Related papers: Evidence for an Algebra of $\boldsymbol{G_2}$ Inst…

Building on our previous work [2109.01110], we will compute a new kind of $G_2$ instanton partition function. By doing so, we complete a set of building blocks of the instanton partition function associated with a large class of $G_2$…

M-theory on local $G_2$-manifolds engineers 4d minimally supersymmetric gauge theories. We consider ALE-fibered $G_2$-manifolds and study the 4d physics from the view point of a partially twisted 7d supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory and its…

We analyze instantons in the very strongly coupled large-$N$ limit ($N\to\infty$ with $g^2$ fixed) of large-$N$ gauge theories, where the effect of the instantons remains finite. By using the exact partition function of four-dimensional…

This is the 13th article in the collection of reviews "Exact results in N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories", ed. J. Teschner. It discusses the relation between the instanton partition functions and the partition function of the topological…

Two dimensional N=(4,4) gauge theories flow to interacting superconformal field theories on their Higgs branch. We examine worldsheet instantons in these theories through the eyes of a D-brane construction. The effective instanton partition…

We argue the connection of Nekrasov's partition function in the \Omega background and the moduli space of D-branes, suggested by the idea of geometric engineering and Gopakumar-Vafa invariants. In the instanton expansion of N=2 SU(2)…

We survey recent results on quantum corrections to the hypermultiplet moduli space M in type IIA/B string theory on a compact Calabi-Yau threefold X, or, equivalently, the vector multiplet moduli space in type IIB/A on X x S^1. Our main…

In G2 manifolds, 3-dimensional associative submanifolds (instantons) play a role similar to J-holomorphic curves in symplectic geometry. In [21], instantons in G2 manifolds were constructed from regular J-holomorphic curves in coassociative…

We introduce and study tetrahedron instantons, which can be realized in string theory by D$1$-branes probing a configuration of intersecting D$7$-branes in flat spacetime with a proper constant $B$-field. Physically they capture instantons…

Instantons, emerged in particle physics, have been intensely studied since the 1970's and had an enormous impact in mathematics since then. In this paper, we focus on one particular way in which mathematical physics has guided the…

We describe the modern formalism, ideas and applications of the instanton calculus for gauge theories with, and without, supersymmetry. Particular emphasis is put on developing a formalism that can deal with any number of instantons. This…

According to a recent classification of 6d (1,0) theories within F-theory there are only six "pure" 6d gauge theories which have a UV superconformal fixed point. The corresponding gauge groups are $SU(3),SO(8),F_4,E_6,E_7$, and $E_8$. These…

We apply the methods recently developed for computation of type IIA disk instantons using mirror symmetry to a large class of D-branes wrapped over Lagrangian cycles of non-compact Calabi-Yau 3-folds. Along the way we clarify the notion of…

We give a construction of $G_2$ and $Spin(7)$ instantons on exceptional holonomy manifolds constructed by Bryant and Salamon, by using an ansatz of spherical symmetry coming from the manifolds being the total spaces of rank-4 vector…

We explain a construction of $G_2$-instantons on manifolds obtained by resolving $G_2$-orbifolds. This includes the case of $G_2$-instantons on resolutions of $T^7/\Gamma$ as a special case. The ingredients needed are a $G_2$-instanton on…

We investigate the differential geometry of the moduli space of instantons on S^3 x S^1. Extending previous results, we show that a sigma-model with this target space can be expected to possess a large N=4 superconformal symmetry,…

A relation between circular 1/2 BPS 't Hooft operators in 4d N=4 SYM and instantonic solutions in 2d Yang-Mills theory (YM_2) has recently been conjectured. Localization indeed predicts that those 't Hooft operators in a theory with gauge…

We propose new ADHM-like methods to compute the Coulomb branch instanton partition functions of 5d and 6d supersymmetric gauge theories, with certain exceptional gauge groups or exceptional matters. We study $G_2$ theories with $n_{\bf…

We calculate the partition functions of supersymmetric gauge theories on S^5, which acquire non-perturbative contributions from instanton loops wrapping its Hopf fiber. The instantons on the CP^2 base equivariantly localize to 3 fixed…

The aim of this memoir for "Habilitation \`a Diriger des Recherches" is to present quantum geometric and algebraic aspects of supersymmetric gauge theory, which emerge from non-perturbative nature of the vacuum structure induced by…