On $E_{7+1/2}$ gauge theory

Abstract

We study gauge theory based on the intermediate Lie algebra $E_{7+1/2}$, interpolating between $E_7$ and $E_8$. We propose a concrete UV completion via a 6d SCFT whose tensor branch description contains a pure $E_{7+1/2}$ gauge sector. The proposal is tested by 6d anomaly cancellation and by the 5d $\mathcal N=1$ Coulomb branch prepotential from the associated M-theory geometry. As a nonperturbative check, we determine the elliptic genus of the single-string worldsheet CFT using modular bootstrap. The result matches the vacuum character of the corresponding VOA for $E_{7+1/2}$, completing the elliptic genus/VOA correspondence along the Deligne-Cvitanovi\'{c} series.