arXiv subjects

Alberto Zaffaroni

Publications and source records attributed to Alberto Zaffaroni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Geometry of $\mathcal{I}$-extremization and black holes microstates

The entropy of a class of asymptotically AdS$_4$ magnetically charged BPS black holes can be obtained by extremizing the topologically twisted index of the dual three-dimensional field theory. This principle is known as $\mathcal{I}$-extremization. A gravitational dual of $\mathcal{I}$-extremization for a class of theories obtained by twisted compactifications of M2-branes living at a Calabi-Yau four-fold has been recently proposed. In this paper we investigate the relation between the two extremization principles. We show that the two extremization procedures are equivalent for theories without baryonic symmetries, which include ABJM and the theory dual to the non-toric Sasaki-Einstein manifold $V^{5,2}$. We then consider a class of quivers dual to M2-branes at toric Calabi-Yau four-folds for which the $\mathcal{I}$-functional can be computed in the large $N$ limit, and depends on three mesonic fluxes. We propose a gravitational dual for this construction, that we call mesonic twist, and we show that the gravitational extremization problem and $\mathcal{I}$-extremization are equivalent. We comment on more general cases.

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arXiv2019

Proving the equivalence of $c$-extremization and its gravitational dual for all toric quivers

The gravitational dual of $c$-extremization for a class of $(0,2)$ two-dimensional theories obtained by twisted compactifications of D3-brane gauge theories living at a toric Calabi-Yau three-fold has been recently proposed. The equivalence of this construction with $c$-extremization has been checked in various examples and holds also off-shell. In this note we prove that such equivalence holds for an arbitrary toric Calabi-Yau. We do it by generalizing the proof of the equivalence between $a$-maximization and volume minimization for four-dimensional toric quivers. By an explicit parameterization of the R-charges we map the trial right-moving central charge $c_r$ into the off-shell functional to be extremized in gravity. We also observe that the similar construction for M2-branes on $\mathbb{C}^4$ is equivalent to the $\mathcal{I}$-extremization principle that leads to the microscopic counting for the entropy of magnetically charged black holes in AdS$_4\times S^7$. Also this equivalence holds off-shell.

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arXiv2018

6D attractors and black hole microstates

We find a family of AdS$_2\times \mathcal{M}_4$ supersymmetric solutions of the six-dimensional $\mathrm{F}(4)$ gauged supergravity coupled to one vector multiplet that arises as a low energy description of massive type IIA supergravity on (warped) AdS$_6\times S^4$. $\mathcal{M}_4$ is either a Kähler-Einstein manifold or a product of two Riemann surfaces with a constant curvature metric. These solutions correspond to the near-horizon region of a family of static magnetically charged black holes. In the case where $\mathcal{M}_4$ is a product of Riemann surfaces, we successfully compare their entropy to a microscopic counting based on the recently computed topologically twisted index of the five-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ $\mathrm{USp}(2 N)$ theory with $N_f$ fundamental flavors and an antisymmetric matter field. Furthermore, our results suggest that the near-horizon regions exhibit an attractor mechanism for the scalars in the matter coupled $\mathrm{F}(4)$ gauged supergravity, and we give a proposal for it.

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arXiv2018

Topologically twisted indices in five dimensions and holography

We provide a formula for the partition function of five-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theories on $\mathcal{M}_4 \times S^1$, topologically twisted along $\mathcal{M}_4$ in the presence of general background magnetic fluxes, where $\mathcal{M}_4$ is a toric Kähler manifold. The result can be expressed as a contour integral of the product of copies of the K-theoretic Nekrasov's partition function, summed over gauge magnetic fluxes. The formula generalizes to five dimensions the topologically twisted index of three- and four-dimensional field theories. We analyze the large $N$ limit of the partition function and some related quantities for two theories: $\mathcal{N}=2$ SYM and the $\mathrm{USp}(2N)$ theory with $N_f$ flavors and an antisymmetric matter field. For $\mathbb{P}^1 \times \mathbb{P}^1 \times S^1$, which can be easily generalized to $Σ_{\mathfrak{g}_2} \times Σ_{\mathfrak{g}_1} \times S^1$, we conjecture the form of the relevant saddle point at large $N$. The resulting partition function for $\mathcal{N}=2$ SYM scales as $N^3$ and is in perfect agreement with the holographic results for domain walls in AdS$_7 \times S^4$. The large $N$ partition function for the $\mathrm{USp}(2N)$ theory scales as $N^{5/2}$ and gives a prediction for the entropy of a class of magnetically charged black holes in massive type IIA supergravity.

