The ABCDEFG of Little Strings

Abstract

Starting from type IIB string theory on an $ADE$ singularity, the $(2,0)$ little string arises when one takes the string coupling $g_s$ to 0. In this setup, we give a unified description of the codimension-two defects of the little string, labeled by a simple Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{g}}$. Geometrically, these are D5 branes wrapping 2-cycles of the singularity, subject to a certain folding operation when the algebra is non simply-laced. Equivalently, the defects are specified by a certain set of weights of $^L {\mathfrak{g}}$, the Langlands dual of ${\mathfrak{g}}$. As a first application, we show that the instanton partition function of the ${\mathfrak{g}}$-type quiver gauge theory on the defect is equal to a 3-point conformal block of the ${\mathfrak{g}}$-type deformed Toda theory in the Coulomb gas formalism. As a second application, we argue that in the $(2,0)$ CFT limit, the Coulomb branch of the defects flows to a nilpotent orbit of ${\mathfrak{g}}$.Comment: 63 pages + 12 figures; v2: corrected typos and added reference