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In ABJM theory, enriched RG flows between circular 1 = 6 BPS bosonic and 1 = 2 BPS fermionic Wilson loops have been introduced in L. Castiglioni et al. [L. Castiglioni, S. Penati, M. Tenser, and D. Trancanelli, Interpolating Wilson loops and enriched RG flows, J. High Energy Phys. 08 (2023) 106.]. These flows are triggered by deformations corresponding to parametric 1 = 6 BPS fermionic loops. In this paper, we revisit the study of these operators, but instead of circular contours, we consider an interpolating cusped line and a latitude and study their RG flow in perturbation theory. This allows for the definition of a bremsstrahlung function away from fixed points. We generalize to this case the known cusp/latitude correspondence that relates the bremsstrahlung function to a latitude Wilson loop. We find that away from the conformal fixed points the ordinary identity is broken by the conformal anomaly in a controlled way. From a defect perspective, the breaking of the correspondence can be traced back to the appearance of an anomalous dimension for fermionic operators localized on the defect. As a by-product, we provide a brand new result for the two -loop cusp anomalous dimension of the 1 = 6 BPS fermionic and the 1 = 6 BPS bosonic Wilson lines.

We study the geometries obtained by performing super non-Abelian T-duality of the Principal Chiral Model on OSp(1|2). While the initial model represents an appropriate 3D supergravity background, interpretable as the superspace version of AdS3, the T-dual model fails solving the 3D supergravity torsion constraints. We argue that this has to do with a factorisation pattern taking place under dualisation: the dual 3D geometry can be rewritten as the supersymmetric version of AdS2, satisfying the supergravity constraints, fibered over what we interpret as the superspace equivalent of the standard bosonic line. We discuss an interesting connection between T-duals of generic Principal Chiral Models and Poisson sigma models. We exploit it to show that in a suitable limit the dual action studied in this work gives rise to JT (super)gravity.

We investigate the one-dimensional defect SCFT defined on the 1/2 BPS Wilson line/loop in ABJ(M) theory. We show that the supermatrix structure of the defect imposes a covariant supermatrix representation of the supercharges. Exploiting this covariant formulation, we prove the existence of a long multiplet whose highest weight state is a constant supermatrix operator. At weak coupling, we study this operator in perturbation theory and confirm that it acquires a non-trivial anomalous dimension. At strong coupling, we conjecture that this operator is dual to the lowest bound state of fluctuations of the fundamental open string in AdS4 × CP3 around the classical 1/2 BPS solution. Quite unexpectedly, this operator also arises in the cohomological equivalence between bosonic and fermionic Wilson loops. We also discuss some regularization subtleties arising in perturbative calculations on the infinite Wilson line.

The SVELAMI-B project offered in-depth activities in STEM fields to primary school children, inspired by the discoveries of famous women scientists. Starting from a shared multidisciplinary design (from physics to mathematics, computer science, geology and education science) the aim was to enhance the learning potential of scientific subjects, while addressing the problem of gender gap in Science. Due to the pandemic situation, all the activities were carried out entirely in distance learning. In this paper, some results and outcomes will be analyzed, as well as possible developments for the design of new school interventions based on a community of practice.

In 2+1 dimensions, we propose a renormalizable non-linear sigma model action which describes the N = 2 supersymmetric generalization of Galilean Electrodynamics. We first start with the simplest model obtained by null reduction of the relativistic Abelian N = 1 supersymmetric QED in 3+1 dimensions and study its renormalization properties directly in non-relativistic superspace. Despite the existence of a non-renormalization theorem induced by the causal structure of the non-relativistic dynamics, we find that the theory is non-renormalizable. Infinite dimensionless, supersymmetric and gauge-invariant terms, which combine into an analytic function, are generated at quantum level. Renormalizability is then restored by generalizing the theory to a non-linear sigma model where the usual minimal coupling between gauge and matter is complemented by infinitely many marginal couplings driven by a dimensionless gauge scalar and its fermionic superpartner. Superconformal invariance is preserved in correspondence of a non-trivial conformal manifold of fixed points where the theory is gauge-invariant and interacting.