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arXiv2018

The Cardy limit of the topologically twisted index and black strings in AdS$_5$

We evaluate the topologically twisted index of a general four-dimensional $\mathcal{N} = 1$ gauge theory in the "high-temperature" limit. The index is the partition function for $\mathcal{N} = 1$ theories on $S^2 \times T^2$, with a partial topological twist along $S^2$, in the presence of background magnetic fluxes and fugacities for the global symmetries. We show that the logarithm of the index is proportional to the conformal anomaly coefficient of the two-dimensional $\mathcal{N} = (0,2)$ SCFTs obtained from the compactification on $S^2$. We also present a universal formula for extracting the index from the four-dimensional conformal anomaly coefficient and its derivatives. We give examples based on theories whose holographic duals are black strings in type IIB backgrounds AdS$_5 \times \text{SE}_5$, where SE$_5$ are five-dimensional Sasaki-Einstein spaces.

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arXiv2018

Large $N$ matrix models for 3d ${\cal N}=2$ theories: twisted index, free energy and black holes

We provide general formulae for the topologically twisted index of a general three-dimensional ${\cal N}\geq 2$ gauge theory with an M-theory or massive type IIA dual in the large $N$ limit. The index is defined as the supersymmetric path integral of the theory on $S^2\times S^1$ in the presence of background magnetic fluxes for the R- and global symmetries and it is conjectured to reproduce the entropy of magnetically charged static BPS AdS$_4$ black holes. For a class of theories with an M-theory dual, we show that the logarithm of the index scales indeed as $N^{3/2}$ (and $N^{5/3}$ in the massive type IIA case). We find an intriguing relation with the (apparently unrelated) large $N$ limit of the partition function on $S^3$. We also provide a universal formula for extracting the index from the large $N$ partition function on $S^3$ and its derivatives and point out its analogy with the attractor mechanism for AdS black holes.

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arXiv2018

A note on the entropy of rotating BPS AdS$_7\times S^4$ black holes

In this note we show that the entropy of BPS, rotating, electrically charged AdS$_7 \times S^4$ black holes can be obtained by an extremization principle involving a particular combination of anomaly coefficients of the six-dimensional $\mathcal{N} = (2, 0)$ theory. This result extends our previous finding for BPS, rotating AdS$_5 \times S^5$ black holes.

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arXiv2017

Supersymmetric partition functions on Riemann surfaces

We present a compact formula for the supersymmetric partition function of 2d N=(2,2), 3d N=2 and 4d N=1 gauge theories on $Σ_g \times T^n$ with partial topological twist on $Σ_g$, where $Σ_g$ is a Riemann surface of arbitrary genus and $T^n$ is a torus with n=0,1,2, respectively. In 2d we also include certain local operator insertions, and in 3d we include Wilson line operator insertions along $S^1$. For genus g=1, the formula computes the Witten index. We present a few simple Abelian and non-Abelian examples, including new tests of non-perturbative dualities. We also show that the large N partition function of ABJM theory on $Σ_g \times S^1$ reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of BPS black holes in AdS$_4$ whose horizon has $Σ_g$ topology.

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arXiv2017

A Universal Counting of Black Hole Microstates in AdS$_4$

Many three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs admit a universal partial topological twist when placed on hyperbolic Riemann surfaces. We exploit this fact to derive a universal formula which relates the planar limit of the topologically twisted index of these SCFTs and their three-sphere partition function. We then utilize this to account for the entropy of a large class of supersymmetric asymptotically AdS$_4$ magnetically charged black holes in M-theory and massive type IIA string theory. In this context we also discuss novel AdS$_2$ solutions of eleven-dimensional supergravity which describe the near horizon region of large new families of supersymmetric black holes arising from M2-branes wrapping Riemann surfaces.

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arXiv2017

An extremization principle for the entropy of rotating BPS black holes in AdS$_5$

We show that the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of a class of BPS electrically charged rotating black holes in AdS$_5\times S^5$ can be obtained by a simple extremization principle. We expect that this extremization corresponds to the attractor mechanism for BPS rotating black holes in five-dimensional gauged supergravity, which is still unknown. The expression to be extremized has a suggestive resemblance to anomaly polynomials and the supersymmetric Casimir energy recently studied for $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills.

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arXiv2016

Exact microstate counting for dyonic black holes in AdS4

We present a counting of microstates of a class of dyonic BPS black holes in AdS$_4$ which precisely reproduces their Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. The counting is performed in the dual boundary description, that provides a non-perturbative definition of quantum gravity, in terms of a twisted and mass-deformed ABJM theory. We evaluate its twisted index and propose an extremization principle to extract the entropy, which reproduces the attractor mechanism in gauged supergravity.

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arXiv2016

The moduli spaces of $3d$ ${\cal N} \ge 2$ Chern-Simons gauge theories and their Hilbert series

We present a formula for the Hilbert series that counts gauge invariant chiral operators in a large class of 3d ${\cal N} \ge 2$ Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theories. The formula counts 't Hooft monopole operators dressed by gauge invariants of a residual gauge theory of massless fields in the monopole background. We provide a general formula for the case of abelian theories, where nonperturbative corrections are absent, and consider a few examples of nonabelian theories where nonperturbative corrections are well understood. We also analyze in detail nonabelian ABJ(M) theories as well as worldvolume theories of M2-branes probing Calabi-Yau fourfold and hyperKähler twofold singularities with ${\cal N} = 2$ and ${\cal N} = 3$ supersymmetry.

