2026 Simons Collaboration on Confinement and QCD Strings Annual Meeting

Thursday

Friday

Ofer Aharony
Weizmann Institute of Science

The String Theory Dual of Two Dimensional Yang-Mills Theory

Two dimensional U(N) Yang–Mills theory is an exactly solvable theory, whose observables include its partition function (on space-times of various topologies) and the expectation values of Wilson loops. The large N expansion (with fixed ‘t Hooft coupling) of these observables was rewritten by Gross and Taylor as a sum over mappings from a worldsheet to space-time over 30 years ago. In this talk, Ofer Aharony describes how to construct a worldsheet action that precisely reproduces this sum over mappings with the correct factors for every map (including, but not limited to, the holomorphic maps that give the “chiral Yang–Mills” theory).

Aleksey Cherman
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Does the Hot-QCD Chiral Transition Live on a Conformal Manifold?

Recent lattice evidence raises the possibility that the chiral phase transition in QCD is second-order for two or more massless flavors. In this talk, Aleksey Cherman presents constraints on CFT descriptions of a line of critical points in the plane of temperature T and imaginary baryon chemical potential θ_B=iμ_B/T. A ‘t Hooft anomaly at general θ_B constrains the transition even at θ_B = 0, leaving only three minimal scenarios. The best-motivated scenario for more than two flavors, and perhaps also two, is beyond Ginzburg–Landau: a conformal manifold of θ_B-dependent universality classes, with an exactly marginal operator related to baryon density.

Gabriel Francisco Cuomo
International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)

The Two-Flavor Schwinger Model at 50: Solving Coleman’s Puzzles

In 1976, Coleman studied 1+1-dimensional QED with two massive charged fermions as a tractable example of a strongly coupled gauge theory. He concluded his paper with three puzzles concerning some peculiar phenomena in the model. In this talk, Gabriel Francisco Cuomo reviews its phase diagram and its close analogy with four-dimensional two-flavor QCD, and then presents new analytical and numerical results that resolve Coleman’s three puzzles.

Davide Gaiotto
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

Holography in Chern-Simons Theory and Minimal Models

In this talk, Davide Gaiotto reviews recent progress in understanding holographic dualities for SU(N) Chern–Simons theory coupled to defects in one and two space-time dimensions.

Jaume Gomis
Perimeter Institute

Defects in Chern-Simons Theory and Holography

In this talk, Jaume Gomis shows that Chern-Simons theory is endowed, beyond its celebrated Wilson loops, with a large collection of monodromy line defects whose correlation functions can likewise be computed exactly. Gomis also discusses the ’t Hooft expansion of these defects and identify their large N dual string description.

Victor Gorbenko
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

Confining Flux Tubes at Negative Curvature

In this talk, Victor Gorbenko reviews the recent progress in our studies of confining flux tubes using AdS space as an infrared regulator. Varying the AdS radius from large to small allows for the interpolatation between the flat space confining string and a weakly coupled string-like object that is held together by the AdS gravitational potential. At any radius, the string preserves a subgroup of AdS isometries equivalent to the one-dimensional conformal group and hence, from the boundary point of view, can be thought of as a conformal defect. Extending the perturbative calculations in both regimes to higher orders and testing the interpolation between them probes the UV completion of effective string theory. Computations are supplemented by numerical conformal bootstrap, as well as by some exact results in a related supersymmetric holographic model.

Grigory Tarnopolsky
Carnegie Mellon University

The Sphere Free Energy of QED with a Large Number of Flavors

In this talk, Grigory Tarnopolsky computes the sphere free energy of conformal quantum electrodynamics (QED) in arbitrary dimension d in the limit of a large number of fermion flavors to order 1/N. The result is strikingly simple and directly proportional to the 1/N correction to C_J, the coefficient of the two-point function of the global symmetry current. Tarnopolsky also discusses how this result puts constraints on 3D conformal window.

Michael Teper
University of Oxford

Some Lessons for Confinement from the Phases of Z(N) Lattice Gauge Theories

In this talk, Michael Teper analyzes numerically various phases of Z(N) lattice gauge theories in 2+1 dimensions with a focus on their confining properties. By calculating the flux emanating from monopole-instantons as well as that associated with closed vortex loops, Teper shows that confining flux tubes are only present when the vacuum contains a plasma of monopoles and speculates why this might be so.

Participation in the meeting falls into the following four categories. An individual’s participation category is communicated via their letter of invitation.

The Simons Foundation will never ask for credit card information or require payment for registration to our events.

Group A – PIs, Speakers & Organizers

Individuals in Group A receive travel and hotel coordination within the following parameters:

Travel
Economy Class: For flights that are three hours or less to your destination, the maximum allowable class of service is Economy class.
Premium Economy Class: For flights where the total air travel time (excluding connection time) is more than three hours and less than seven hours per segment to your destination, the maximum allowable class of service is premium economy.
Business Class: When traveling internationally (or to Hawaii/Alaska) travelers are permitted to travel in Business Class on those segments that are seven hours or more. If the routing is over budget, a premium economy or mixed-class ticket will be booked.

Hotel
Up to 3 nights at the conference hotel, arriving on Wednesday, November 4 and departing on Saturday, November 7.

Group B – Funded Participants

Individuals in Group B receive travel and hotel coordination within the following parameters:

Travel
Economy class travel will be booked regardless of flight length.

