25–27 May 2026
Centro Paolo VI, Brescia
Europe/Rome timezone

Gravity saddles, index degeneracy and one-form symmetry

25 May 2026, 18:00
1h 30m
Centro Paolo VI, Brescia

Centro Paolo VI, Brescia

Via Gezio Calini, 30, 25131 Brescia

Speaker

Gianmarco Esposto (Università di Padova)

Description

We study the gravitational origin of the logarithmic term arising in the superconformal index of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ SCFTs, both in the Cardy-like limit and in the large-$N$ limit, focusing on its interpretation in terms of discrete symmetries and saddle degeneracy. On the field-theory side, this contribution is associated with the spontaneous breaking of an electric $\mathbb{Z}_N$ one-form symmetry, which leads to the appearance of $N$ degenerate saddle points contributing equally to the index.

We analyze the gravitational realization of this saddle degeneracy by studying the infinite-volume limit of a supersymmetric non-extremal AdS$_5$ black hole solution, and reproduce the $\log N$ term by working within an appropriate 5d consistent truncation of type IIB supergravity.

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.