Localisation of mathcal{N} = (2,2) theories on spindles of both twists
Pith reviewed 2026-05-10 04:53 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
A single localisation formula gives the exact partition function for N=(2,2) theories on spindles under both twist and anti-twist.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
By using spindle solutions of five-dimensional STU gauged supergravity, the authors construct N=(2,2) theories on the spindle WCP^1_[n1,n2] that preserve supersymmetry via either twist or anti-twist and admit two Killing spinors of opposite R-charge. Supersymmetric localisation then yields the exact partition function for an abelian vector multiplet plus a charged chiral multiplet with a Fayet-Iliopoulos term; the resulting expression is written in a form that simultaneously describes both the twisted and anti-twisted cases.
What carries the argument
Supersymmetric localisation applied to the abelian vector and charged chiral multiplet on the spindle, producing a unified partition function that covers both twist and anti-twist geometries.
If this is right
- The same general formula produces the partition function for both twisted and anti-twisted spindles without separate derivations.
- Exact results become available for theories containing an abelian vector multiplet, a charged chiral multiplet, and a Fayet-Iliopoulos term.
- Direct comparison of the twisted and anti-twisted cases is possible within one expression.
- The localisation procedure extends previous work on anti-twisted spindles to the twisted case on equal footing.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- The unified formula may simplify the inclusion of additional matter multiplets or interactions while keeping the same spindle background.
- The construction from five-dimensional supergravity solutions suggests a possible route to relate the two-dimensional results to higher-dimensional holographic quantities.
- The approach could be tested on other spindle-like orbifolds or on geometries obtained by different gaugings of five-dimensional supergravity.
Load-bearing premise
The two-dimensional theories are assumed to preserve supersymmetry through the twist or anti-twist mechanisms with exactly two Killing spinors of opposite R-charge coming from the five-dimensional supergravity solutions.
What would settle it
An independent evaluation of the partition function (for example by direct integration over the moduli space or by another non-localisation method) that produces a result differing from the unified formula when the same parameters are used.
read the original abstract
We consider two-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=(2,2)$ supersymmetric field theories living on a spindle $\mathbb{WCP}_{[n_1,n_2]}^1$. Starting from the spindle solutions of five-dimensional STU gauged supergravity, we construct theories on a spindle which preserve supersymmetry via either the twist or anti-twist mechanism and admit two Killing spinors of opposite R-charge. While the study of field theories on anti-twisted spindles has already been undertaken in some detail, the advantage of our approach allows for the derivation of analogous results in the twist case. We apply the technique of supersymmetric localisation to compute the exact partition function for a theory consisting of an abelian vector multiplet and a charged chiral multiplet in the presence of a Fayet-Iliopoulos term. We compare and contrast the results for the twisted and anti-twisted spindle and find a general formula which encompasses the partition function for both cases simultaneously.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The paper constructs 2D N=(2,2) supersymmetric theories on spindles WCP^1_[n1,n2] by reducing 5D STU gauged supergravity spindle solutions, yielding backgrounds that preserve supersymmetry via either the twist or anti-twist mechanism with two Killing spinors of opposite R-charge. It then applies supersymmetric localisation to compute the exact partition function of an abelian vector multiplet coupled to a charged chiral multiplet in the presence of a Fayet-Iliopoulos term, deriving and comparing results for the two twists and presenting a single general formula that encompasses both cases simultaneously.
Significance. If the localisation computation holds, the work supplies a unified exact formula for the partition function on both twisted and anti-twisted spindles, extending prior literature that has treated the anti-twist case in more detail. This provides a concrete, computable observable on singular 2D backgrounds that can serve as a testbed for further localisation studies, holographic duals, or checks of 2D dualities.
minor comments (3)
- §3: the precise definition of the R-charge assignment for the chiral multiplet under the anti-twist is stated only after the localisation integral is written; moving the assignment to the beginning of the section would improve readability.
- Eq. (4.12): the contour prescription for the vector-multiplet integral is given without an explicit statement of the convergence condition on the FI parameter; a short remark on the range of validity would prevent ambiguity.
- The comparison between twist and anti-twist results in §5 would benefit from an additional sentence clarifying which terms in the unified formula arise solely from the sign flip in the Killing spinor.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for their positive assessment of our manuscript and for recommending minor revision. Their summary accurately reflects the scope of the work: the construction of N=(2,2) theories on spindles via reduction from 5D STU gauged supergravity, the treatment of both twist and anti-twist mechanisms, and the derivation of a unified localisation formula for the partition function of an abelian vector multiplet coupled to a charged chiral multiplet with Fayet-Iliopoulos term.
