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Nikita A. Nekrasov

Publications and source records attributed to Nikita A. Nekrasov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2014

Bethe/Gauge correspondence on curved spaces

Bethe/gauge correspondence identifies supersymmetric vacua of massive gauge theories invariant under the two dimensional N=2 Poincare supersymmetry with the stationary states of some quantum integrable system. The supersymmetric theory can be twisted in a number of ways, producing a topological field theory. For these theories we compute the handle gluing operator H. We also discuss the Gaudin conjecture on the norm of Bethe states and its connection to H.

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arXiv2009

Quantization of Integrable Systems and Four Dimensional Gauge Theories

We study four dimensional N=2 supersymmetric gauge theory in the Omega-background with the two dimensional N=2 super-Poincare invariance. We explain how this gauge theory provides the quantization of the classical integrable system underlying the moduli space of vacua of the ordinary four dimensional N=2 theory. The epsilon-parameter of the Omega-background is identified with the Planck constant, the twisted chiral ring maps to quantum Hamiltonians, the supersymmetric vacua are identified with Bethe states of quantum integrable systems. This four dimensional gauge theory in its low energy description has two dimensional twisted superpotential which becomes the Yang-Yang function of the integrable system. We present the thermodynamic-Bethe-ansatz like formulae for these functions and for the spectra of commuting Hamiltonians following the direct computation in gauge theory. The general construction is illustrated at the examples of the many-body systems, such as the periodic Toda chain, the elliptic Calogero-Moser system, and their relativistic versions, for which we present a complete characterization of the L^2-spectrum. We very briefly discuss the quantization of Hitchin system.

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arXiv2009

Supersymmetric vacua and Bethe ansatz

An announcement of some results of a longer paper where the supersymmetric vacua of two dimensional N=2 susy gauge theories with matter are shown to be in one-to-one correspondence with the eigenstates of integrable spin chain Hamiltonians. The Heisenberg spin chain is mapped to the two dimensional U(N) theory with fundamental hypermultiplets, the XXZ spin chain is mapped to the analogous three dimensional super-Yang-Mills theory compactified on a circle, the XYZ spin chain and eight-vertex model are related to the four dimensional theory compactified on a torus. The correspondence extends to any spin group, representations, boundary conditions, and inhomogeneity, it includes Sinh-Gordon and non-linear Schroedinger models as well as the dynamical spin chains such as the Hubbard model. Compactifications of four dimensional N=2 theories on a two-sphere lead to the instanton-corrected Bethe equations. We propose a completely novel way for the Yangian, quantum affine, and elliptic algebras to act as a symmetry of a union of quantum field theories. This paper accompanies arXiv:0901.4748

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arXiv2009

Quantum integrability and supersymmetric vacua

This is an announcement of some of the results of a longer paper where the supersymmetric vacua of two dimensional N=2 susy gauge theories with matter are shown to be in one-to-one correspondence with the eigenstates of integrable spin chain Hamiltonians. The correspondence between the Heisenberg spin chain and the two dimensional U(N) theory with fundamental hypermultiplets is reviewed in detail. We demonstrate the isomorphism of the equivariant quantum cohomology of the cotangent bundle to the Grassmanian manifold Gr(N,L) and the ring of quantum integrals of motion of the length L SU(2) XXX spin chain, in the N-particle sector. This paper accompanies arXiv:0901.4744

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arXiv2003

Seiberg-Witten prepotential from instanton counting

In my lecture I consider integrals over moduli spaces of supersymmetric gauge field configurations (instantons, Higgs bundles, torsion free sheaves). The applications are twofold: physical and mathematical; they involve supersymmetric quantum mechanics of D-particles in various dimensions, direct computation of the celebrated Seiberg-Witten prepotential, sum rules for the solutions of the Bethe ansatz equations and their relation to the Laumon's nilpotent cone. As a by-product we derive some combinatoric identities involving the sums over Young tableaux.

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arXiv2003

Small Instantons, Little Strings and Free Fermions

We present new evidence for the conjecture that BPS correlation functions in the N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories are described by an auxiliary two dimensional conformal field theory. We study deformations of the N=2 supersymmetric gauge theory by all gauge-invariant chiral operators. We calculate the partition function of the N=2 theory on R^4 with appropriately twisted boundary conditions. For the U(1) theory with instantons (either noncommutative, or D-instantons, depending on the construction) the partition function has a representation in terms of the theory of free fermions on a sphere, and coincides with the tau-function of the Toda lattice hierarchy. Using this result we prove to all orders in string loop expansion that the effective prepotential (for U(1) with all chiral couplings included) is given by the free energy of the topological string on CP^1. Gravitational descendants play an important role in the gauge fields/string correspondence. The dual string is identified with the little string bound to the fivebrane wrapped on the two-sphere. We also discuss the theory with fundamental matter hypermultiplets.

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arXiv2002

Seiberg-Witten Prepotential From Instanton Counting

Direct evaluation of the Seiberg-Witten prepotential is accomplished following the localization programme suggested some time ago. Our results agree with all low-instanton calculations available in the literature. We present a two-parameter generalization of the Seiberg-Witten prepotential, which is rather natural from the M-theory/five dimensional perspective, and conjecture its relation to the tau-functions of KP/Toda hierarchy.

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arXiv2002

Lectures on open strings, and noncommutative gauge fields

The background independent formulation of the gauge theories on D-branes in flat space-time is considered, some examples of the solutions of their equations of motion are presented, the solutions of Dirac equation in these backgrounds are analyzed, and the generalizations to the curved spaces, like orbifolds, conifolds, and K3 surfaces, are discussed.

