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The quantization of semiclassical strings in AdS spacetimes yields predictions for the strong-coupling behaviour of the scaling dimensions of the corresponding operators in the planar limit of the dual gauge theory. Finding non-planar corrections requires computing string loops (corresponding to torus and higher genus surfaces), which is a challenging task. It turns out that in the case of the Uk(N) × U−k(N) ABJM theory there is an alternative approach: one may semiclassically quantize M2 branes in AdS4 × S7/ℤk which are wrapped around the 11d circle of radius 1/k = λ/N. Such M2 branes are the M-theory generalization of the strings in AdS × CP3. In this work, we show that by expanding in large M2 brane tension T2 ~ kN for fixed k, followed by an expansion in large k, we can predict the large λ asymptotics of the non-planar corrections to the dimensions of the dual ABJM operators. As a specific example, we consider the M2 brane configuration that generalizes the long folded string with large spin in AdS4, and compute the 1-loop correction to its energy. This calculation allows us to determine non-planar corrections to the universal scaling function or cusp anomalous dimension. We extend our analysis to the semiclassical M2 branes that generalize the “short” and “long” circular strings with two equal angular momenta in CP3. The “short” M2 brane corresponds to a dual operator whose dimension at strong coupling scales as ∆ ∼ λ1/4 + …, and we derive the leading non-planar correction to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent no‐go theorems have ruled out four‐dimensional classical de Sitter vacua in heterotic string theory. On the other hand, the absence of a well‐defined Wilsonian effective action and other related phenomena also appear to rule out such time‐dependent vacua with de Sitter isometries, even in the presence of quantum corrections. In this note, the authors argued that a four‐dimensional de Sitter space can still exist in SO(32)$SO(32)$ heterotic string theory as a Glauber–Sudarshan state, i.e., as an excited state, over a supersymmetric Minkowski background, albeit within a finite temporal domain. Borel resummation and resurgence play a crucial role in constructing such a state in the Hilbert space of heterotic theory governed entirely by the IR degrees of freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was recently shown that integrating out M2 states on Calabi‐Yau manifolds captures non‐perturbative topological string physics in the free energy. In this note, It has been shown that the resulting expression manifests a certain duality symmetry: the free energy at strong string coupling is equal to the Calabi‐Yau period at weak string coupling. The duality yields the appropriate prescription for completing the integrating out in the ultraviolet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The quantization of semiclassical strings in AdS spacetimes yields predictions for the strong-coupling behaviour of the scaling dimensions of the corresponding operators in the planar limit of the dual gauge theory. Finding non-planar corrections requires computing string loops (corresponding to torus and higher genus surfaces), which is a challenging task. It turns out that in the case of the U k (N) × U −k (N) ABJM theory there is an alternative approach: one may semiclassically quantize M2 branes in AdS4 × S 7 /ℤ k which are wrapped around the 11d circle of radius 1/k = λ/N . Such M2 branes are the M-theory generalization of the strings in AdS × CP3. In this work, we show that by expanding in large M2 brane tension T 2 ~ kN $$ \sqrt{kN} $$ for fixed k, followed by an expansion in large k, we can predict the large λ asymptotics of the non-planar corrections to the dimensions of the dual ABJM operators. As a specific example, we consider the M2 brane configuration that generalizes the long folded string with large spin in AdS4, and compute the 1-loop correction to its energy. This calculation allows us to determine non-planar corrections to the universal scaling function or cusp anomalous dimension. We extend our analysis to the semiclassical M2 branes that generalize the “short” and “long” circular strings with two equal angular momenta in CP3. The “short” M2 brane corresponds to a dual operator whose dimension at strong coupling scales as ∆ ∼ λ 1/4 + …, and we derive the leading non-planar correction to it.

Abstract We show that integrating out M2 branes ending on M5 branes inside Calabi-Yau manifolds captures non-perturbative open topological string physics. The integrating out is performed using a contour integral in complexified Schwinger proper time. For the resolved conifold, this contour can be extended to include the zero pole, which we argue captures the ultraviolet completion of the integrating out and yields the tree-level polynomial terms in the free energy. This is a manifestation of the Emergence Proposal, and provides further evidence for it. Unlike the case of closed strings, where the emergent terms are kinetic terms in the action, for these open strings it is tree-level potential terms which are emergent. This provides a first quantitative example of the proposal that classical tree-level potentials in string theory emerge from integrating out co-dimension one states.

Abstract One of the pertinent question in the analysis of de Sitter as an excited state is what happens to the Glauber-Sudarshan states that are off-shell, i.e. the states that do not satisfy the Schwinger-Dyson equations. We argue that these Glauber-Sudarshan states, including the on-shell ones, are controlled by a bigger envelope wave functional namely a wave functional of the universe which surprisingly satisfies a Wheeler-De Witt equation. We provide various justification of the aforementioned identification including the determination of the emergent Hamiltonian constraint appearing in the Wheeler-De Witt equation that is satisfied by both the on- and off-shell states. Our analysis provides further evidence of why a transient four-dimensional de Sitter phase in string theory should be viewed as an excited state over a supersymmetric warped Minkowski background and not as a vacuum state.

