E-String Theory on Riemann Surfaces

TL;DR

This paper explores the compactification of 6d E-string theory on Riemann surfaces, identifying corresponding 4d N=1 theories, revealing emergent symmetries, and predicting new dualities and symmetries in four-dimensional SCFTs.

Contribution

It provides a systematic construction of 4d N=1 theories from 6d E-string compactifications on arbitrary Riemann surfaces with fluxes and punctures, uncovering new dualities and symmetries.

Findings

Identification of 4d N=1 theories from E-string compactifications

Discovery of emergent symmetries in 4d SCFTs

Predictions of new dualities and symmetries in 4d theories

Abstract

We study compactifications of the 6d E-string theory, the theory of a small E_8 instanton, to four dimensions. In particular we identify N=1 field theories in four dimensions corresponding to compactifications on arbitrary Riemann surfaces with punctures and with arbitrary non-abelian flat connections as well as fluxes for the abelian sub-groups of the E_8 flavor symmetry. This sheds light on emergent symmetries in a number of 4d N=1 SCFTs (including the `E7 surprise' theory) as well as leads to new predictions for a large number of 4-dimensional exceptional dualities and symmetries.