Hotel
Up to 3 nights at the conference hotel, arriving on Wednesday, November 4 and departing on Saturday, November 7.

Group C – Unfunded Participants

Individuals in Group C will not receive financial support but are encouraged to enjoy all conference-hosted meals.

Group D – Remote Participants

Individuals in Group D will participate in the meeting remotely.

Air and Rail

For funded individuals, the foundation will arrange and pay for round-trip travel from their home city to the conference city. All travel and hotel arrangements must be booked through the Simons Foundation’s preferred travel agency.

Travel Deviations

The following travel specifications are considered deviations and will only be accommodated if the cost is less than or equal to the amount the Simons Foundation would pay for a standard round-trip ticket from your home city to the conference city:

• Preferred airline
• Preferred travel class
• Specific flights/flight times
• Travel dates outside those associated with the conference
• Arriving or departing from an airport other than your home city or conference city airports, i.e. multi-segment or triangle trips.

All deviations must be reviewed and approved by the Simons Foundation and, if the cost is more than what would normally be paid, a reimbursement quote must be obtained through the foundation’s travel agency before proceeding to booking and paying for travel out of pocket. All reimbursements for travel booked directly will be paid after the conclusion of the meeting.

Changes After Ticketing

All costs related to changes made to ticketed travel are to be paid for by the participant and are not reimbursable. Please contact the foundation’s travel agency for further assistance.

Personal & Rental Cars

Personal car and rental trips over 250 miles each way require prior approval from the Simons Foundation via email.

Rental cars must be pre-approved by the Simons Foundation.

The Hotel Seville NoMad offers valet parking. Please note there are no in-and-out privileges when using the hotel’s garage, therefore it is encouraged that participants walk or take public transportation to the Simons Foundation.

Hotel

Funded individuals who require hotel accommodations are hosted by the foundation for a maximum of 3 nights at the conference hotel, arriving on Wednesday, November 4 and departing on Saturday, November 7.

Any additional nights are at the attendee’s own expense. To arrange accommodations, please register at the link included in your invitation.

Hotel Seville NoMad
22 E 29th St
New York, NY 10016
(between 28th and 29th Streets)
https://www.hyatt.com/unbound-collection/en-US/nycud-hotel-seville-nomad

For driving directions to the Hotel Seville NoMad, please click here.

Overview

In-person participants will be reimbursed for meals and local expenses including ground transportation. Expenses should be submitted through the foundation’s online expense reimbursement platform after the meeting’s conclusion.

Expenses accrued because of meetings not directly related to the Simons Foundation-hosted meeting (a satellite meeting or meeting held at another institution, for example) will not be reimbursed by the Simons Foundation and should be paid by other sources.

Below are key reimbursement takeaways; a full policy will be provided with the final logistics email circulated approximately 2 weeks prior to the meeting’s start.

Meals

The daily meal limit is $125; itemized receipts are required for expenses over $24 USD. The foundation DOES NOT provide a meal per diem and only reimburses actual meal expenses up the following amounts.

• Breakfast $20
• Lunch $30
• Dinner $75

Allowable Meal Expenses

• Meals taken on travel days (when you traveled by air or train).
• Meals not provided on a meeting day, dinner on Friday for example.
• Group dinners consisting of fellow meeting participants paid by a single person will be reimbursed up to $75 per person and the amount will count towards the $125 daily meal limit.

Unallowable Meal Expenses

• Meals taken outside those provided by the foundation (breakfast, lunch, breaks and/or dinner).
• Meals taken on days not associated with Simons Foundation-coordinated events.
• Minibar expenses.
• Meal expenses for a non-foundation guest.

• Ubers, Lyfts, taxis, etc., taken to and from restaurants in Manhattan.

  • Accommodations will be made for those with mobility restrictions.

Ground Transportation

Expenses for ground transportation will be reimbursed for travel days (i.e. traveling to/from the airport or train station) as well as subway and bus fares while in Manhattan are reimbursable.

Transportation to/from satellite meetings are not reimbursable.

Attendance

In-person participants and speakers are expected to attend all meeting days. Participants receiving hotel and travel support wishing to arrive on meeting days which conclude at 2:00 PM will be asked to attend remotely.

Entry & Building Access

Upon arrival, guests will be required to show their photo ID to enter the Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute buildings. After checking-in at the meeting reception desk, guests will be able to show their meeting name badge to re-enter the building. If you forget your name badge, you will need to provide your photo ID.

The Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute buildings are not considered “open campuses” and meeting participants will only have access to the spaces in which the meeting will take place. All other areas are off limits without prior approval.

If you require a private space to conduct a phone call or remote meeting, please contact your meeting manager at least 48-hours ahead of time so that they may book a space for you within the foundation’s room reservation system.

Guests & Children

Meeting participants are required to give 24-hour advance notice of any guests meeting them at the Simons Foundation either before or after the meeting. Outside guests are discouraged from joining meeting activities, including meals.

With the exception of Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute staff, ad hoc meeting participants who did not receive a meeting invitation directly from the Simons Foundation are not permitted.

Children under the age of 18 are not permitted to attend meetings at the Simons Foundation. Furthermore, the Simons Foundation does not provide childcare facilities or support of any kind. Special accommodations will be made for nursing parents.

Meeting & Policy Questions

Meghan Fazzi
Senior Manager, Events & Administration
[email protected]

Travel & Hotel Support

FCM Travel Meetings & Events
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