Abstract We study the superconformal index of 3d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 superconformal field theories on S 1 × ω S 2 in the Cardy-like limit where the radius of the S 1 is much smaller than that of the S 2. We show that the first two leading terms in this Cardy-like expansion are dictated by the Bethe Ansatz formulation of the topologically twisted index of the same theory. We apply this relation to 3d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 holographic superconformal field theories describing the low-energy dynamics of N M2-branes and derive closed form expressions, valid to all orders in the 1/N expansion, for the two leading terms in the Cardy-like expansion of the superconformal index. We also discuss the implications of our results for the entropy of supersymmetric Kerr-Newman black holes in AdS4 and the four-derivative corrections to 4d gauged supergravity.

Abstract We propose precise effective field theory criteria to obtain a four-dimensional de Sitter space within M-theory. To this effect, starting with the state space described by the action of metric perturbations, fluxes etc over the supersymmetric Minkowski vacuum in eleven-dimensions, we discuss the most general low energy effective action in terms of the eleven-dimensional fields including non-perturbative and non-local terms. Given this, our criteria to obtain a valid four-dimensional de Sitter solution at far IR involve satisfying the Schwinger-Dyson equations of the associated path integral, as well as obeying positivity constraints on the dual IIA string coupling and its time derivative. For excited states, the Schwinger-Dyson equations imply an effective emergent potential different from the original potential. We show that while vacuum solutions and arbitrary coherent states fail to satisfy these criteria, a specific class of excited states called the Glauber-Sudarshan states obey them. Using the resurgent structure of observables computed using the path integral over the Glauber-Sudarshan states, four-dimensional de Sitter in the flat slicing can be constructed using a Glauber-Sudarshan state in M-theory. Among other novel results, we discuss the smallness of the positive cosmological constant, including the curious case where the cosmological constant is very slowly varying with time. We also discuss the resolution of identity with the Glauber-Sudarshan states, generation and the convergence properties of the non-perturbative and the non-local effects, the problems with the static patch and other related topics. We analyze briefly the issues related to the compatibility of the Wilsonian effective action with Borel resummations and discuss how they influence the effective field theory description in a four-dimensional de Sitter space.

Abstract Recently we have constructed a completely supersymmetric nonlinear action possessing the properties expected from multiple D0-brane system. Its quantization should result in an interesting supersymmetric field theory in the (super)space with additional matrix coordinates which can provide an important insights in the study of String Theory. As a first stage toward this aim, in this paper we construct the Hamiltonian mechanics and perform covariant quantization of the simplest three dimensional counterpart of the ten dimensional multiple D0-brane model. We obtain a supersymmetric system of equations in a (super)spacetime enlarged by bosonic and fermionic matrix coordinates which appears as a result of such quantization and discuss some of its properties.

Abstract We analyse the backreacted geometry corresponding to a stack of M5-branes wrapped on a spindle, with a view towards precision tests of the dual N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 superconformal field theory. We carefully study the singular loci of the uplifted geometry and show that these correspond to C 3/Z n conical singularities. Therefore, these solutions present one of the first explicit realisations of honest locally N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 preserving punctures in class S $$ \mathcal{S} $$ . Additionally we study the symmetries and anomalies of the dual field theory through anomaly inflow and compute a variety of holographic observables including dimensions of BPS operators. This work paves the way for advancements in the study and identification of the precise dual field theories.

Abstract We use the duality between gravitational dynamics and fluids living on dynamical surfaces carrying multiple charges, known as the blackfold approach, to perturbatively construct new asymptotically global (Anti)-de Sitter multi-spinning, non-extremal, multi-charged black holes in theories of higher-dimensional gravity minimally coupled to a dilaton and higher-form gauge fields in spacetime dimensions D ≥ 5, and new asymptotically AdS l × S m black holes in type IIB and eleven-dimensional supergravity. These solutions include the generalisation of the Kerr-Newman solution to (A)dS carrying either electric or string charge, generalisations of black rings to higher-dimensions with 𝕊 p × 𝕊 n+1 horizon topology, static de Sitter solutions carrying arbitrary q-brane charge, as well as various asymptotically AdS l × S m multi-charged and multi-spinning black hole solutions, some of which correspond to novel thermal states in N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 Super-Yang-Mills theory.

Abstract Given a manifold M $$ \mathbbm{M} $$ admitting a maximally supersymmetric consistent truncation, we show how to formulate new consistent truncations by restricting to a set of Kaluza-Klein modes on M $$ \mathbbm{M} $$ invariant under some subgroup of the group of isometries of M $$ \mathbbm{M} $$ . These truncations may involve either finite or infinite sets of modes. We provide their global description using exceptional generalised geometry to construct a ‘deformed’ generalised parallelisation starting with that on M $$ \mathbbm{M} $$ . This allows us to explicitly embed known consistent truncations directly into exceptional generalised geometry/exceptional field theory, and to obtain the equations governing situations where the consistent truncation retains an infinite tower of modes.

