Ioana Coman: 3D N=4 SQFTs, VOAs and chiralization of quiver varieties

mardi 22 sept. 2026, 10:30 → 11:30 Europe/Paris

Vertex operator algebras are increasingly familiar algebraic invariant structures embedded into 4- and 3-dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories, where they encode distinguished algebras of local operators and capture exact information about the QFTs — such as symmetries, defects, protected spectra, and dualities —while making VOA representation-theoretic tools available. In particular, topologically twisted 3D N=4 SQFTs can support a vertex algebra on a 2D boundary, which provides a new, interesting analogue of established 3D/2D correspondences. [2312.13363] and [2606.23807] have initiated a systematic construction and analysis of such vertex algebras for a rich class of 3D N=4 SQFTs. This approach is geometric, constructing vertex algebras as chiralizations of corresponding Higgs branches, which are quiver varieties. This talk will highlight some key insights revealed by chiral quantization, including distinguished embedded structures and relations among the resulting vertex algebras.