arXiv subjects

N. Nekrasov

Publications and source records attributed to N. Nekrasov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Two-dimensional Periodic Schrödinger Operators Integrable at Energy Eigenlevel

The main goal of the first part of the paper is to show that the Fermi curve of a two-dimensional periodic Schrödinger operator with nonnegative potential whose points parameterize the Bloch solutions of the Shrödinger equation at the zero energy level is a smooth $M$-curve. Moreover, it is shown that the poles of the Bloch solutions are located on the fixed ovals of an antiholomorphic involution so that each but one oval contains precisely one pole. The topological type is stable until, at some value of the deformation parameter, the zero level becomes an eigenlevel for the Schrödinger operator on the space of (anti)periodic functions. The second part of the paper is devoted to the construction of such operators with the help of a generalization of the Novikov--Veselov construction.

math-ph↗

arXiv2008

Instantons beyond topological theory II

The present paper is the second part of our project in which we describe quantum field theories with instantons in a novel way by using the "infinite radius limit" (rather than the limit of free field theory) as the starting point. The theory dramatically simplifies in this limit, because the correlation functions of all, not only topological (or BPS), observables may be computed explicitly in terms of integrals over finite-dimensional moduli spaces of instanton configurations. In Part I (arXiv:hep-th/0610149) we discussed in detail the one-dimensional (that is, quantum mechanical) models of this type. Here we analyze the supersymmetric two-dimensional sigma models and four-dimensional Yang--Mills theory, using the one-dimensional models as a prototype. We go beyond the topological (or BPS) sectors of these models and consider them as full-fledged quantum field theories. We study in detail the space of states and find that the Hamiltonian is not diagonalizable, but has Jordan blocks. This leads to the appearance of logarithms in the correlation functions. We find that our theories are in fact logarithmic conformal field theories (theories of this type are of interest in condensed matter physics). We define jet-evaluation observables and consider in detail their correlation functions. They are given by integrals over the moduli spaces of holomorphic maps, which generalize the Gromov--Witten invariants. These integrals generally diverge and require regularization, leading to an intricate logarithmic mixing of the operators of the sigma model. A similar structure arises in the four-dimensional Yang--Mills theory as well.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Notes on instantons in topological field theory and beyond

This is a brief summary of our studies of quantum field theories in a special limit in which the instantons are present, the anti-instantons are absent, and the perturbative corrections are reduced to one-loop. We analyze the corresponding models as full-fledged quantum field theories, beyond their topological sector. We show that the correlation functions of all, not only topological (or BPS), observables may be studied explicitly in these models, and the spectrum may be computed exactly. An interesting feature is that the Hamiltonian is not always diagonalizable, but may have Jordan blocks, which leads to the appearance of logarithms in the correlation functions. We also find that in the models defined on Kahler manifolds the space of states exhibits holomorphic factorization. In particular, in dimensions two and four our theories are logarithmic conformal field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Integrating Over Higgs Branches

We develop some useful techinques for integrating over Higgs branches in supersymmetric theories with 4 and 8 supercharges. In particular, we define a regularized volume for hyperkahler quotients. We evaluate this volume for certain ALE and ALF spaces in terms of the hyperkahler periods. We also reduce these volumes for a large class of hyperkahler quotients to simpler integrals. These quotients include complex coadjoint orbits, instanton moduli spaces on R^4 and ALE manifolds, Hitchin spaces, and moduli spaces of parabolic Higgs bundles on Riemann surfaces. In the case of Hitchin spaces the evaluation of the volume reduces to a summation over solutions of Bethe Ansatz equations for the non-linear Schroedinger system. We discuss some applications of our results.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Instantons beyond topological theory I

Many quantum field theories in one, two and four dimensions possess remarkable limits in which the instantons are present, the anti-instantons are absent, and the perturbative corrections are reduced to one-loop. We analyze the corresponding models as full quantum field theories, beyond their topological sector. We show that the correlation functions of all, not only topological (or BPS), observables may be studied explicitly in these models, and the spectrum may be computed exactly. An interesting feature is that the Hamiltonian is not always diagonalizable, but may have Jordan blocks, which leads to the appearance of logarithms in the correlation functions. We also find that in the models defined on Kahler manifolds the space of states exhibits holomorphic factorization. We conclude that in dimensions two and four our theories are logarithmic conformal field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Gromov-Witten theory and Donaldson-Thomas theory, II

We discuss the GW/DT correspondence for 3-folds in both the absolute and relative cases. Descendents in Gromov-Witten theory are conjectured to be equivalent to Chern characters of the universal sheaf in Donaldson-Thomas theory. Relative constraints in Gromov-Witten theory are conjectured to correspond in Donaldson-Thomas theory to cohomology classes of the Hilbert scheme of points of the relative divisor. Independent of the conjectural framework, we prove degree 0 formulas for the absolute and relative Donaldson-Thomas theories of toric varieties.

math.AG↗

arXiv2004

Gromov-Witten theory and Donaldson-Thomas theory, I

We conjecture an equivalence between the Gromov-Witten theory of 3-folds and the holomorphic Chern-Simons theory of Donaldson-Thomas. For Calabi-Yau 3-folds, the equivalence is defined by the change of variables, exp(iu)=-q, where u is the genus parameter of GW theory and q is charge parameter of DT theory. The conjecture is proven for local Calabi-Yau toric surfaces.

