Supersymmetric gauge theories, quantization of \(\mathcal{M}_{\text{flat}}\), and conformal field theory (Q2341027)

In [Lett. Math. Phys. 91, No. 2, 167--197 (2010; Zbl 1185.81111)] \textit{L. F. Alday}, \textit{D. Gaiotto}, and \textit{Y. Tachikawa} discovered and published important relations between \(N=2\) supersymmetric gauge theories and conformal field theories. In particular they found relations between the instanton partition functions defined by Nekrasov for some gauge theories and the conformal blocks first introduced in 1984 by \textit{A. A. Belavin} et al. [Nucl. Phys., B 241, No. 2, 333--380 (1984; Zbl 0661.17013)] for the Liouville conformal field theory. Between 2001 [Classical Quantum Gravity 18, No. 23, R153-R222 (2001; Zbl 1022.81047)] and 2011 [Adv. Theor. Math. Phys. 15, No. 2, 471--564 (2011; Zbl 1442.81059)] \textit{J. Teschner} published a number of papers on the Liouville theory. The results of these investigations can be used as a powerful tool to investigate nonperturbative effects in \(N=2\) gauge theories. In the present approach, Teschner and Vartanov suggest to derive the relations by Alday et.al [loc. cit.]. which are based now on certain assumptions motivated by physics. Most of it is formulated in the spirit of Seiberg-Witten theory. They argue that the moduli spaces of flat \(\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb R)\) connections represent a nonperturbative \textit{skeleton} of the gauge theory. In particular, instanton partition functions are characterized as solutions of a Riemann-Hilbert problem. Quantization of the moduli spaces of flat connections is described in terms of Darboux coordinates. The thirteen chapters of this article give a broad, detailed, and user-friendly introduction to the program and its connection with several fields of mathematics.