Abstract We compute the one-loop 2 → 2 scattering amplitude of massless scalars on the world volume of an infinite D = 11 supermembrane quantized in the static gauge. The resulting expression is manifestly finite and turns out to be much simpler than in the bosonic membrane case in arXiv:2308.12189 being proportional to the tree-level scattering amplitude. We also consider the case of ℝ 1, 1 × S 1 membrane with one dimension compactified on a circle of radius R and demonstrate how the supermembrane scattering amplitude reduces to the one on an infinite D = 10 Green-Schwarz superstring in the limit of R→ 0.

Abstract We explore the T-duality web of 6D Heterotic Little String Theories, focusing on flavor algebra reducing deformations. A careful analysis of the full flavor algebra, including Abelian factors, shows that the flavor rank is preserved under T-duality. This suggests a new T-duality invariant in addition to the Coulomb branch dimension and the two-group structure constants. We also engineer Little String Theories with non-simply laced flavor algebras, whose appearance we attribute to certain discrete 3-form fluxes in M-theory. Geometrically, these theories are engineered in F-theory with non-Kähler favorable K3 fibers. This geometric origin leads us to propose that freezing fluxes are preserved across T-duality. Along the way, we discuss various exotic models, including two inequivalent Spin(32)/ℤ2 models that are dual to the same E8 × E8 theory, and a family of self-T-dual models.

Abstract We show that the (1,0) tensor and hypermultiplet supersymmetry variations can be uplifted to loop space. Upon dimensional reduction we make contact with abelian five-dimensional super Yang-Mills, which has a nonabelian generalization that we subsequently uplift back to loop space where we conjecture a nonabelian generalization of the (1,0) supersymmetry variations and demonstrate their on-shell closure.

Abstract We construct the teleparallel dynamics for extended geometry where the structure algebra is (an extension of) an untwisted affine Kac-Moody algebra. This provides a geometrisation of the Geroch symmetry appearing on dimensional reduction of a gravitational theory to two dimensions. The formalism is adapted to the underlying tensor hierarchy algebra, and will serve as a stepping stone towards the geometrisation of other infinite-dimensional, e.g. hyperbolic, symmetries.

Abstract Higher-group symmetries are combinations of higher-form symmetries which appear in various field theories. In this paper, we explain how higher-group symmetries arise in 10d and 11d supergravities when the latter are coupled to brane sources. Motivated by this observation, we study field theories at zero and finite temperature invariant under a class of continuous Abelian higher-group symmetries. We restrict the analysis to the low-energy regime where the dynamical field content exclusively consists of Goldstone fields arising from the spontaneous breaking of higher-group and spacetime symmetries. Invariant quantities are constructed and the phases of matter are classified according to the pattern of spontaneous symmetry breaking. With respect to supergravity, we highlight how such Goldstone effective theories provide a symmetry-based interpretation for the theories living on D/M-branes. As an explicit example we construct a 6-group invariant action for the bosonic M5 brane, consistent with the self-duality of the 3-form field strength on the brane. While the self-duality condition in the bosonic case needs to be imposed externally as a constraint at zero temperature, we find an equilibrium effective action for the bosonic M5 brane at finite temperature that inherently implements self-duality.

Abstract We study the duality between the ABJ(M) theory at Chern-Simons level k = 4 and the orientifold ABJ theory at Chern-Simons level k = 1 by using the S 3 partition function. The partition function can be computed using the supersymmetric localization in terms of a matrix model, and we derive an ideal Fermi gas system by applying the Fermi gas formalism to the matrix model. By using this formalism, we show that the matrix model can be embedded in the partition function of A ̂ $$ \hat{A} $$ 3 or D ̂ $$ \hat{D} $$ 3 quiver theories, and the equality of these quiver theories, which comes from A ̂ $$ \hat{A} $$ 3 = D ̂ $$ \hat{D} $$ 3, leads to exact relations of the matrix models. These exact relations can be used to check the identification of the flavor symmetries. The perfect agreement between the matrix models also implies that no decoupled sector is needed.

Abstract Geometric engineering is a collection of tools developed to establish dictionaries between local singularities in string theory and (supersymmetric) quantum fields. Extended operators and defects, as well as their higher quantum numbers captured by topological symmetries, can be encoded within geometric engineering dictionaries. In this paper we revisit and clarify aspects of these techniques, with special emphasis on ’t Hooft anomalies, interpreted from the SymTFT perspective as obstructions to the existence of Neumann boundary conditions. These obstructions to gauging higher symmetries are captured via higher link correlators for the SymTFT on spheres. In this work, we give the geometric engineering counterpart of this construction in terms of higher links of topological membranes. We provide a consistency check in the context of 5D SCFTs with anomalous 1-form symmetries, where we give two independent derivations of the anomaly in terms of higher links, one purely field theoretical and the other purely geometrical. Along the way, we also recover the construction of non-invertible duality defects in 4D N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM from a geometric engineering perspective.