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arXiv2002

Milne Universe, Tachyons, and Quantum Group

We analyze the spectrum of the bosonic and superstring on the orbifold of the space-time by a boost, leading to the cosmological singularity. We show that the modular invariance leads to the spectrum where the twisted sector tachyon, together with all other twisted sector fields, present in the Euclidean version of the orbifold, is absent. This makes impossible to resolve the singularity by a marginal deformation of the worldsheet CFT. We also establish a relation between the resolution of rotational orbifolds in Euclidean and Lorentzian setups, and quantum groups. The analysis confirms the impossibility of resolving the cosmological orbifold singularity.

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arXiv2001

Noncommutative Field Theory

We review the generalization of field theory to space-time with noncommuting coordinates, starting with the basics and covering most of the active directions of research. Such theories are now known to emerge from limits of M theory and string theory, and to describe quantum Hall states. In the last few years they have been studied intensively, and many qualitatively new phenomena have been discovered, both on the classical and quantum level. To appear in Reviews of Modern Physics.

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arXiv2000

Space-Time Foam From Non-Commutative Instantons

We show that a U(1) instanton on non-commutative R^4 corresponds to a supersymmetric non-singular U(1) gauge field on a commutative Kahler manifold X which is a blowup of C^2 at a finite number of points. For instanton charge k the manifold X can be viewed as a space-time foam. A direct connection with integrable systems of Calogero-Moser type is established. We also make some comments on the non-abelian case.

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arXiv2000

Solitons in Noncommutative Gauge Theory

We present a unified treatment of classical solutions of noncommutative gauge theories. We find all solutions of the noncommutative Yang-Mills equations in 2 dimensions; and show that they are labelled by two integers -- the rank of gauge group and the magnetic charge. The magnetic vortex solutions are unstable in 2+1 dimensions, but correspond to the full, stable BPS solutions of N=4 U(1) noncommutative gauge theory in 4 dimensions, that describes N infinite D1 strings that pierce a D3 brane at various points, in the presence of a background B field in the Seiberg-Witten limit. We discuss the behaviour of gauge invariant observables in the background of the solitons. We use these solutions to construct a panoply of BPS and non-BPS solutions of supersymmetric gauge theories that describe various configurations of D-branes. We analyze the instabilities of the non-BPS solutions. We also present an exact analytic solution of noncommutative gauge theory that describes a U(2) monopole.

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arXiv2000

Noncommutative instantons revisited

We find a new gauge in which U(1) noncommutative instantons are explicitly non-singular on the whole noncommutative R^4, thus resolving the previous confusions of the author. We start with the pedagogical introduction to the noncommutative gauge theories.

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arXiv2000

Dynamics of Strings in Noncommutative Gauge Theory

We continue our study of solitons in noncommutative gauge theories and present an extremely simple BPS solution of N=4 U(1) noncommutative gauge theory in 4 dimensions, which describes N infinite D1 strings that pierce a D3 brane at various points, in the presence of a background B-field in the Seiberg-Witten limit. We call this solution the N-fluxon. For N=1 we calculate the complete spectrum of small fluctuations about the fluxon and find three kinds of modes: the fluctuations of the superstring in 10 dimensions arising from fundamental strings attached to the D1strings, the ordinary particles of the gauge theory in 4 dimensions and a set of states with discrete spectrum, localized at the intersection point--- corresponding to fundamental strings stretched between the D1string and the D3 brane. We discuss the fluctuations about theN-fluxon as well and derive explicit expressions for the amplitudes of interactions between these various modes. We show that translations in noncommutative gauge theories are equivalent to gauge transformations (plus a constant shift of the gauge field) and discuss the implications for the translational zeromodes of our solitons. We also find the dyonic versions of N-fluxon, as well as of our previous string-monopole solution.

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arXiv2000

Monopoles and Strings in Noncommutative Gauge Theory

We study some non-perturbative aspects of noncommutative gauge theories. We find analytic solutions of the equations of motion, for noncommutative U(1) gauge theory, that describe magnetic monopoles with a finite tension string attached. These solutions are non-singular, finite and sourceless. We identify the string with the projection of a D-string ending on a D3-brane in the presence of a constant B-field.

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arXiv1999

On The Size of The Graviton

We propose an approximate wavefunction of the bound state of $N$ $D0$-branes. Its spread grows as $N^{1\over 3}$ per particle, i.e. it saturates the Polchinski's bound.

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arXiv1999

Gravity Duals of Fractional Branes and Logarithmic RG Flow

We study fractional branes in ${\CN}=2$ orbifold and ${\CN}=1$ conifold theories. Placing a large number $N$ of regular D3-branes at the singularity produces the dual ${\bf AdS}_5\times X^5$ geometry, and we describe the fractional branes as small perturbations to this background. For the orbifolds, $X^5={\bf S}^5/Γ$ and fractional D3-branes excite complex scalars from the twisted sector which are localized on the fixed circle of $X^5$. The resulting solutions are given by holomorphic functions and the field-theoretic beta-function is simply reproduced. For $N$ regular and $M$ fractional D3-branes at the conifold singularity we find a non-conformal ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric $SU(N+M)\times SU(N)$ gauge theory. The dual Type $\II$B background is ${\bf AdS}_5\times {\bf T}^{1,1}$ with NS-NS and R-R 2-form fields turned on. This dual description reproduces the logarithmic flow of couplings found in the field theory.

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