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arXiv2016

Holographic Effective Field Theories

We derive the four-dimensional low-energy effective field theory governing the moduli space of strongly coupled superconformal quiver gauge theories associated with D3-branes at Calabi-Yau conical singularities in the holographic regime of validity. We use the dual supergravity description provided by warped resolved conical geometries with mobile D3-branes. Information on the baryonic directions of the moduli space is also obtained by using wrapped Euclidean D3-branes. We illustrate our general results by discussing in detail their application to the Klebanov-Witten model.

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arXiv2016

Black hole microstates in AdS$_4$ from supersymmetric localization

This paper addresses a long standing problem, the counting of the microstates of supersymmetric asymptotically AdS black holes in terms of a holographically dual field theory. We focus on a class of asymptotically AdS$_4$ static black holes preserving two real supercharges which are dual to a topologically twisted deformation of the ABJM theory. We evaluate in the large $N$ limit the topologically twisted index of the ABJM theory and we show that it correctly reproduces the entropy of the AdS$_4$ black holes. An extremization of the index with respect to a set of chemical potentials is required. We interpret it as the selection of the exact R-symmetry of the superconformal quantum mechanics describing the horizon of the black hole.

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arXiv2015

A topologically twisted index for three-dimensional supersymmetric theories

We provide a general formula for the partition function of three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ gauge theories placed on $S^2 \times S^1$ with a topological twist along $S^2$, which can be interpreted as an index for chiral states of the theories immersed in background magnetic fields. The result is expressed as a sum over magnetic fluxes of the residues of a meromorphic form which is a function of the scalar zero-modes. The partition function depends on a collection of background magnetic fluxes and fugacities for the global symmetries. We illustrate our formula in many examples of 3d Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theories with matter, including Aharony and Giveon-Kutasov dualities. Finally, our formula generalizes to $Ω$-backgrounds, as well as two-dimensional theories on $S^2$ and four-dimensional theories on $S^2 \times T^2$. In particular this provides an alternative way to compute genus-zero A-model topological amplitudes and Gromov-Witten invariants.

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arXiv2014

T^σ_ρ(G) Theories and Their Hilbert Series

We give an explicit formula for the Higgs and Coulomb branch Hilbert series for the class of 3d N=4 superconformal gauge theories T^σ_ρ(G) corresponding to a set of D3 branes ending on NS5 and D5-branes, with or without O3 planes. Here G is a classical group, σis a partition of G and ρa partition of the dual group G^\vee. In deriving such a formula we make use of the recently discovered formula for the Hilbert series of the quantum Coulomb branch of N=4 superconformal theories. The result can be expressed in terms of a generalization of a class of symmetric functions, the Hall-Littlewood polynomials, and can be interpreted in mathematical language in terms of localization. We mainly consider the case G=SU(N) but some interesting results are also given for orthogonal and symplectic groups.

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arXiv2014

Coulomb branch Hilbert series and Hall-Littlewood polynomials

There has been a recent progress in understanding the chiral ring of 3d $\mathcal{N}=4$ superconformal gauge theories by explicitly constructing an exact generating function (Hilbert series) counting BPS operators on the Coulomb branch. In this paper we introduce Coulomb branch Hilbert series in the presence of background magnetic charges for flavor symmetries, which are useful for computing the Hilbert series of more general theories through gluing techniques. We find a simple formula of the Hilbert series with background magnetic charges for $T_ρ(G)$ theories in terms of Hall-Littlewood polynomials. Here $G$ is a classical group and $ρ$ is a certain partition related to the dual group of $G$. The Hilbert series for vanishing background magnetic charges show that Coulomb branches of $T_ρ(G)$ theories are complete intersections. We also demonstrate that mirror symmetry maps background magnetic charges to baryonic charges.

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arXiv2014

Coulomb branch Hilbert series and Three Dimensional Sicilian Theories

We evaluate the Coulomb branch Hilbert series of mirrors of three dimensional Sicilian theories, which arise from compactifying the $6d$ $(2,0)$ theory with symmetry $G$ on a circle times a Riemann surface with punctures. We obtain our result by gluing together the Hilbert series for building blocks $T_{\mathbfρ}(G)$, where $\mathbfρ$ is a certain partition related to the dual group of $G$, which we evaluated in a previous paper. The result is expressed in terms of a class of symmetric functions, the Hall-Littlewood polynomials. As expected from mirror symmetry, our results agree at genus zero with the superconformal index prediction for the Higgs branch Hilbert series of the Sicilian theories and extend it to higher genus. In the $A_1$ case at genus zero, we also evaluate the Coulomb branch Hilbert series of the Sicilian theory itself, showing that it only depends on the number of external legs.

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