Refined Painlev\'e/gauge theory correspondence and quantum tau functions

Abstract

In this paper we study strong coupling asymptotic expansions of ${\mathcal N}=2$ $D=4$ $SU(2)$ gauge theory partition functions in general $\Omega$-background. This is done by refining Painlev\'e/gauge theory correspondence in terms of quantum Painlev\'e equations, obtained from $\mathbb{C}^2/\mathbb{Z}_2$ blowup relations. We present a general ansatz and a systematic analysis of the expansions of the gauge theory partition functions by solving the above equations around the strong coupling singularities, including Argyres-Douglas points. We compare our results with refined holomorphic anomaly equations and irregular Virasoro conformal blocks.