arXiv subjects

Piotr Kucharski

Publications and source records attributed to Piotr Kucharski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quivers and BPS states in 3d and 4d

We propose a symmetrization relation between BPS quivers encoding 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories and symmetric quivers associated to 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories. We analyse in detail the symmetrization of BPS quivers for a series of $A_m$ Argyres-Douglas theories by engineering 3d-4d systems in geometric backgrounds involving appropriate 3-manifolds and Riemann surfaces. We discuss properties of these geometric backgrounds and derive the corresponding quiver partition functions from the perspective of skein modules, which forms the foundation of the symmetrization map for the minimal chamber. We also prove that the structure of wall-crossing in 4d $A_m$ Argyres-Douglas theories is isomorphic to the structure of unlinking of symmetric quivers encoding their partner 3d theories, which allows for a proper definition of the symmetrization map outside the minimal chamber. Finally, we show that the Schur indices of 4d theories are captured by symmetric quivers that include symmetrization of 4d BPS quivers.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

3d Modularity Revisited

The three-manifold topological invariants $\hat Z$ capture the half-index of the three-dimensional theory with ${\mathcal{N}}=2$ supersymmetry obtained by compactifying the M5 brane theory on the closed three-manifold. In 2019, surprising general relations between the $\hat Z$-invariants, quantum modular forms, and vertex algebras have been proposed. In the meanwhile, an extensive array of examples have been studied, but several important general structural questions remain. First, for many three-manifolds we have seen hints of concrete $\widetilde {\rm SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})$ representations underlying the different $\hat Z$-invariants of the given manifolds. At the same time, these invariants appear to only span a subspace of the representation, and the role of the latter remains mysterious. We elucidate the meaning of the modular group representation, realized as vector-valued quantum modular forms, by first proposing the analogue $\hat Z$-invariants with supersymmetric defects, and subsequently showing that the full vector-valued quantum modular form for $\widetilde {\rm SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})$ is precisely the object capturing all the $\hat Z$-invariants of a given three-manifold, when the newly defined defects $\hat Z$-invariants are included. Second, it was expected that matching radial limits is a key feature of $\hat Z$-invariants when changing the orientation of the plumbed three-manifold, suggesting the relevance of mock modularity. We substantiate the conjecture by providing explicit proposals for such $\hat Z$-invariants for three three-manifolds and verify their mock modularity and limits. Third, we initiate the study of the vertex algebra structure of the mock type invariants by showcasing a systematic way to construct cone vertex operator algebras associated to these mock invariants, which can be viewed as the partner of logarithmic vertex operator algebras in this context.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Full twists and stability of knots and quivers

We relate the stability of knot invariants under twisting a pair of strands to the stability of symmetric quivers under unlinking (or linking) operation. Starting from the HOMFLY-PT skein relations, we confirm the stable growth of $Sym^r$-coloured HOMFLY-PT polynomials under the addition of a~full twist to the knot. On the other hand, we show that symmetric quivers exhibit analogous stable growth under unlinking or linking of the quiver augmented with the extra node; in some cases this augmented quiver captures the spectrum of motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants of all quivers in the sequence. Combining these two versions of the stable growth, we conjecture that performing a~full twist on any knot corresponds to appropriate unlinking or linking of the corresponding augmented quiver -- this statement is an important step towards a~direct definition of the knot-quiver correspondence based on the knot diagram. We confirm the conjecture for all twist knots, $(2,2p+1)$ torus knots, and all pretzel knots up to 15 crossings with an~odd number of twists in each twist region.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Knot-quiver correspondence: a brief review

This note is an overview of the knot-quiver correspondence, which relates symmetric quivers and their partition functions, a.k.a. motivic Donaldson-Thomas generating series, to quantum invariants of knots and links in $S^3$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

What makes math problems hard for reinforcement learning: a case study

Using a long-standing conjecture from combinatorial group theory, we explore, from multiple perspectives, the challenges of finding rare instances carrying disproportionately high rewards. Based on lessons learned in the context defined by the Andrews-Curtis conjecture, we propose algorithmic enhancements and a topological hardness measure with implications for a broad class of search problems. As part of our study, we also address several open mathematical questions. Notably, we demonstrate the length reducibility of all but two presentations in the Akbulut-Kirby series (1981), and resolve various potential counterexamples in the Miller-Schupp series (1991), including three infinite subfamilies.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2024

Categorification of quiver diagonalization and Koszul algebras

In earlier work of three of the authors of the present paper, a supercommutative quadratic algebra was associated to each symmetric quiver, and a new proof of positivity of motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants of symmetric quivers was given using the so called numerical Koszul property of these algebras. It was furthermore conjectured that for each symmetric quiver such an algebra is Koszul. In this work, we lift the linking and unlinking operations on symmetric quivers of Ekholm, Longhi and the third author to the level of quadratic algebras, and use those lifts to prove the Koszulness conjecture.