Abstract The Emergence Proposal suggests that some Swampland criteria, in particular on large field distances, are a consequence of the emergent nature of dynamics for fields in the infrared. In the context of type II string theory compactified on Calabi-Yau manifolds, it proposes that the cubic tree-level piece of the genus-zero prepotential is emergent from integrating out massive non-perturbative states. For a certain special non-compact Calabi-Yau, the blown-up conifold, it is known that the full all-genus prepotential can be matched onto the Grand Canonical potential of a two-dimensional Fermi gas. We propose here that this should be understood in the context of emergence: the prepotential is induced by integrating out the Fermi gas degrees of freedom. To make contact with the Swampland we need dynamical gravity, so compact Calabi-Yau manifolds. We show that for specifically the cubic term, an integrating out calculation also works for compact cases. In particular, the exact cubic term coefficient can be recovered from integrating out a Fermi gas for any compact Calabi-Yau that is an elliptic fibration over a reflexive toric base. We also propose a general map, for any one-parameter Calabi-Yau, between the Grand Canonical potential of the ultraviolet non-perturbative system and the period. In particular, this map leads to an emergent cubic term in the genus-zero prepotential for any such one-parameter model.

Abstract Flux quantization of the C-field in 11d supergravity is arguably necessary for the (UV-)completion of the theory, in that it determines the torsion charges carried by small numbers N ≪ ∞ of M-branes. However, hypotheses about C-field flux-quantization (“models of the C-field”) have previously been discussed only in the bosonic sector of 11d supergravity and ignoring the supergravity equations of motion. Here we highlight a duality-symmetric formulation of on-shell 11d supergravity on superspace, observe that this naturally lends itself to completion of the theory by flux quantization, and indeed that 11d super-spacetimes are put on-shell by carrying quantizable duality-symmetric super-C-field flux; the proof of which we present in detail.

Abstract We construct the Fermi gas formalism for the partition function of supersymmetric Chern-Simons theories with affine D-type quiver diagrams with non-uniform ranks of the gauge groups and Fayet-Illiopoulos parameters by two different approaches: the open string formalism and the closed string formalism. In the closed string formalism approach, we find a novel connection between the partition function of this theory and the partition function of a four-nodes circular quiver supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory. We also studied a symmetry of a density matrix appeared in the closed string formalism. We further calculate the exact values of the partition function for finite N, with which we identified the exponent of the leading non-perturbative effect in 1/N corresponding to the worldsheet instantons in the circular quiver supersymmetric Chern-Simons theories.

Abstract We study the bosonic sector of a decoupling limit of type IIA superstring theory, where a background Ramond-Ramond one-form is fined tuned to its critical value, such that it cancels the associated background D0-brane tension. The light excitations in this critical limit are D0-branes, whose dynamics is described by the Banks-Fischler-Shenker-Susskind (BFSS) Matrix theory that corresponds to M-theory in the Discrete Light-Cone Quantization (DLCQ). We develop the worldsheet formalism for the fundamental string in the same critical limit of type IIA superstring theory. We show that the fundamental string develops singularities on its worldsheet, whose topology is described by nodal Riemann spheres as in ambitwistor string theory. We study the T-duality transformations of this string sigma model and provide a worldsheet derivation for the recently revived and expanded duality web that unifies a zoo of decoupling limits in type II superstring theories. By matching the string worldsheet actions, we demonstrate how some of these decoupling limits are related to tensionless (and ambitwistor) string theory, Carrollian string theory, the Spin Matrix limits of the AdS/CFT correspondence, and more.

Abstract We extend the notion of Lie bialgebroids for more general bracket structures used in string and M theories. We formalize the notions of calculus and dual calculi on algebroids. We achieve this by reinterpreting the main results of the matched pairs of Leibniz algebroids. By examining a rather general set of fundamental algebroid axioms, we present the compatibility conditions between two calculi on vector bundles which are not dual in the usual sense. Given two algebroids equipped with calculi satisfying the compatibility conditions, we construct its double on their direct sum. This generalizes the Drinfel’d double of Lie bialgebroids. We discuss several examples from the literature including exceptional Courant brackets. Using Nambu-Poisson structures, we construct an explicit example, which is important both from physical and mathematical point of views. This example can be considered as the extension of triangular Lie bialgebroids in the realm of higher Courant algebroids, that automatically satisfy the compatibility conditions. We extend the Poisson generalized geometry by defining Nambu-Poisson exceptional generalized geometry and prove some preliminary results in this framework. We also comment on the global picture in the framework of formal rackoids and we slightly extend the notion for vector bundle valued metrics.

Abstract It has been recently suggested that the strong Emergence Proposal is realized in M-theory limits by integrating out all light towers of states with a typical mass scale not larger than the species scale, i.e. the eleventh dimensional Planck mass. Within the BPS sector, these are transverse M2- and M5-branes, that can be wrapped and particle-like, carrying Kaluza-Klein momentum along the compact directions. We provide additional evidence for this picture by revisiting and investigating further the computation of R 4-interactions in M-theory à la Green-Gutperle-Vanhove. A central aspect is a novel UV-regularization of Schwinger-like integrals, whose actual meaning and power we clarify by first applying it to string perturbation theory. We consider then toroidal compactifications of M-theory and provide evidence that integrating out all light towers of states via Schwinger-like integrals thus regularized yields the complete result for R 4-interactions. In particular, this includes terms that are tree-level, one-loop and space-time instanton corrections from the weakly coupled point of view. Finally, we comment on the conceptual difference of our approach to earlier closely related work by Kiritsis-Pioline and Obers-Pioline, leading to a correspondence between two types of constrained Eisenstein series.