math.AG↗

arXiv2004

S-duality and Topological Strings

In this paper we show how S-duality of type IIB superstrings leads to an S-duality relating A and B model topological strings on the same Calabi-Yau as had been conjectured recently: D-instantons of the B-model correspond to A-model perturbative amplitudes and D-instantons of the A-model capture perturbative B-model amplitudes. Moreover this confirms the existence of new branes in the two models. As an application we explain the recent results concerning A-model topological strings on Calabi-Yau and its equivalence to the statistical mechanical model of melting crystal.

hep-th↗

arXiv2003

Quantum Foam and Topological Strings

We find an interpretation of the recent connection found between topological strings on Calabi-Yau threefolds and crystal melting: Summing over statistical mechanical configuration of melting crystal is equivalent to a quantum gravitational path integral involving fluctuations of Kahler geometry and topology. We show how the limit shape of the melting crystal emerges as the average geometry and topology of the quantum foam at the string scale. The geometry is classical at large length scales, modified to a smooth limit shape dictated by mirror geometry at string scale and is a quantum foam at area scales g_s α'.

hep-th↗

arXiv2002

Target space symmetries in topological theories I

We study realization of the target space diffeomorphisms in the type $C$ topological string. We found that the charges, which generate transformations of the boundary observables, form an algebra, which differs from that of bulk charges by the contribution of the bubbled disks. We discuss applications to noncommutative field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2000

Duality in Integrable Systems and Gauge Theories

We discuss various dualities, relating integrable systems and show that these dualities are explained in the framework of Hamiltonian and Poisson reductions. The dualities we study shed some light on the known integrable systems as well as allow to construct new ones, double elliptic among them. We also discuss applications to the (supersymmetric) gauge theories in various dimensions.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

Freckled Instantons in Two and Four Dimensions

Field theory with instantons can be partially regularized by adding degrees of freedom at some scale. These extra degrees of freedom lead to the appearence of the new topological defects. These defects which we call freckles have some characteristic size depending on the scale at which the extra degrees of freedom revive. The examples of two dimensional sigma model, four dimensional gauge theory are studied. The compactification of the four dimensional supersymmetric gauge theory down to two dimensions is also considered and the new phenomena are found.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

The Freckled Instantons

We study instanton-corrected renormalization group flow in the two dimensional sigma models and four dimensional gauge theory. In two dimensions we do that by replacing the non-linear supersymmetric ${\IC\IP}^{N-1}$ model by the gauged linear sigma model which is in the same universality class. We compare the moduli spaces of the instantons in the non-linear model and that of BPS field configurations in the linear model. We reduce the problem of matching of the parameters of the two systems to the intersection theory on the compact moduli space of the latter model. Both cases (2d and 4d) are unified by the notion of the {\it freckled instantons}. We also put an end to the discussion of the nature of the superpotentials $W \sim {\s} {\rm log} {\s}$ in 2d and 4d and discover the surprising disconnectnessness of the effective target space.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

Generalized Conifolds and 4d N=1 SCFT

This paper lays groundwork for the detailed study of the non-trivial renormalization group flow connecting supersymmetric fixed points in four dimensions using string theory on AdS spaces. Specifically, we consider D3-branes placed at singularities of Calabi-Yau threefolds which generalize the conifold singularity and have an ADE classification. The $\mathcal{N}=1$ superconformal theories dictating their low-energy dynamics are infrared fixed points arising from deforming the corresponding ADE $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories by mass terms for adjoint chiral fields. We probe the geometry with a single $D3$-brane and discuss the near-horizon supergravity solution for a large number $N$ of coincident $D3$-branes.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

Hilbert Schemes, Separated Variables, and D-Branes

We explain Sklyanin's separation of variables in geometrical terms and construct it for Hitchin and Mukai integrable systems. We construct Hilbert schemes of points on $T^{*}Σ$ for $Σ= {\IC}, {\IC}^{*}$ or elliptic curve, and on ${\bf C}^{2}/Γ$ and show that their complex deformations are integrable systems of Calogero-Sutherland-Moser type. We present the hyperkähler quotient constructions for Hilbert schemes of points on cotangent bundles to the higher genus curves, utilizing the results of Hurtubise, Kronheimer and Nakajima. Finally we discuss the connections to physics of $D$-branes and string duality.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

On noncommutative Nahm transform

Motivated by the recently observed relation between the physics of $D$-branes in the background of $B$-field and the noncommutative geometry we study the analogue of Nahm transform for the instantons on the noncommutative torus.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

D-particle bound states and generalized instantons

We compute the principal contribution to the index in the supersymmetric quantum mechanical systems which are obtained by reduction to 0+1 dimensions of $\mathcal{N}=1$, $D=4,6,10$ super-Yang-Mills theories with gauge group SU(N). The results are: ${1\over{N^{2}}}$ for $D=4,6$, $\sum_{d | N} {1\over{d^{2}}}$ for D=10. We also discuss the D=3 case.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Instantons on noncommutative R^4, and (2,0) superconformal six dimensional theory

We show that the resolution of moduli space of ideal instantons parameterizes the instantons on non-commutative $\IR^{4}$. This moduli space appears as a Higgs branch of the theory of $k$ $D0$-branes bound to $N$ $D4$-branes by the expectation value of the $B$ field. It also appears as a regularized version of the target space of supersymmetric quantum mechanics arising in the light cone description of $(2,0)$ superconformal theories in six dimensions.

hep-th↗