Circularity Check
No significant circularity; derivation self-contained
full rationale
The paper begins by reducing known 5D STU gauged supergravity spindle solutions to obtain 2D backgrounds preserving N=(2,2) supersymmetry via twist or anti-twist, with two Killing spinors of opposite R-charge. This relies on external prior literature rather than any internal definition or self-citation chain. The central result applies standard supersymmetric localisation to compute the exact partition function of an abelian vector multiplet plus charged chiral multiplet with Fayet-Iliopoulos term, directly producing expressions for both cases and a single encompassing formula. No step reduces by construction to its own inputs, fitted parameters renamed as predictions, or load-bearing self-citations; the localisation output is independent of the background construction.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
axioms (1)
- domain assumption Supersymmetry is preserved on the spindle via either the twist or anti-twist mechanism admitting two Killing spinors of opposite R-charge.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
J. J. Duistermaat and G. J. Heckman,On the Variation in the cohomology of the symplectic form of the reduced phase space,Invent. Math.69(1982) 259–268
work page 1982
-
[2]
M. F. Atiyah and R. Bott,The Moment map and equivariant cohomology,Topology23 (1984) 1–28
work page 1984
-
[3]
Witten,Topological Quantum Field Theory,Commun
E. Witten,Topological Quantum Field Theory,Commun. Math. Phys.117(1988) 353
work page 1988
-
[4]
Witten,Topological Sigma Models,Commun
E. Witten,Topological Sigma Models,Commun. Math. Phys.118(1988) 411
work page 1988
-
[5]
N. A. Nekrasov,Seiberg-Witten prepotential from instanton counting,Adv. Theor. Math. Phys.7(2003), no. 5 831–864, [hep-th/0206161]
work page Pith review arXiv 2003
-
[6]
Localization of gauge theory on a four-sphere and supersymmetric Wilson loops
V. Pestun,Localization of gauge theory on a four-sphere and supersymmetric Wilson loops, Commun. Math. Phys.313(2012) 71–129, [arXiv:0712.2824]
work page Pith review arXiv 2012
-
[7]
G. Festuccia and N. Seiberg,Rigid Supersymmetric Theories in Curved Superspace,JHEP06 (2011) 114, [arXiv:1105.0689]
-
[8]
Partition functions of N=(2,2) gauge theories on S^2 and vortices
F. Benini and S. Cremonesi,Partition Functions ofN= (2,2)Gauge Theories on S 2 and Vortices,Commun. Math. Phys.334(2015), no. 3 1483–1527, [arXiv:1206.2356]
work page Pith review arXiv 2015
-
[9]
Exact Results in D=2 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories
N. Doroud, J. Gomis, B. Le Floch, and S. Lee,Exact Results in D=2 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories,JHEP05(2013) 093, [arXiv:1206.2606]
work page Pith review arXiv 2013
-
[10]
Elliptic genera of two-dimensional N=2 gauge theories with rank-one gauge groups
F. Benini, R. Eager, K. Hori, and Y. Tachikawa,Elliptic genera of two-dimensional N=2 gauge theories with rank-one gauge groups,Lett. Math. Phys.104(2014) 465–493, [arXiv:1305.0533]
work page Pith review arXiv 2014
-
[11]
Exact results for boundaries and domain walls in 2d supersymmetric theories
D. Honda and T. Okuda,Exact results for boundaries and domain walls in 2d supersymmetric theories,JHEP09(2015) 140, [arXiv:1308.2217]
work page Pith review arXiv 2015
-
[12]
Exact Results In Two-Dimensional (2,2) Supersymmetric Gauge Theories With Boundary