Abstract We investigate the 3-sphere partition functions of various 3d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 holographic SCFTs arising from the N stack of M2-branes in the ’t Hooft limit both analytically and numerically. We first employ a saddle point approximation to evaluate the free energy F = – log Z at the planar level, tracking the first subleading corrections in the large ’t Hooft coupling λ expansion. Subsequently, we improve these results by determining the planar free energy to all orders in the large λ expansion via numerical analysis. Remarkably, the resulting planar free energies turn out to take a universal form, supporting a prediction that these S 3 partition functions are all given in terms of an Airy function even beyond the special cases where the Airy formulae were derived analytically in the literature; in this context we also present new Airy conjectures in several examples. The subleading behaviors we captured encode a part of quantum corrections to the M-theory path integrals around dual asymptotically Euclidean AdS4 backgrounds with the corresponding internal manifolds through holographic duality.

Abstract We study 6d (1, 0) superconformal theories. These have a natural lightlike conformal Killing vector, the Dirac current. We perform a conformal dimensional reduction along the Dirac current down to five-dimensions in such a way that we always preserve at least two real supercharges.

Abstract We study M-Theory solutions with G-flux on the Fermat sextic Calabi-Yau fourfold, focussing on the relationship between the number of stabilized complex structure moduli and the tadpole contribution of the flux. We use two alternative approaches to define the fluxes: algebraic cycles and (appropriately quantized) Griffiths residues. In both cases, we collect evidence for the non-existence of solutions which stabilize all moduli and stay within the tadpole bound.

Abstract We analyze correlation functions of SU(k) × SU(2) F flavor currents in a family of three-dimensional N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 superconformal field theories, combining analytic bootstrap methods with input from supersymmetric localization. Via holographic duality, we extract gluon and graviton scattering amplitudes of M-theory on AdS4 × S 7/ℤ k which contains a ℂ2/ℤ k orbifold singularity. From these results, we derive aspects of the effective description of M-theory on the orbifold singularity beyond its leading low energy limit. We also determine a threshold correction to the holographic correlator from the combined contribution of two-loop gluon and tree-level bulk graviton exchange.