math.RT↗

arXiv2023

Unlinking symmetric quivers

We analyse the structure of equivalence classes of symmetric quivers whose generating series are equal. We consider such classes constructed using the basic operation of unlinking, which increases a size of a quiver. The existence and features of such classes do not depend on a particular quiver but follow from the properties of unlinking. We show that such classes include sets of quivers assembled into permutohedra, and all quivers in a given class are determined by one quiver of the largest size, which we call a universal quiver. These findings generalise the previous ones for permutohedra graphs for knots. We illustrate our results with generic examples, as well as specialisations related to the knots-quivers correspondence.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Quiver diagonalization and open BPS states

We show that motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants of a~symmetric quiver $Q$, captured by the generating function $P_Q$, can be encoded in another quiver $Q^{(\infty)}$ of (almost always) infinite size, whose only arrows are loops, and whose generating function $P_{Q^{(\infty)}}$ is equal to $P_Q$ upon appropriate identification of generating parameters. Consequences of this statement include a generalization of the proof of integrality of Donaldson-Thomas and Labastida-Mariño-Ooguri-Vafa invariants that count open BPS states, as well as expressing motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants of an arbitrary symmetric quiver in terms of invariants of $m$-loop quivers. In particular, this means that the already known combinatorial interpretation of invariants of $m$-loop quivers extends to arbitrary symmetric quivers.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Knot homologies and generalized quiver partition functions

We conjecture a relation between generalized quiver partition functions and generating functions for symmetrically colored HOMFLY-PT polynomials and corresponding HOMFLY-PT homology Poincaré polynomials of a knot $K$. We interpret the generalized quiver nodes as certain basic holomorphic curves with boundary on the knot conormal $L_K$ in the resolved conifold, and the adjacency matrix as measuring their boundary linking. The simplest such curves are embedded disks with boundary in the primitive homology class of $L_K$, other basic holomorphic curves consists of two parts: an embedded punctured sphere and a multiply covered punctured disk with boundary in a multiple of the primitive homology class of $L_K$. We also study recursion relations for the partition functions connected to knot homologies. We show that, after a suitable change of variables, any (generalized) quiver partition function satisfies the recursion relation of a single toric brane in $\mathbb{C}^3$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Branches, quivers, and ideals for knot complements

We generalize the $F_K$ invariant, i.e. $\widehat{Z}$ for the complement of a knot $K$ in the 3-sphere, the knots-quivers correspondence, and $A$-polynomials of knots, and find several interconnections between them. We associate an $F_K$ invariant to any branch of the $A$-polynomial of $K$ and we work out explicit expressions for several simple knots. We show that these $F_K$ invariants can be written in the form of a quiver generating series, in analogy with the knots-quivers correspondence. We discuss various methods to obtain such quiver representations, among others using $R$-matrices. We generalize the quantum $a$-deformed $A$-polynomial to an ideal that contains the recursion relation in the group rank, i.e. in the parameter $a$, and describe its classical limit in terms of the Coulomb branch of a 3d-5d theory. We also provide $t$-deformed versions. Furthermore, we study how the quiver formulation for closed 3-manifolds obtained by surgery leads to the superpotential of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theory $T[M_3]$ and to the data of the associated modular tensor category $\text{MTC} [M_3]$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Permutohedra for knots and quivers

The knots-quivers correspondence states that various characteristics of a knot are encoded in the corresponding quiver and the moduli space of its representations. However, this correspondence is not a bijection: more than one quiver may be assigned to a given knot and encode the same information. In this work we study this phenomenon systematically and show that it is generic rather than exceptional. First, we find conditions that characterize equivalent quivers. Then we show that equivalent quivers arise in families that have the structure of permutohedra, and the set of all equivalent quivers for a given knot is parameterized by vertices of a graph made of several permutohedra glued together. These graphs can be also interpreted as webs of dual 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories. All these results are intimately related to properties of homological diagrams for knots, as well as to multi-cover skein relations that arise in counting of holomorphic curves with boundaries on Lagrangian branes in Calabi-Yau three-folds.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Quivers for 3-manifolds: the correspondence, BPS states, and 3d $\mathcal{N}$=2 theories

We introduce and explore the relation between quivers and 3-manifolds with the topology of the knot complement. This idea can be viewed as an adaptation of the knots-quivers correspondence to Gukov-Manolescu invariants of knot complements (also known as $F_K$ or $\hat{Z}$). Apart from assigning quivers to complements of $T^{(2,2p+1)}$ torus knots, we study the physical interpretation in terms of the BPS spectrum and general structure of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories associated to both sides of the correspondence. We also make a step towards categorification by proposing a $t$-deformation of all objects mentioned above.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Physics and geometry of knots-quivers correspondence