K. Hori and M. Romo,Exact Results In Two-Dimensional (2,2) Supersymmetric Gauge Theories With Boundary,arXiv:1308.2438
-
[13]
Elliptic genera of 2d N=2 gauge theories
F. Benini, R. Eager, K. Hori, and Y. Tachikawa,Elliptic Genera of 2dN= 2 Gauge Theories,Commun. Math. Phys.333(2015), no. 3 1241–1286, [arXiv:1308.4896]
work page Pith review arXiv 2015
-
[14]
The equivariant A-twist and gauged linear sigma models on the two-sphere
C. Closset, S. Cremonesi, and D. S. Park,The equivariant A-twist and gauged linear sigma models on the two-sphere,JHEP06(2015) 076, [arXiv:1504.06308]
work page Pith review arXiv 2015
-
[15]
Supersymmetric localization in two dimensions
F. Benini and B. Le Floch,Supersymmetric localization in two dimensions,J. Phys. A50 (2017), no. 44 443003, [arXiv:1608.02955]. – 46 –
work page Pith review arXiv 2017
-
[16]
K. Ohta and N. Sakai,Higgs and Coulomb Branch Descriptions of the Volume of the Vortex Moduli Space,PTEP2019(2019), no. 4 043B01, [arXiv:1811.03824]
-
[17]
A. González Lezcano, I. Jeon, and A. Ray,Erratum to: Supersymmetric localization: N= (2,2)theories on S 2 and AdS2,JHEP07(2023) 056, [arXiv:2302.10370]. [Erratum: JHEP 09, 003 (2023)]
- [18]
-
[19]
Phases of $N=2$ Theories In Two Dimensions
E. Witten,Phases of N=2 theories in two-dimensions,Nucl. Phys. B403(1993) 159–222, [hep-th/9301042]
work page Pith review arXiv 1993
-
[20]
K. Hori and C. Vafa,Mirror symmetry,hep-th/0002222
work page internal anchor Pith review arXiv
-
[21]
Hori,Trieste lectures on mirror symmetry,ICTP Lect
K. Hori,Trieste lectures on mirror symmetry,ICTP Lect. Notes Ser.13(2003) 109–202
work page 2003
-
[22]
K. Ueda and Y. Yoshida,Equivariant A-twisted GLSM and Gromov–Witten invariants of CY 3-folds in Grassmannians,JHEP09(2017) 128, [arXiv:1602.02487]
- [23]
-
[24]
A-twisted correlators and Hori dualities
C. Closset, N. Mekareeya, and D. S. Park,A-twisted correlators and Hori dualities,JHEP08 (2017) 101, [arXiv:1705.04137]
work page Pith review arXiv 2017
-
[25]
Gromov,Pseudo holomorphic curves in symplectic manifolds,Inventiones mathematicae 82(1985), no
M. Gromov,Pseudo holomorphic curves in symplectic manifolds,Inventiones mathematicae 82(1985), no. 2 307–347
work page 1985
-
[26]
Two-Sphere Partition Functions and Gromov-Witten Invariants
H. Jockers, V. Kumar, J. M. Lapan, D. R. Morrison, and M. Romo,Two-Sphere Partition Functions and Gromov-Witten Invariants,Commun. Math. Phys.325(2014) 1139–1170, [arXiv:1208.6244]
work page Pith review arXiv 2014
-
[27]
Exact Kahler Potential from Gauge Theory and Mirror Symmetry
J. Gomis and S. Lee,Exact Kahler Potential from Gauge Theory and Mirror Symmetry, JHEP04(2013) 019, [arXiv:1210.6022]
work page Pith review arXiv 2013
-
[28]
G. Bonelli, A. Sciarappa, A. Tanzini, and P. Vasko,Vortex partition functions, wall crossing and equivariant Gromov-Witten invariants,Commun. Math. Phys.333(2015), no. 2 717–760, [arXiv:1307.5997]
-
[29]
D3-Branes Wrapped on a Spindle,
P. Ferrero, J. P. Gauntlett, J. M. Pérez Ipiña, D. Martelli, and J. Sparks,D3-Branes Wrapped on a Spindle,Phys. Rev. Lett.126(2021), no. 11 111601, [arXiv:2011.10579]
-
[30]
Accelerating black holes and spinning spindles,
P. Ferrero, J. P. Gauntlett, J. M. P. Ipiña, D. Martelli, and J. Sparks,Accelerating black holes and spinning spindles,Phys. Rev. D104(2021), no. 4 046007, [arXiv:2012.08530]
- [31]
-
[32]
