Codimension two defects and the Springer correspondence

Abstract

One can associate an invariant to a large class of regular codimension two defects of the six dimensional $(0,2)$ SCFT $\mathscr{X}[j]$ using the classical Springer correspondence. Such an association allows a simple description of S-duality of associated Gaiotto-Witten boundary conditions in $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM for arbitrary gauge group and by extension, a determination of certain local aspects of class $\mathcal{S}$ constructions. I point out that the problem of \textit{classifying} the corresponding boundary conditions in $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM is intimately tied to possible symmetry breaking patterns in the bulk theory. Using the Springer correspondence and the representation theory of Weyl groups, I construct a pair of functors between the class of boundary conditions in the theory in the phase with broken gauge symmetry and those in the phase with unbroken gauge symmetry.