The recently conjectured knots-quivers correspondence relates gauge theoretic invariants of a knot $K$ in the 3-sphere to representation theory of a quiver $Q_{K}$ associated to the knot. In this paper we provide geometric and physical contexts for this conjecture within the framework of the large $N$ duality of Ooguri and Vafa, that relates knot invariants to counts of holomorphic curves with boundary on $L_{K}$, the conormal Lagrangian of the knot in the resolved conifold, and corresponding M-theory considerations. From the physics side, we show that the quiver encodes a 3d ${\mathcal N}=2$ theory $T[Q_{K}]$ whose low energy dynamics arises on the worldvolume of an M5 brane wrapping the knot conormal and we match the (K-theoretic) vortex partition function of this theory with the motivic generating series of $Q_{K}$. From the geometry side, we argue that the spectrum of (generalized) holomorphic curves on $L_{K}$ is generated by a finite set of basic disks. These disks correspond to the nodes of the quiver $Q_{K}$ and the linking of their boundaries to the quiver arrows. We extend this basic dictionary further and propose a detailed map between quiver data and topological and geometric properties of the basic disks that again leads to matching partition functions. We also study generalizations of A-polynomials associated to $Q_{K}$ and (doubly) refined version of LMOV invariants.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

$\widehat{Z}$ at large $N$: from curve counts to quantum modularity

Reducing a 6d fivebrane theory on a 3-manifold $Y$ gives a $q$-series 3-manifold invariant $\widehat{Z}(Y)$. We analyse the large-$N$ behaviour of $F_K=\widehat{Z}(M_K)$, where $M_K$ is the complement of a knot $K$ in the 3-sphere, and explore the relationship between an $a$-deformed ($a=q^N$) version of $F_{K}$ and HOMFLY-PT polynomials. On the one hand, in combination with counts of holomorphic annuli on knot complements, this gives an enumerative interpretation of $F_K$ in terms of counts of open holomorphic curves. On the other, it leads to closed form expressions for $a$-deformed $F_K$ for $(2,2p+1)$-torus knots. They suggest a further $t$-deformation based on superpolynomials, which can be used to obtain a $t$-deformation of ADO polynomials, expected to be related to categorification. Moreover, studying how $F_K$ transforms under natural geometric operations on $K$ indicates relations to quantum modularity in a new setting.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Multi-cover skeins, quivers, and 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ dualities

The relation between open topological strings and representation theory of symmetric quivers is explored beyond the original setting of the knot-quiver correspondence. Multiple cover generalizations of the skein relation for boundaries of holomorphic disks on a Lagrangian brane are observed to generate dual quiver descriptions of the geometry. Embedding into M-theory, a large class of dualities of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories associated to quivers is obtained. The multi-cover skein relation admits a compact formulation in terms of quantum torus algebras associated to the quiver and in this language the relations are similar to wall-crossing identities of Kontsevich and Soibelman.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

$\hat{Z}$ invariants at rational $τ$

$\hat{Z}$ invariants of 3-manifolds were introduced as series in $q=e^{2πiτ}$ in order to categorify Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants corresponding to $τ=1/k$. However modularity properties suggest that all roots of unity are on the same footing. The main result of this paper is the expression connecting Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants with $\hat{Z}$ invariants for $τ\in\mathbb{Q}$. We present the reasoning leading to this conjecture and test it on various 3-manifolds.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

The (2,0) Superalgebra, Null M-branes and Hitchin's System

We present an interacting system of equations with sixteen supersymmetries and an $SO(2)\times SO(6)$ R-symmetry where the fields depend on two space and one null dimensions that is derived from a representation of the six-dimensional (2,0) superalgebra. The system can be viewed as two M5-branes compactified on $S^1_-\times {\mathbb T}^2$ or equivalently as M2-branes on ${\mathbb R}_+\times {\mathbb R}^2$, where $\pm$ refer to null directions. We show that for a particular choice of fields the dynamics can be reduced to motion on the moduli space of solutions to the Hitchin system. We argue that this provides a description of intersecting null M2-branes and is also related by U-duality to a DLCQ description of four-dimensional maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Knots-quivers correspondence

We introduce and explore the relation between knot invariants and quiver representation theory, which follows from the identification of quiver quantum mechanics in D-brane systems representing knots. We identify various structural properties of quivers associated to knots, and identify such quivers explicitly in many examples, including some infinite families of knots, all knots up to 6 crossings, and some knots with thick homology. Moreover, based on these properties, we derive previously unknown expressions for colored HOMFLY-PT polynomials and superpolynomials for various knots. For all knots, for which we identify the corresponding quivers, the LMOV conjecture for all symmetric representations (i.e. integrality of relevant BPS numbers) is automatically proved.

hep-th↗