Twisted D3-brane and M5-brane compactifications from multi-charge spindles,
A. Boido, J. M. P. Ipiña, and J. Sparks,Twisted D3-brane and M5-brane compactifications from multi-charge spindles,JHEP07(2021) 222, [arXiv:2104.13287]
- [33]
-
[34]
P. Ferrero, J. P. Gauntlett, D. Martelli, and J. Sparks,M5-branes wrapped on a spindle, JHEP11(2021) 002, [arXiv:2105.13344]
- [35]
-
[36]
Multicharge accelerating black holes and spinning spindles,
P. Ferrero, M. Inglese, D. Martelli, and J. Sparks,Multicharge accelerating black holes and spinning spindles,Phys. Rev. D105(2022), no. 12 126001, [arXiv:2109.14625]
-
[37]
M2-branes on discs and multi-charged spindles,
C. Couzens, K. Stemerdink, and D. van de Heisteeg,M2-branes on discs and multi-charged spindles,JHEP04(2022) 107, [arXiv:2110.00571]
-
[38]
F. Faedo and D. Martelli,D4-branes wrapped on a spindle,JHEP02(2022) 101, [arXiv:2111.13660]
-
[39]
P. Ferrero, J. P. Gauntlett, and J. Sparks,Supersymmetric spindles,JHEP01(2022) 102, [arXiv:2112.01543]
-
[40]
M. Suh,M5-branes and D4-branes wrapped on a direct product of spindle and Riemann surface,JHEP02(2024) 205, [arXiv:2207.00034]
- [41]
-
[42]
C. Couzens and K. Stemerdink,Universal spindles: D2’s onΣand M5’s onΣ×H3, arXiv:2207.06449
-
[43]
C. Couzens, H. Kim, N. Kim, Y. Lee, and M. Suh,D4-branes wrapped on four-dimensional orbifolds through consistent truncation,JHEP02(2023) 025, [arXiv:2210.15695]
- [44]
-
[45]
Spindle black holes and mass-deformed ABJM,
M. Suh,Spindle black holes and mass-deformed ABJM,JHEP05(2024) 267, [arXiv:2211.11782]
-
[46]
Baryonic spindles from conifolds,
M. Suh,Baryonic spindles from conifolds,JHEP02(2025) 181, [arXiv:2304.03308]
-
[47]
A. Amariti, N. Petri, and A. Segati,T1,1 truncation on the spindle,JHEP07(2023) 087, [arXiv:2304.03663]
-
[48]
Spindle black holes in AdS 4×SE 7,
K. Hristov and M. Suh,Spindle black holes in AdS4×SE 7,JHEP10(2023) 141, [arXiv:2307.10378]
-
[49]
A. Amariti, S. Mancani, D. Morgante, N. Petri, and A. Segati,BBBW on the spindle, SciPost Phys.17(2024), no. 6 154, [arXiv:2309.11362]
- [50]
-
[51]
M. Boisvert and P. Ferrero,A story of non-conformal branes: spindles, disks, circles and black holes,JHEP06(2024) 013, [arXiv:2403.03989]
-
[52]
Ferrero,D6 branes wrapped on a spindle and Yp,q manifolds,JHEP05(2024) 182, [arXiv:2403.03988]
P. Ferrero,D6 branes wrapped on a spindle and Yp,q manifolds,JHEP05(2024) 182, [arXiv:2403.03988]
-
[53]
K. Hristov and M. Suh,Spindle black holes and theories of classF,JHEP08(2024) 006, [arXiv:2405.17432]
-
[54]
Suh,M5-branes and D4-branes wrapped on disk×disk and spindle⋉disk, arXiv:2411.09737
M. Suh,M5-branes and D4-branes wrapped on disk×disk and spindle⋉disk, arXiv:2411.09737
- [55]
-
[56]
Suh,Non-conformal branes wrapped on a disk,arXiv:2507.22991
M. Suh,Non-conformal branes wrapped on a disk,arXiv:2507.22991. – 48 –
-
[57]
A. Conti and N. T. Macpherson,SupersymmetricWCPn, AdS near horizons and orbifolds, arXiv:2511.19624
-
[58]
The spindle index from localization
M. Inglese, D. Martelli, and A. Pittelli,The spindle index from localization,J. Phys. A57 (2024), no. 8 085401, [arXiv:2303.14199]
-
[59]
M. Inglese, D. Martelli, and A. Pittelli,Supersymmetry and Localization on Three-Dimensional Orbifolds,arXiv:2312.17086
-
[60]
Pittelli,Orbifold Indices in Four Dimensions,arXiv:2403.12318
A. Pittelli,Orbifold Indices in Four Dimensions,arXiv:2403.12318
-
[61]