In this work, we reconsider the study of black holes and black strings in the compactification of M-theory on a Calabi–Yau three-fold, considered as a complete intersection of hypersurfaces in a product of weighted projective spaces given by ℙ 4 (ω , 1 , 1 , 1 , 1) × ℙ 1 . Using the N = 2 supergravity formalism in five dimensions, we examine the BPS and non-BPSsolutions by wrapping M-branes on appropriate cycles in such a Calabi–Yau geometry. For the black hole case, we compute certain thermodynamical quantities. In particular, we calculate the entropy taking a maximal value corresponding to the ordinary projective space ℙ 4 with ω = 1. Using extended black hole entropies, we evaluate the temperature involving a minimal value for ℙ 4 . Then, we approach the stability of the non-BPS black holes via the recombination factor. In the allowed electric charge regions, we show that such states are unstable. For the black string solutions, we calculate the tension taking a minimal value corresponding to ℙ 4 . Computing the recombination factor, we show that the associated non-BPS black string states are stable in the allowed magnetic charge regions of the moduli space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Emergence Proposal suggests that some Swampland criteria, in particular on large field distances, are a consequence of the emergent nature of dynamics for fields in the infrared. In the context of type II string theory compactified on Calabi-Yau manifolds, it proposes that the cubic tree-level piece of the genus-zero prepotential is emergent from integrating out massive non-perturbative states. For a certain special non-compact Calabi-Yau, the blown-up conifold, it is known that the full all-genus prepotential can be matched onto the Grand Canonical potential of a two-dimensional Fermi gas. We propose here that this should be understood in the context of emergence: the prepotential is induced by integrating out the Fermi gas degrees of freedom. To make contact with the Swampland we need dynamical gravity, so compact Calabi-Yau manifolds. We show that for specifically the cubic term, an integrating out calculation also works for compact cases. In particular, the exact cubic term coefficient can be recovered from integrating out a Fermi gas for any compact Calabi-Yau that is an elliptic fibration over a reflexive toric base. We also propose a general map, for any one-parameter Calabi-Yau, between the Grand Canonical potential of the ultraviolet non-perturbative system and the period. In particular, this map leads to an emergent cubic term in the genus-zero prepotential for any such one-parameter model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the bosonic sector of a decoupling limit of type IIA superstring theory, where a background Ramond-Ramond one-form is fined tuned to its critical value, such that it cancels the associated background D0-brane tension. The light excitations in this critical limit are D0-branes, whose dynamics is described by the Banks-Fischler-Shenker-Susskind (BFSS) Matrix theory that corresponds to M-theory in the Discrete Light-Cone Quantization (DLCQ). We develop the worldsheet formalism for the fundamental string in the same critical limit of type IIA superstring theory. We show that the fundamental string develops singularities on its worldsheet, whose topology is described by nodal Riemann spheres as in ambitwistor string theory. We study the T-duality transformations of this string sigma model and provide a worldsheet derivation for the recently revived and expanded duality web that unifies a zoo of decoupling limits in type II superstring theories. By matching the string worldsheet actions, we demonstrate how some of these decoupling limits are related to tensionless (and ambitwistor) string theory, Carrollian string theory, the Spin Matrix limits of the AdS/CFT correspondence, and more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flux quantization of the C-field in 11d supergravity is arguably necessary for the (UV-)completion of the theory, in that it determines the torsion charges carried by small numbers N ≪ ∞ of M-branes. However, hypotheses about C-field flux-quantization (“models of the C-field”) have previously been discussed only in the bosonic sector of 11d supergravity and ignoring the supergravity equations of motion. Here we highlight a duality-symmetric formulation of on-shell 11d supergravity on superspace, observe that this naturally lends itself to completion of the theory by flux quantization, and indeed that 11d super-spacetimes are put on-shell by carrying quantizable duality-symmetric super-C-field flux; the proof of which we present in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct the Fermi gas formalism for the partition function of supersymmetric Chern-Simons theories with affine D-type quiver diagrams with non-uniform ranks of the gauge groups and Fayet-Illiopoulos parameters by two different approaches: the open string formalism and the closed string formalism. In the closed string formalism approach, we find a novel connection between the partition function of this theory and the partition function of a four-nodes circular quiver supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory. We also studied a symmetry of a density matrix appeared in the closed string formalism. We further calculate the exact values of the partition function for finite N, with which we identified the exponent of the leading non-perturbative effect in 1/N corresponding to the worldsheet instantons in the circular quiver supersymmetric Chern-Simons theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend the notion of Lie bialgebroids for more general bracket structures used in string and M theories. We formalize the notions of calculus and dual calculi on algebroids. We achieve this by reinterpreting the main results of the matched pairs of Leibniz algebroids. By examining a rather general set of fundamental algebroid axioms, we present the compatibility conditions between two calculi on vector bundles which are not dual in the usual sense. Given two algebroids equipped with calculi satisfying the compatibility conditions, we construct its double on their direct sum. This generalizes the Drinfel’d double of Lie bialgebroids. We discuss several examples from the literature including exceptional Courant brackets. Using Nambu-Poisson structures, we construct an explicit example, which is important both from physical and mathematical point of views. This example can be considered as the extension of triangular Lie bialgebroids in the realm of higher Courant algebroids, that automatically satisfy the compatibility conditions. We extend the Poisson generalized geometry by defining Nambu-Poisson exceptional generalized geometry and prove some preliminary results in this framework. We also comment on the global picture in the framework of formal rackoids and we slightly extend the notion for vector bundle valued metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been recently suggested that the strong Emergence Proposal is realized in M-theory limits by integrating out all light towers of states with a typical mass scale not larger than the species scale, i.e. the eleventh dimensional Planck mass. Within the BPS sector, these are transverse M2- and M5-branes, that can be wrapped and particle-like, carrying Kaluza-Klein momentum along the compact directions. We provide additional evidence for this picture by revisiting and investigating further the computation of R4-interactions in M-theory à la Green-Gutperle-Vanhove. A central aspect is a novel UV-regularization of Schwinger-like integrals, whose actual meaning and power we clarify by first applying it to string perturbation theory. We consider then toroidal compactifications of M-theory and provide evidence that integrating out all light towers of states via Schwinger-like integrals thus regularized yields the complete result for R4-interactions. In particular, this includes terms that are tree-level, one-loop and space-time instanton corrections from the weakly coupled point of view. Finally, we comment on the conceptual difference of our approach to earlier closely related work by Kiritsis-Pioline and Obers-Pioline, leading to a correspondence between two types of constrained Eisenstein series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the duality between the ABJ(M) theory at Chern-Simons level k = 4 and the orientifold ABJ theory at Chern-Simons level k = 1 by using the S3 partition function. The partition function can be computed using the supersymmetric localization in terms of a matrix model, and we derive an ideal Fermi gas system by applying the Fermi gas formalism to the matrix model. By using this formalism, we show that the matrix model can be embedded in the partition function of A ̂ 3 or D ̂ 3 quiver theories, and the equality of these quiver theories, which comes from A ̂ 3 = D ̂ 3, leads to exact relations of the matrix models. These exact relations can be used to check the identification of the flavor symmetries. The perfect agreement between the matrix models also implies that no decoupled sector is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric engineering is a collection of tools developed to establish dictionaries between local singularities in string theory and (supersymmetric) quantum fields. Extended operators and defects, as well as their higher quantum numbers captured by topological symmetries, can be encoded within geometric engineering dictionaries. In this paper we revisit and clarify aspects of these techniques, with special emphasis on ’t Hooft anomalies, interpreted from the SymTFT perspective as obstructions to the existence of Neumann boundary conditions. These obstructions to gauging higher symmetries are captured via higher link correlators for the SymTFT on spheres. In this work, we give the geometric engineering counterpart of this construction in terms of higher links of topological membranes. We provide a consistency check in the context of 5D SCFTs with anomalous 1-form symmetries, where we give two independent derivations of the anomaly in terms of higher links, one purely field theoretical and the other purely geometrical. Along the way, we also recover the construction of non-invertible duality defects in 4D N = 4 SYM from a geometric engineering perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the duality between the ABJ(M) theory at Chern-Simons level k = 4 and the orientifold ABJ theory at Chern-Simons level k = 1 by using the S3 partition function. The partition function can be computed using the supersymmetric localization in terms of a matrix model, and we derive an ideal Fermi gas system by applying the Fermi gas formalism to the matrix model. By using this formalism, we show that the matrix model can be embedded in the partition function of A ̂ 3 or D ̂ 3 quiver theories, and the equality of these quiver theories, which comes from A ̂ 3 = D ̂ 3, leads to exact relations of the matrix models. These exact relations can be used to check the identification of the flavor symmetries. The perfect agreement between the matrix models also implies that no decoupled sector is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the 3-sphere partition functions of various 3d N = 2 holographic SCFTs arising from the N stack of M2-branes in the ’t Hooft limit both analytically and numerically. We first employ a saddle point approximation to evaluate the free energy F = – log Z at the planar level, tracking the first subleading corrections in the large ’t Hooft coupling λ expansion. Subsequently, we improve these results by determining the planar free energy to all orders in the large λ expansion via numerical analysis. Remarkably, the resulting planar free energies turn out to take a universal form, supporting a prediction that these S3 partition functions are all given in terms of an Airy function even beyond the special cases where the Airy formulae were derived analytically in the literature; in this context we also present new Airy conjectures in several examples. The subleading behaviors we captured encode a part of quantum corrections to the M-theory path integrals around dual asymptotically Euclidean AdS4 backgrounds with the corresponding internal manifolds through holographic duality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study 6d (1, 0) superconformal theories. These have a natural lightlike conformal Killing vector, the Dirac current. We perform a conformal dimensional reduction along the Dirac current down to five-dimensions in such a way that we always preserve at least two real supercharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study M-Theory solutions with G-flux on the Fermat sextic Calabi-Yau fourfold, focussing on the relationship between the number of stabilized complex structure moduli and the tadpole contribution of the flux. We use two alternative approaches to define the fluxes: algebraic cycles and (appropriately quantized) Griffiths residues. In both cases, we collect evidence for the non-existence of solutions which stabilize all moduli and stay within the tadpole bound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze correlation functions of SU(k) × SU(2)F flavor currents in a family of three-dimensional N = 4 superconformal field theories, combining analytic bootstrap methods with input from supersymmetric localization. Via holographic duality, we extract gluon and graviton scattering amplitudes of M-theory on AdS4 × S7/ℤk which contains a ℂ2/ℤk orbifold singularity. From these results, we derive aspects of the effective description of M-theory on the orbifold singularity beyond its leading low energy limit. We also determine a threshold correction to the holographic correlator from the combined contribution of two-loop gluon and tree-level bulk graviton exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brief introduction of the Extended Relativity Theory in Clifford Spaces (C -space) paves the way to the explicit construction of the generalized relativistic transformations of the Clifford multivector-valued coordinates in C -spaces. The most general transformations furnish a full mixing of the grades of the multivector-valued coordinates. The transformations of the multivector-valued momenta follow leading to an invariant generalized mass ℳ in C -spaces which differs from m. No longer the proper mass appearing in the relativistic dispersion relation E 2 − p ⋅ p = m 2 remains invariant under the generalized relativistic transformations. It is argued how this finding might shed some light into the cosmological constant problem, dark energy, and dark matter. We finalize with some concluding remarks about extending these transformations to phase spaces and about Born reciprocal relativity. An appendix is included with the most general (anti) commutators of the Clifford algebra multivector generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Six-dimensional superconformal field theories (SCFTs) have an atomic classification in terms of elementary building blocks, conformal systems that generalize matter and can be fused together to form all known 6d SCFTs in terms of generalized 6d quivers. It is therefore natural to ask whether 5d SCFTs can be organized in a similar manner, as the outcome of fusions of certain elementary building blocks, which we call 5d conformal matter theories. In this project we begin exploring this idea and we give a systematic construction of 5d generalized “bifundamental” SCFTs, building from geometric engineering techniques in M-theory. In particular, we find several examples of ( e 6 $$ {\mathfrak{e}}_6 $$ , e 6 $$ {\mathfrak{e}}_6 $$ ), ( e 7 $$ {\mathfrak{e}}_7 $$ , e 7 $$ {\mathfrak{e}}_7 $$ ) and ( e 8 $$ {\mathfrak{e}}_8 $$ , e 8 $$ {\mathfrak{e}}_8 $$ ) 5d bifundamental SCFTs beyond the ones arising from (elementary) KK reductions of the 6d conformal matter theories. We show that these can be fused together giving rise to 5d SCFTs captured by 5d generalized linear quivers with exceptional gauge groups as nodes, and links given by 5d conformal matter. As a first application of these models we uncover a large class of novel 5d dualites, that generalize the well-known fiber/base dualities outside the toric realm.