We provide a proof for the conjectured equality of the generating function of integrated Higgs and Coulomb branch topological operators in 3d N ≥ 4 gauge theories and the three sphere partition function deformed by mass or FI parameters. The equality is the result of cohomological equivalence and applies to all theories in this class, including ABJM and other generalized Gaiotto-Witten models, and those without an explicit supersymmetric Lagrangian.

We construct the one-dimensional topological sector of N = 6 ABJ(M) theory and study its relation with the mass-deformed partition function on S3. Supersymmetric localization provides an exact representation of this partition function as a matrix integral, which interpolates between weak and strong coupling regimes. It has been proposed that correlation functions of dimension-one topological operators should be computed through suitable derivatives with respect to the masses, but a precise proof is still lacking. We present non-trivial evidence for this relation by computing the two-point function at two-loop, successfully matching the matrix model expansion at weak coupling and finite ranks. As a by-product we obtain the two-loop explicit expression for the central charge cT of ABJ(M) theory. Three- and four-point functions up to one-loop confirm the relation as well. Our result points towards the possibility to localize the one-dimensional topological sector of ABJ(M) and may also be useful in the bootstrap program for 3d SCFTs.

Obesity is a chronic, complex pathology associated with a risk of developing secondary pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and musculoskeletal disorders. Since skeletal muscle accounts for more than 70% of total glucose disposal, metabolic alterations are strictly associated with the onset of insulin resistance and T2DM. The present study relies on the proteomic analysis of gastrocnemius muscle from 15 male and 15 female C56BL/J mice fed for 14 weeks with standard, 45% or 60% high-fat diets (HFD) adopting a label-free LC–MS/MS approach followed by bioinformatic pathway analysis. Results indicate changes in males due to HFD, with increased muscular stiffness (Col1a1, Col1a2, Actb), fiber-type switch from slow/oxida-tive to fast/glycolytic (decreased Myh7, Myl2, Myl3 and increased Myh2, Mylpf, Mybpc2, Myl1), increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction (decreased respiratory chain complex I and V and increased complex III subunits). At variance, females show few alterations and activation of compensatory mechanisms to counteract the increase of fatty acids. Bioinformatics analysis allows identifying upstream molecules involved in regulating pathways identified at variance in our analysis (Ppargc1a, Pparg, Cpt1b, Clpp, Tp53, Kdm5a, Hif1a). These findings underline the presence of a gender-specific response to be considered when approaching obesity and related comor-bidities.

We review the recent progress in the study of line defects in three-dimensional Chern– Simons-matter superconformal field theories, notably the ABJM theory. The first part is focused on kinematical defects, supporting a topological sector of the theory. After reviewing the construction of this sector, we concentrate on the evaluation of topological correlators from the partition function of the mass-deformed ABJM theory and provide evidence on the existence of topological quantum mechanics living on the line. In the second part, we consider the dynamical defects realized as latitude BPS Wilson loops for which an exact evaluation is available in terms of a latitude Matrix Model. We discuss the fundamental relation between these operators, the defect superconformal field theory and bulk physical quantities, such as the Bremsstrahlung function. This relation assigns a privileged role to BPS Wilson operators, which become the meeting point for three exact approaches: localization, integrability and conformal bootstrap.

We analyse super non-Abelian T-duality for principal chiral models, symmetric space sigma models, and semi-symmetric space sigma models for general Lie supergroups. This includes T-duality along both bosonic and fermionic directions. As an example, we perform the explicit dualisation of the OSp(1|2) principal chiral model, and, whilst the target superspace of this model is a three-dimensional supergravity background, we find that its super non-Abelian T-dual falls outside the class of such backgrounds.

We examined effects of exposing female and male mice for 33 weeks to 45% or 60% high fat diet (HFD). Males fed with either diet were more vulnerable than females, displaying higher and faster increase in body weight and more elevated cholesterol and liver enzymes levels. Higher glucose metabolism was revealed by PET in the olfactory bulbs of both sexes. However, males also displayed altered anterior cortex and cerebellum metabolism, accompanied by a more prominent brain inflammation relative to females. Although both sexes displayed reduced transcripts of neuronal and synaptic genes in anterior cortex, only males had decreased protein levels of AMPA and NMDA receptors. Oppositely, to anterior cortex, cerebellum of HFD-exposed mice displayed hypometabolism and transcriptional up-regulation of neuronal and synaptic genes. These results indicate that male brain is more susceptible to metabolic changes induced by HFD and that the anterior cortex versus cerebellum display inverse susceptibility to HFD.

