The superconformal index and an elliptic algebra of surface defects

Bullimore, Mathew; Fluder, Martin; Hollands, Lotte; Richmond, Paul

Abstract

In this paper we continue the study of the superconformal index of four-dimensional N =2 theories of class S in the presence of surface defects. Our main result is the construction of an algebra of difference operators, whose elements are labeled by irreducible representations of A N −1. For the fully antisymmetric tensor representations these difference operators are the Hamiltonians of the elliptic Ruijsenaars-Schneider system. The structure constants of the algebra are elliptic generalizations of the Littlewood-Richardson coefficients. In the Macdonald limit, we identify the difference operators with local operators in the two-dimensional TQFT interpretation of the superconformal index. We also study the dimensional reduction to difference operators acting on the three-sphere partition function, where they characterize supersymmetric defects supported on a circle, and show that they are transformed to supersymmetric Wilson loops under mirror symmetry. Finally, we compare to the difference operators that create ’t Hooft loops in the four-dimensional N =2* theory on a four-sphere by embedding the three-dimensional theory as an S-duality domain wall.

Citation

Bullimore, M., Fluder, M., Hollands, L., & Richmond, P. (2014). The superconformal index and an elliptic algebra of surface defects. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2014(10), Article 062. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep10%282014%29062

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 25, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Oct 9, 2014
• Publication Date: Oct 9, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 7, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2018
• Journal: Journal of High Energy Physics
• Print ISSN: 1126-6708
• Electronic ISSN: 1029-8479
• Publisher: Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2014
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: 062
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep10%282014%29062
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1324708