Abstract We study 3D N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 supersymmetric field theories geometrically engineered from M-theory on non-compact Calabi-Yau fourfolds (CY4). We establish a detailed dictionary between the geometry and topology of non-compact CY4 and the physics of 3D N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 theories in three different regimes. The first one is the Coulomb branch description when the CY4 is smooth. The second one is non-abelian gauge theory when the CY4 has a degenerate ℙ1-fibration structure. The third one is the strongly coupled SCFT from a CY4 singularity. We find interesting flavor symmetry enhancements in the singular limit of CY4, as well as an interesting and previously unexplored phenomenon in 3D, termed “flavor symmetry duality”. Many examples are analyzed with an emphasis on toric CY4s and ℂ4 orbifolds with crepant resolutions. We develop a new brane box method to study the physics of Coulomb branch of 3D N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 theory that admits a toric construction. Via IIB/M-theory duality we find that the brane box diagram living in ℝ3 can be physically realized as a configuration of intersecting 4-branes which are extended objects in 8D maximal supersymmetric theory, which is shown to be consistent via various chains of dualities. The rank, effective gauge coupling and certain hints to flavor symmetry enhancement of the 3D N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 theory are read off from the brane box and cross-checked against the results obtained from geometric engineering. The exotic branes in 8D maximal supersymmetric theory and the 4-string junctions thereof are shown to play a crucial role in the construction of the brane box.

