Exact Finite-$N$ eRS Surface-Defect Indices and Giant-Graviton Corrections in $\mathcal N=4$ SYM

Abstract

We compute the exact finite-\(N\) superconformal index of four-dimensional \(\mathcal N=4\) \(U(N)\) Yang--Mills theory with antisymmetric elliptic Ruijsenaars--Schneider (eRS) surface-defect insertions. By matching the inserted eRS Hamiltonians to their independent realization in five-dimensional \(\mathcal N=1^*\) gauge theory, we interpret that the solvable locus \(t=q\) corresponds to vanishing adjoint mass. Motivated by this massless specialization, we impose the four-dimensional balancing condition \(p=uv\). At this point, the eRS operators are conjugate to free \(q\)-shifts, and the self-glued matrix integral reduces to a bilateral free-fermion determinant. This gives closed finite-\(N\) formulas for every antisymmetric rank. On \(v=0\), we determine the stable pure \(u^{kN}\) corrections at all wrapping orders; the bilateral formula also captures the reflected \(v^{kN}\) sectors and mixed \(u\)--\(v\) contributions. We further formulate the balanced perturbation away from \(t=q\) through second order in terms of connected correlators. Finally, a maximal-D3 determinant reproduces the ordinary one-giant coefficient and isolates the microscopic input required for the defect correction.