Free field realisation of boundary vertex algebras for Abelian gauge theories in three dimensions

Abstract

We study the boundary vertex algebras of $A$-twisted $\mathcal{N}=4$ Abelian gauge theories in three dimensions. These are identified with the BRST quotient (semi-infinite cohomology) of collections of symplectic bosons and free fermions that reflect the matter content of the corresponding gauge theory. We develop various free field realisations for these vertex algebras which we propose to interpret in terms of their localisation on their associated varieties. We derive the free field realisations by bosonising the elementary symplectic bosons and free fermions and then calculating the relevant semi-infinite cohomology, which can be done systematically. An interesting feature of our construction is that for certain preferred free field realisations, the outer automorphism symmetry of the vertex algebras in question (which are identified with the symmetries of the Coulomb branch in the infrared) are made manifest.