Abstract In a quantum theory of gravity, the species scale Λ s can be defined as the scale at which corrections to the Einstein action become important or alternatively as codifying the “number of light degrees of freedom”, due to the fact that Λ s − 1 $$ {\Lambda}_s^{-1} $$ is the smallest size black hole described by the EFT involving only the Einstein term. In this paper, we check the validity of this picture in diverse dimensions and with different amounts of supersymmetry and verify the expected behavior of the species scale at the boundary of moduli space. This also leads to the evaluation of the species scale in the interior of the moduli space as well as to the computation of the diameter of the moduli space. We also find evidence that the species scale satisfies the bound ∇ Λ s Λ s 2 ≤ 1 d − 2 $$ {\frac{\left|\nabla {\Lambda}_s\right|}{\Lambda_s}}^2\le \frac{1}{d-2} $$ all over moduli space including the interior.

Abstract We address the question of whether thermal QCD at high temperature is chaotic from the $$\mathcal{M}$$ theory dual of QCD-like theories at intermediate coupling as constructed in [1]. The equations of motion of the gauge-invariant combination Z s (r) of scalar metric perturbations is shown to possess an irregular singular point at the horizon radius r h . Very interestingly, at a specific value of the imaginary frequency and momentum used to read off the analogs of the “Lyapunov exponent” λ L and “butterfly velocity” v b not only does r h become a regular singular point, but truncating the incoming mode solution of Z s (r) as a power series around r h , yields a “missing pole”, i.e., C n,n+1 = 0, det M (n) = 0, n ∈ $${\mathbb{Z}}^{+}$$ is satisfied for a single n ≥ 3 depending on the values of the string coupling g s , number of (fractional) D3 branes (M)N and flavor D7-branes N f in the parent type IIB set [2], e.g., for the QCD(EW-scale)-inspired N = 100, M = N f = 3, g s = 0.1, one finds a missing pole at n = 3. For integral n > 3, truncating Z s (r) at $$\mathcal{O}\left({\left(r-{r}_{h}\right)}^{n}\right)$$ , yields C n,n+1 = 0 at order n, ∀n ≥ 3. Incredibly, (assuming preservation of isotropy in $${\mathbb{R}}^{3}$$ even with the inclusion of higher derivative corrections) the aforementioned gauge-invariant combination of scalar metric perturbations receives no $$\mathcal{O}\left({R}^{4}\right)$$ corrections. Hence, (the aforementioned analogs of) λ L , v b are unrenormalized up to $$\mathcal{O}\left({R}^{4}\right)$$ in $$\mathcal{M}$$ theory.

Abstract We consider dimensional reduction of cigar geometries which are obtained by a Wick rotation of black hole solutions. Originally the cigar geometry is smooth around the tip, but after the dimensional reduction along the Euclidean time direction, there appears an end-of-the-world brane (ETW brane). We derive the tension of the brane by two methods: bulk equations of motion and boundary equations of motion. In particular, for AdS7-soliton ×S4 and AdS4-soliton ×S7 backgrounds in M-theory, we find that the tension of the emerging ETW branes behaves as t(Φ) ~ e −3Φ in the string frame. This indicates the existence of such ETW branes in the strongly coupled regime of type 0A string theory.

Abstract We find new bilinear relations for the partition functions of the U(N) k × U(N + M) −k ABJ theory with two parameter mass deformation (m 1 , m 2), which generalize the $$\mathfrak{q}$$ -Toda-like equation found previously for m 1 = m 2. By combining the bilinear relations with the Seiberg-like dualities and the duality cascade relations, we can determine the exact values of the partition functions recursively with respect to N. This method is more efficient than the exact calculation by the standard TBA-like approach in the Fermi gas formalism. As an application we study the large N asymptotics of the partition function with the mass parameters in the supercritical regime where the large N expansion obtained for small mass parameters is invalid.