Large NN phase transition in TT‾T \overline{T}-deformed 2d2d Yang-Mills theory on the sphere

We study the partition function of a $T \overline{T}$-deformed version of Yang-Mills theory on the two-sphere. We show that the Douglas-Kazakov phase transition persists for a range of values of the deformation parameter, and that the critical area is lowered. The transition is of third order and also induced by instantons, whose contributions we characterize.Comment: I+24 pages, 3 figures; v2: minor corrections, published versio

Complex (super)-matrix models with external sources and qq-ensembles of Chern-Simons and ABJ(M) type

The Langmann-Szabo-Zarembo (LSZ) matrix model is a complex matrix model with a quartic interaction and two external matrices. The model appears in the study of a scalar field theory on the non-commutative plane. We prove that the LSZ matrix model computes the probability of atypically large fluctuations in the Stieltjes-Wigert matrix model, which is a $q$-ensemble describing $U(N)$ Chern-Simons theory on the three-sphere. The correspondence holds in a generalized sense: depending on the spectra of the two external matrices, the LSZ matrix model either describes probabilities of large fluctuations in the Chern-Simons partition function, in the unknot invariant or in the two-unknot invariant. We extend the result to supermatrix models, and show that a generalized LSZ supermatrix model describes the probability of atypically large fluctuations in the ABJ(M) matrix model.Comment: 30 pages, 2 figures. v2: A correction made and several new results added; title changed. v3: Presentation reorganized, new results and references added, final versio

Torus knot polynomials and susy Wilson loops

We give, using an explicit expression obtained in [V. Jones, Ann. of Math. 126, 335 (1987)], a basic hypergeometric representation of the HOMFLY polynomial of $(n,m)$ torus knots, and present a number of equivalent expressions, all related by Heine's transformations. Using this result the $(m,n)\leftrightarrow (n,m)$ symmetry and the leading polynomial at large $N$ are explicit. We show the latter to be the Wilson loop of 2d Yang-Mills theory on the plane. In addition, after taking one winding to infinity, it becomes the Wilson loop in the zero instanton sector of the 2d Yang-Mills theory, which is known to give averages of Wilson loops in $\mathcal{N}$=4 SYM theory. We also give, using matrix models, an interpretation of the HOMFLY polynomial and the corresponding Jones-Rosso representation in terms of $q$-harmonic oscillators.Comment: 17 pages, v2: More concise (published) version; typos correcte

Matrix models for classical groups and Toeplitz±\pm Hankel minors with applications to Chern-Simons theory and fermionic models

We study matrix integration over the classical Lie groups $U(N),Sp(2N),O(2N)$ and $O(2N+1)$, using symmetric function theory and the equivalent formulation in terms of determinants and minors of Toeplitz$\pm$Hankel matrices. We establish a number of factorizations and expansions for such integrals, also with insertions of irreducible characters. As a specific example, we compute both at finite and large $N$ the partition functions, Wilson loops and Hopf links of Chern-Simons theory on $S^{3}$ with the aforementioned symmetry groups. The identities found for the general models translate in this context to relations between observables of the theory. Finally, we use character expansions to evaluate averages in random matrix ensembles of Chern-Simons type, describing the spectra of solvable fermionic models with matrix degrees of freedom.Comment: 32 pages, v2: Several improvements, including a Conclusions and Outlook section, added. 36 page

Toeplitz minors and specializations of skew Schur polynomials

We express minors of Toeplitz matrices of finite and large dimension in terms of symmetric functions. Comparing the resulting expressions with the inverses of some Toeplitz matrices, we obtain explicit formulas for a Selberg-Morris integral and for specializations of certain skew Schur polynomials.Comment: v2: Added new results on specializations of skew Schur polynomials, abstract and title modified accordingly and references added; v3: final, published version; 18 page