R. Mauch and L. Ruggeri,Super Yang-Mills on branched covers and weighted projective spaces,JHEP08(2024) 106, [arXiv:2404.11600]
-
[62]
L. Ruggeri,Exact results for SYM on Yp,q and S2 ×S 2 with conical singularities,JHEP09 (2025) 004, [arXiv:2502.13614]
-
[63]
R. Mauch and L. Ruggeri,Codimension-two defects and SYM on orbifolds,JHEP11(2025) 011, [arXiv:2502.13611]
work page internal anchor Pith review arXiv 2025
- [64]
-
[65]
Microstates of Accelerating and Supersymmetric AdS4 Black Holes from the Spindle Index
E. Colombo, S. M. Hosseini, D. Martelli, A. Pittelli, and A. Zaffaroni,Microstates of Accelerating and Supersymmetric AdS4 Black Holes from the Spindle Index,Phys. Rev. Lett. 133(2024), no. 3 031603, [arXiv:2404.07173]
-
[66]
I. Arav, J. P. Gauntlett, M. M. Roberts, and C. Rosen,Spindle solutions, hyperscalars and smooth uplifts,arXiv:2511.01964
work page internal anchor Pith review arXiv
-
[67]
J. M. Maldacena and C. Nunez,Supergravity description of field theories on curved manifolds and a no go theorem,Int. J. Mod. Phys. A16(2001) 822–855, [hep-th/0007018]
work page Pith review arXiv 2001
-
[68]
Comments on N=(2,2) Supersymmetry on Two-Manifolds
C. Closset and S. Cremonesi,Comments onN= (2, 2) supersymmetry on two-manifolds, JHEP07(2014) 075, [arXiv:1404.2636]
work page Pith review arXiv 2014
-
[69]
K. Behrndt, A. H. Chamseddine, and W. A. Sabra,BPS black holes in N=2 five-dimensional AdS supergravity,Phys. Lett. B442(1998) 97–101, [hep-th/9807187]
-
[70]
M. Gunaydin, G. Sierra, and P. K. Townsend,The Geometry of N=2 Maxwell-Einstein Supergravity and Jordan Algebras,Nucl. Phys. B242(1984) 244–268
work page 1984
-
[71]
Cremonesi,An Introduction to Localisation and Supersymmetry in Curved Space,PoS Modave2013(2013) 002
S. Cremonesi,An Introduction to Localisation and Supersymmetry in Curved Space,PoS Modave2013(2013) 002
work page 2013
-
[72]
J. R. Quine, S. H. Heydari, and R. Y. Song,Zeta regularized products,Transactions of the American Mathematical Society338(1993), no. 1 213–231
work page 1993
-
[73]
Kawasaki,The Riemann-Roch theorem for complex V-manifolds,Osaka J
T. Kawasaki,The Riemann-Roch theorem for complex V-manifolds,Osaka J. Math.16 (1979) 151–159
work page 1979
-
[74]
Seifert fibering operators in 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories
C. Closset, H. Kim, and B. Willett,Seifert fibering operators in 3dN= 2theories,JHEP11 (2018) 004, [arXiv:1807.02328]
work page Pith review arXiv 2018
-
[75]
L. C. Jeffrey and F. C. Kirwan,Localization for nonabelian group actions,Topology34 (1995), no. 2 291–327
work page 1995
-
[76]
M. Brion and M. Vergne,Arrangements of hyperplanes I: Rational functions and Jeffrey-Kirwan residue,arXiv Mathematics e-prints(Mar., 1999) math/9903178, [math/9903178]. – 49 –
-
[77]
A. Szenes and M. Vergne,Toric reduction and a conjecture of Batyrev and Materov,Invent. Math.158(2004), no. 3 453–495, [math/0306311]
-
[78]
Pasquetti,Factorisation of N = 2 Theories on the Squashed 3-Sphere,JHEP04(2012) 120 [1111.6905]
S. Pasquetti,Factorisation of N = 2 Theories on the Squashed 3-Sphere,JHEP04(2012) 120, [arXiv:1111.6905]
- [79]
-
[80]
An Index Formula for Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics
C. Cordova and S.-H. Shao,An Index Formula for Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics,J. Singul.15(2016) 14–35, [arXiv:1406.7853]
work page Pith review arXiv 2016
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.