Moduli Spaces of Instantons in Flag Manifold Sigma Models -- Vortices in Quiver Gauge Theories

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss lumps (sigma model instantons) in flag manifold sigma models. In particular, we focus on the moduli space of BPS lumps in general K\"ahler flag manifold sigma models. Such a K\"ahler flag manifold, which takes the form $\frac{U(n_1+\cdots+ n_{L+1})}{U(n_1) \times \cdots \times U(n_{L+1})}$, can be realized as a vacuum moduli space of a $U(N_1) \times \cdots \times U(N_L)$ quiver gauged linear sigma model. When the gauge coupling constants are finite, the gauged linear sigma model admits BPS vortex configurations, which reduce to BPS lumps in the low energy effective sigma model in the large gauge coupling limit. We derive an ADHM-like quotient construction of the moduli space of BPS vortices and lumps by generalizing the quotient construction in $U(N)$ gauge theories by Hanany and Tong. As an application, we check the dualities of the 2d models by computing the vortex partition functions using the quotient construction.