like sewing relations in Hilbert Series. This is applied to Argyres-Seiberg dualities.Comment: 43 pages, 22 figure

Hilbert Series for Moduli Spaces of Two Instantons

The Hilbert Series (HS) of the moduli space of two G instantons on C^2, where G is a simple gauge group, is studied in detail. For a given G, the moduli space is a singular hyperKahler cone with a symmetry group U(2) \times G, where U(2) is the natural symmetry group of C^2. Holomorphic functions on the moduli space transform in irreducible representations of the symmetry group and hence the Hilbert series admits a character expansion. For cases that G is a classical group (of type A, B, C, or D), there is an ADHM construction which allows us to compute the HS explicitly using a contour integral. For cases that G is of E-type, recent index results allow for an explicit computation of the HS. The character expansion can be expressed as an infinite sum which lives on a Cartesian lattice that is generated by a small number of representations. This structure persists for all G and allows for an explicit expressions of the HS to all simple groups. For cases that G is of type G_2 or F_4, discrete symmetries are enough to evaluate the HS exactly, even though neither ADHM construction nor index is known for these cases.Comment: 53 pages, 9 tables, 24 figure

Phases of M2-brane Theories

We investigate different toric phases of 2+1 dimensional quiver gauge theories arising from M2-branes probing toric Calabi-Yau 4 folds. A brane tiling for each toric phase is presented. We apply the 'forward algorithm' to obtain the toric data of the mesonic moduli space of vacua and exhibit the equivalence between the vacua of different toric phases of a given singularity. The structures of the Master space, the mesonic moduli space, and the baryonic moduli space are examined in detail. We compute the Hilbert series and use them to verify the toric dualities between different phases. The Hilbert series, R-charges, and generators of the mesonic moduli space are matched between toric phases.Comment: 60 pages, 28 figures, 6 tables. v2: minor correction

SQCD: A Geometric Apercu

We take new algebraic and geometric perspectives on the old subject of SQCD. We count chiral gauge invariant operators using generating functions, or Hilbert series, derived from the plethystic programme and the Molien-Weyl formula. Using the character expansion technique, we also see how the global symmetries are encoded in the generating functions. Equipped with these methods and techniques of algorithmic algebraic geometry, we obtain the character expansions for theories with arbitrary numbers of colours and flavours. Moreover, computational algebraic geometry allows us to systematically study the classical vacuum moduli space of SQCD and investigate such structures as its irreducible components, degree and syzygies. We find the vacuum manifolds of SQCD to be affine Calabi-Yau cones over weighted projective varieties.Comment: 49 pages, 1 figur

Complete Intersection Moduli Spaces in N=4 Gauge Theories in Three Dimensions

We study moduli spaces of a class of three dimensional N=4 gauge theories which are in one-to-one correspondence with a certain set of ordered pairs of integer partitions. It was found that these theories can be realised on brane intervals in Type IIB string theory and can therefore be described using linear quiver diagrams. Mirror symmetry was known to act on such a theory by exchanging the partitions in the corresponding ordered pair, and hence the quiver diagram of the mirror theory can be written down in a straightforward way. The infrared Coulomb branch of each theory can be studied using moment map equations for a hyperKahler quotient of the Higgs branch of the mirror theory. We focus on three infinite subclasses of these singular hyperKahler spaces which are complete intersections. The Hilbert series of these spaces are computed in order to count generators and relations, and they turn out to be related to the corresponding partitions of the theories. For each theory, we explicitly discuss the generators of such a space and relations they satisfy in detail. These relations are precisely the defining equations of the corresponding complete intersection space.Comment: 68 pages and 33 figures. Version 2: Minor corrections and citations adde

The ABCDEFG of Instantons and W-algebras

For arbitrary gauge groups, we check at the one-instanton level that the Nekrasov partition function of pure N=2 super Yang-Mills is equal to the norm of a certain coherent state of the corresponding W-algebra. For non-simply-laced gauge groups, we confirm in particular that the coherent state is in the twisted sector of a simply-laced W-algebra.Comment: 30 pages, 2 figures, v2: references added, explicit expression for the W(E6) generators adde