Work

Integrable corners in the space of Gukov-Witten surface defects

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate integrability properties of Gukov-Witten 1/2-BPS surface defects in S U ( N ) N = 4 super-Yang-Mills (SYM) theory in the large- N limit. We demonstrate that ordinary Gukov-Witten defects, which depend on a set of continuous parameters, are not integrable except for special sub-sectors. In contrast to these, we show that rigid Gukov-Witten defects, which depend on a discrete parameter but not on continuous ones, appear integrable in a corner of the discrete parameter space. Whenever we find an integrable sector, we derive a closed-form factorised expression for the leading-order one-point function of unprotected operators built out of the adjoint scalars of N = 4 SYM theory. Our results raise the possibility of finding an all-loop formula for one-point functions of unprotected operators in the presence of a rigid Gukov-Witten defect at the corner in parameter space.

Source: Physics Letters B

DOI: 10.1016/j.physletb.2025.139512

Authors: Adam Chalabi, Charlotte Kristjansen, Chenliang Su

Institution: University of Copenhagen

Language: English

Topic: Black Holes and Theoretical Physics

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Natur og Univers, Det Frie Forskningsråd, Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond

Awards: G2096838388, G703456590