Open-Closed-Open Triality for 1/2 BPS Three-Point Functions

Abstract

Open-closed-open triality relates two distinct open string descriptions through a common closed string theory. In this paper, we develop an open-closed-open triality for protected half-BPS three-point functions in four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory. Starting from determinant insertions representing giant gravitons, we formulate a V-type open-string Gaussian three-matrix model and, through a color-flavor transformation, derive an F-type open-string model of three bifundamental matrices forming a triangular quiver. Its closed quiver walks include oriented cubic cycles, a feature absent from the bipartite two-point case. We test the correspondence by deriving exact finite-$N$ single-giant polynomials, recovering the known F-type large-$N$ saddles, and proving the equivalence of the V- and F-type character expansions via an explicit bijection of their combinatorial data. At the closed string corner, connected three-matrix contractions determine three-colored integer Strebel surfaces. We argue that the corresponding target-space construction is naturally described by a barycentrically subdivided Belyi map or a colored Hurwitz constellation.