We generalize the geometrical formulation of Wilson loops recently introduced in [1] to the description of Wilson Surfaces. For N = (2, 0) theory in six dimensions, we provide an explicit derivation of BPS Wilson Surfaces with non-trivial coupling to scalars, together with their manifestly supersymmetric version. We derive explicit conditions which allow to classify these operators in terms of the number of preserved supercharges. We also discuss kappa-symmetry and prove that BPS conditions in six dimensions arise from kappa-symmetry invariance in eleven dimensions. Finally, we discuss super-Wilson Surfaces — and higher dimensional operators — as objects charged under global p-form (super)symmetries generated by tensorial supercurrents. To this end, the construction of conserved supercurrents in supermanifolds and of the corresponding conserved charges is developed in details.

We study supersymmetric Wilson loops from a geometrical perspective. To this end, we propose a new formulation of these operators in terms of an integral form associated to the immersion of the loop into a supermanifold. This approach provides a unifying description of Wilson loops preserving different sets of supercharges, and clarifies the flow between them. Moreover, it allows to exploit the powerful techniques of super- differential calculus for investigating their symmetries. As remarkable examples, we discuss supersymmetry and kappa-symmetry invariance.

For SU(N) superconformal QCD we perform a three-loop calculation of the cusp anomalous dimension for a generalized Maldacena-Wilson operator, using HQET formalism. We obtain an expression that is valid at generic geometric and internal angles and finite gauge group rank N. For equal and opposite angles this expression vanishes, proving that at these points the cusp becomes BPS. From its small angle expansion we derive the corresponding Bremsstrahlung function at three loops, matching the matrix model prediction given in terms of derivatives of the Wilson loop on the ellipsoid. Finally, we discuss possible scenarios at higher loops, with respect to the existence of a universal effective coupling in an integrable subsector of the model.

We study quantum integrability of affine Toda theories with a line of defect. In particular, we focus on the problem of constructing quantum higher-spin conserved currents in models defined by two Ar(1) Toda theories separated by a non-trivial type-I defect. For a suitable choice of the defect potential these theories are known to be classically integrable, that is they possess an infinite set of higher-spin conserved charges in involution. Studying the corresponding conservation laws at quantum level we discover that anomalies arise, which we compute exactly at all orders in the coupling constant. While for the stress-energy tensor these anomalies can be cancelled by a finite renormalization of the defect potential, we find that from the first non-trivial higher-spin current this is no longer possible. This opens the question whether these theories are indeed integrable at quantum level.

This is a compact review of recent results on supersymmetric Wilson loops in ABJ(M) and related theories. It aims to be a quick introduction to the state of the art in the field and a discussion of open problems. It is divided into short chapters devoted to different questions and techniques. Some new results, perspectives and speculations are also presented. We hope this might serve as a baseline for further studies of this topic.

We consider a Galilean N= 2 supersymmetric theory with F-term couplings in 2 + 1 dimensions, obtained by null reduction of a relativistic Wess-Zumino model. We compute quantum corrections and we check that, as for the relativistic parent theory, the F-term does not receive quantum corrections. Even more, we find evidence that the causal structure of the non-relativistic dynamics together with particle number conservation constrain the theory to be one-loop exact.

