Related papers: Localization on the D-brane, two-dimensional gauge…
We propose a Nekrasov-type formula for the instanton partition functions of four-dimensional N=2 U(2) gauge theories coupled to (A_1,D_{2n}) Argyres-Douglas theories. This is carried out by extending the generalized AGT correspondence to…
In this paper, we review the construction and large $N$ study of the continuous two-dimensional Yang--Mills theory with gauge group $\mathrm{U}(N)$ through probability, combinatorics and representation theory. In the first part, we define…
We calculate gauge instanton corrections to a class of higher derivative string effective couplings introduced in [1]. We work in Type I string theory compactified on K3xT2 and realise gauge instantons in terms of D5-branes wrapping the…
We consider the partition function for Euclidean $SU(N)$ super Yang-Mills on a squashed seven-sphere. We show that the localization locus of the partition function has instanton membrane solutions wrapping the six "fixed" three-spheres on…
We compute the exact all-orders perturbative expansion for the partition function of 2d $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ Yang-Mills theory on closed surfaces around higher critical points. We demonstrate that the expansion can be derived from the lattice…
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…
We discuss a string model where a conformal four-dimensional N=2 gauge theory receives corrections to its gauge kinetic functions from "stringy" instantons. These contributions are explicitly evaluated by exploiting the localization…
We consider euclidean D-branes wrapping around manifolds of exceptional holonomy in dimensions seven and eight. The resulting theory on the D-brane---that is, the dimensional reduction of 10-dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory---is…
We perform a systematic analysis of the D-brane charges associated with string theory realizations of d=3 gauge theories, focusing on the examples of the N=4 supersymmetric U(N)xU(N+M) Yang-Mills theory and the N=3 supersymmetric…
Two dimensional gauge theories with charged matter fields are useful toy models for studying gauge theory dynamics, and in particular for studying the duality of large $N$ gauge theories to perturbative string theories. A useful starting…
Recently, an exact description of instanton corrections to the moduli spaces of 4d N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories compactified on a circle and Calabi-Yau compactifications of Type II superstring theories was found. The equations…
We identify exact gauge-instanton-like solutions to (super)-string theory using the method of dimensional reduction. We find in particular the Polyakov instanton of 3d QED, and a class of generalized Yang-Mills merons. We discuss their…
We study the instanton effective action in deformed four-dimensional N=2 and N=4 super Yang-Mills (SYM) theories. These deformed gauge theories are defined on the D-brane world-volume in the presence of constant, self-dual Ramond-Ramond…
We study Nekrasov's deformed partition function of 5-dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory compactified on a circle. Mathematically it is the generating function of the characters of the coordinate rings of the moduli spaces of…
In this thesis we discuss non-perturbative phenomena emerging in gauge and in string/supergravity theories. We compute the partition function of 5D minimal supersymmetric U(1) gauge theory with extra adjoint matter in general…
We propose a new field-theoretic framework for formulating the non-relativistic quantum mechanics of D particles in a Fock space of U(N) Yang-Mills theories with all different N in a unified way. D-particle field operators, creating and…
The counting of microstates of BPS black-holes on local Calabi-Yau of the form ${\mathcal O}(p-2)\oplus{\mathcal O}(-p) \longrightarrow S^2$ is explored by computing the partition function of q-deformed Yang-Mills theory on $S^2$. We…
These lecture notes begin with a review of the first nonleading contributions to the derivative expansion of the M theory effective action compactified on a two-torus. The form of these higher-derivative interactions is shown to follow from…
We quantize pure 2d Yang-Mills theory on a torus in the gauge where the field strength is diagonal. Because of the topological obstructions to a global smooth diagonalization, we find string-like states in the spectrum similar to the ones…
We survey some of the AGT relations between N=2 gauge theories in four dimensions and geometric representations of symmetry algebras of two-dimensional conformal field theory on the equivariant cohomology of their instanton moduli spaces.…