A physics perspective on geometric Langlands duality

Abstract

We review the approach to the geometric Langlands program for algebraic curves via S-duality of an N=4 supersymmetric four dimensional gauge theory, initiated by Kapustin and Witten in 2006. We sketch some of the central further developments. Placing this four dimensional gauge theory into a six dimensional framework, as advocated by Witten, holds the promise to lead to a formulation which makes geometric Langlands duality a manifest symmetry (like coavariance in differential geometry). Furthermore, it leads to an approach toward geometric Langlands duality for algebraic surfaces, reproducing and extending the recent results of Braverman and Finkelberg.