In N ≥ 2 superconformal Chern-Simons-matter theories we construct the infinite family of Bogomol’nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) Wilson loops featured by constant parametric couplings to scalar and fermion matter, including both line Wilson loops in Minkowski spacetime and circle Wilson loops in Euclidean space. We find that the connection of the most general BPS Wilson loop cannot be decomposed in terms of double-node connections. Moreover, if the quiver contains triangles, it cannot be interpreted as a super-matrix inside a superalgebra. However, for particular choices of the parameters it reduces to the well-known connections of 1/6 BPS Wilson loops in Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena (ABJM) theory and 1/4 BPS Wilson loops in N = 4 orbifold ABJM theory. In the particular case of N = 2 orbifold ABJM theory we identify the gravity duals of a subset of operators. We investigate the cohomological equivalence of fermionic and bosonic BPS Wilson loops at quantum level by studying their expectation values, and find strong evidence that the cohomological equivalence holds quantum mechanically, at framing one. Finally, we discuss a stronger formulation of the cohomological equivalence, which implies non-trivial identities for correlation functions of composite operators in the defect CFT defined on the Wilson contour and allows to make novel predictions on the corresponding unknown integrals that call for a confirmation.

We derive a geometric formulation of the 2d central charge from infinite families of 4d superconformal field theories topologically twisted on constant curvature Riemann surfaces. They correspond to toric quiver gauge theories and are associated to D3 branes probing five dimensional Sasaki–Einstein geometries in the AdS/CFT correspondence. We show that can be expressed in terms of the areas of the toric diagram describing the moduli space of the 4d theory, both for toric geometries with smooth and singular horizons. We also study the relation between a-maximization in 4d and c-extremization in 2d, giving further evidences of the mixing of the baryonic symmetries with the exact R-current in two dimensions

We construct new families of 1/4 BPS Wilson loops in circular quiver N = 4 superconformal Chern-Simons-matter (SCSM) theories in three dimensions. They are defined as the holonomy of superconnections that contain non-trivial couplings to scalar and fermions, and cannot be reduced to block-diagonal matrices. Consequently, the new operators cannot be written in terms of double-node Wilson loops, as the ones considered so far in the literature. For particular values of the couplings the superconnection becomes block-diagonal and we recover the known fermionic 1/4 and 1/2 BPS Wilson loops. The new operators are cohomologically equivalent to bosonic 1/4 BPS Wilson loops and are then amenable of exact evaluation via localization techniques. Moreover, in the case of orbifold ABJM theory we identify the corresponding gravity duals for some of the 1/4 and 1/2 BPS Wilson loops.

We present the three-loop calculation of the Bremsstrahlung function associated to the 1/2-BPS cusp in ABJM theory, including color subleading corrections. Using the BPS condition we reduce the computation to that of a cusp with vanishing angle. We work within the framework of heavy quark effective theory (HQET) that further simplifies the analytic evaluation of the relevant cusp anomalous dimension in the near-BPS limit. The result passes nontrivial tests, such as exponentiation, and is in agreement with the conjecture made in [1] for the exact expression of the Bremsstrahlung function, based on the relation with fermionic latitude Wilson loops

Within the framework of four dimensional conformal supergravity we consider N=1,2,3,4 supersymmetric theories generally twisted along the abelian subgroups of the R-symmetry and possibly other global symmetry groups. Upon compactification on constant curvature Riemann surfaces with arbitrary genus we provide an extensive classification of the resulting two dimensional theories according to the amount of supersymmetry that is preserved. Exploiting the c-extremization prescription introduced in arXiv:1211.4030 we develop a general procedure to obtain the central charge for 2d N= (0 2) theories and the expression of the corresponding R-current in terms of the original 4d one and its mixing with the other abelian global currents

For three-dimensional ABJ(M) theories and N= 4 Chern-Simons-matter quiver theories, we construct two sets of 1/2 BPS Wilson loop operators by applying the Higgsing procedure along independent directions of the moduli space, and choosing different massive modes. For theories whose dual M-theory description is known, we also determine the corresponding spectrum of 1/2 BPS M2-brane solutions. We identify the supercharges in M-theory and field theory, as well as the supercharges preserved by M2-/anti-M2-branes and 1/2 BPS Wilson loops. In particular, in N= 4 orbifold ABJM theory we find pairs of different 1/2 BPS Wilson loops that preserve exactly the same set of supercharges. In field theory they arise by Higgsing with the choice of either particles or antiparticles, whereas in the dual description they correspond to a pair of M2-/anti-M2-branes localized at different positions in the compact space. This result enlightens the origin of classical Wilson loop degeneracy in these theories, already discussed in arXiv:1506.07614. A discussion on possible scenarios that emerge by comparison with localization results is included.