English

Solving $\mathcal N=4$ SYM BCFT matrix models at large $N$

High Energy Physics - Theory 2025-10-06 v2

Abstract

Many observables in 4d N=4\mathcal N=4 SYM with Gaiotto-Witten boundary conditions can be described exactly by matrix models via supersymmetric localization. The boundaries typically introduce new degrees of freedom, through a reduction of the gauge symmetry on the boundary or as explicit boundary degrees of freedom, leading to non-trivial matrix models. We derive the saddle points dominating these matrix models at large NN, expressed in terms of generalized Lambert W-functions. In string theory the BCFTs are realized by D3-branes ending on D5 and NS5 branes. We independently derive the saddle points from the holographic duals with AdS4×S2×S2×Σ\rm AdS_4\times S^2\times S^2\times\Sigma geometry and provide precision tests of the dualities.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2409.13016,
  title  = {Solving $\mathcal N=4$ SYM BCFT matrix models at large $N$},
  author = {Dongming He and Christoph F. Uhlemann},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2409.13016},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

19 pages, 6 figures; v2: published version

R2 v1 2026-06-28T18:50:39.201Z