An Index for Ray Operators in 5d $E_n$ SCFTs

Abstract

We construct an index for BPS operators supported on a ray in five dimensional superconformal field theories with exceptional global symmetries. We compute the $E_n$ representations (for $n=2,\dots ,7$) of operators of low spin, thus verifying that while the expression for the index is only SO$(2n-2)\times$U(1) invariant, the index itself exhibits the full $E_n$ symmetry (at least up to the order we expanded). The ray operators we studied in 5d can be viewed as generalizations of operators constructed in a Yang-Mills theory with fundamental matter by attaching an open Wilson line to a quark. For $n\le 7$, in contrast to local operators, they carry nontrivial charge under the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{9-n}\subset E_n$ center of the global symmetry. The representations that appear in the ray operator index are therefore different, for $n\le 7$, from those appearing in the previously computed superconformal index. For $3\le n\le 7$, we find that the leading term in the index is a character of a minuscule representation of $E_n$. We also discuss the case $n=8$, which presents a unique technical challenge, and remains an open problem.

44 pages, 2 figures

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Cited by in corpus (3)

• AdS${}_2$ duals to ADHM quivers with Wilson lines
• Quantum Geometry and $\theta$-Angle in Five-Dimensional Super Yang-Mills
• OPE of line defects in 5d $E_n$ SCFT