Related papers: Proving the 6d a-theorem with the double affine Gr…
We investigate the fate of the Standard Model (SM) $\mathbb Z_6^{(1)}$ electric $1$-form global symmetry in the background of gravitational instantons, focusing on Eguchi-Hanson (EH) geometries. We show that EH instantons support quantized…
We define and study a new class of 4d N=1 superconformal quiver gauge theories associated with a planar bipartite network. While UV description is not unique due to Seiberg duality, we can classify the IR fixed points of the theory by a…
In this paper, we study on the one-plus-half monopole configuration in SU(2) Yang-Mills-Higgs theory when the $\phi$-winding number, $n$, runs from 2 to 4 and for a range of Higgs coupling constant, $\lambda_b \leq \lambda \leq 40$, where…
We use F-theory to classify possibly all six-dimensional superconformal field theories (SCFTs). This involves a two step process: We first classify all possible tensor branches allowed in F-theory (which correspond to allowed collections of…
We extend the anomaly inflow methods developed in M-theory to SCFTs engineered via D3-branes in type IIB. We show that the 't Hooft anomalies of such SCFTs can be computed systematically from their geometric definition. Our procedure is…
We propose that inflation is driven by a (complex) neutral Higgs of the MSSM extension of the SM, in a chaotic-like inflation setting. The SUSY breaking soft term masses are of order $10^{12}-10^{13}$ GeV, which is identified with the…
In this short note, we present some evidence towards the existence of an algebra of BPS $G_2$ instantons. These are instantonic configurations that govern the partition functions of 7d SYM theories on local $G_2$ holonomy manifolds…
We study critical points of $F(4)$ gauged supergravity in six dimensions coupled to three vector multiplets. Scalar fields are described by $\mathbb{R}^+\times \frac{SO(4,3)}{SO(4)\times SO(3)}$ coset space, and the gauge group is given by…
Five- and four-dimensional superconformal field theories with eight supercharges arise from canonical threefold singularities in M-theory and Type IIB string theory, respectively. We study their Coulomb and Higgs branches using crepant…
Let $G$ be a complex reductive group. A folklore result asserts the existence of an $\mathbb{E}_2$-algebra structure on the Ran Grassmannian of $G$ over $\mathbb{A}^1_{\mathbb{C}}$, seen as a topological space with the complex-analytic…
We analyze the superconformal theories (SCFTs) which arise in the low-energy limit of N=(4,4) supersymmetric gauge theories in two dimensions, primarily the Higgs branch SCFT. By a direct field theory analysis we find a continuum of…
We study 1+1-dimensional theories of vector and hypermultiplets with (4,4) supersymmetry. Despite strong infrared fluctuations, these theories flow in general to distinct conformal field theories on the Coulomb and Higgs branches. In some…
We analyze the gauge structure of a recently proposed superconformal field theory in six dimensions. We find that this structure amounts to a weak Courant-Dorfman algebra, which, in turn, can be interpreted as a strong homotopy Lie algebra.…
In this paper, we consider the gradient flow of the Yang-Mills-Higgs functional for Higgs pairs on a Hermitian vector bundle $(E, H_{0})$ over a compact K\"ahler manifold $(M, \omega )$. We study the asymptotic behavior of the…
We construct N=4 gauged linear sigma models in two dimensions whose Higgs branch has a R^8/Z_k orbifold singularity or its generalization. Our linear sigma models have either ALF or ALE type hyperKahler 8-manifolds as their Higgs branch.…
Given a hypergraph G, we introduce a Grassmann algebra over the vertex set, and show that a class of Grassmann integrals permits an expansion in terms of spanning hyperforests. Special cases provide the generating functions for rooted and…
We prove that self-dual gauge fields in type I superstring theory are equivalent to configurations of Dirichlet 5-branes, by showing that the world-sheet theory of a Dirichlet 1-brane moving in a background of 5-branes includes an ``ADHM…
We construct supergravity solutions describing a stack of D3-branes localized at a point on a blown-up cycle of a resolved L^{a,b,c} cone. The geometry flows from AdS_5 x L^{a,b,c} to AdS_5 x S^5/Z_k. The corresponding quiver gauge theory…
We study homogeneous instantons on the seven dimensional Stiefel manifold V in the context of $G_2$ and Sasakian geometry. According to the reductive decomposition of V we provide an explicit description of all invariant $G_2$ and Sasakian…
Nearly all 6D superconformal field theories (SCFTs) have a partial tensor branch description in terms of a generalized quiver gauge theory consisting of a long one-dimensional spine of quiver nodes with links given by conformal matter; a…