Defects, modular differential equations, and free field realization of N=4 vertex operator algebras

Abstract

For all 4d $\mathcal{N} = 4$ SYM theories with simple gauge groups $G$, we show that the residues of the integrands in the $\mathcal{N} = 4$ Schur indices, which are related to Gukov-Witten type surface defects in the theories, equal the vacuum characters of rank$G$ copies of $bc \beta \gamma$ systems that provide the free field realization of associated $\mathcal{N} = 4$ VOAs. This result predicts that these residues, as module characters, are additional solutions to the flavored modular differential equations satisfied by the original Schur index. The prediction is verified in the $G = SU(2)$ case, where an additional logarithmic solution is constructed.