3d mirror symmetry and the βγ VOA

Abstract

We study the simplest example of mirror symmetry for 3d [Formula: see text] SUSY gauge theories: the A-twist of a free hypermultiplet and the B-twist of SQED. We particularly focus on the category of line operators in each theory. Using the work of Costello–Gaiotto, we define these categories as appropriate categories of modules for the boundary vertex operator algebras present in each theory. For the A-twist of a free hyper, this will be a certain category of modules for the [Formula: see text] VOA, properly containing the category previously studied by Allen-Wood. Applying the work of Creutzig–Kanade–McRae and Creutzig–McRae–Yang, we show that the category of line operators on the A side possesses the structure of a braided tensor category, extending the result of Allen-Wood. In addition, we prove that there is a braided tensor equivalence between the categories of line operators on the A side and B side, completing a nontrivial check of the 3d mirror symmetry conjecture. We derive explicit fusion rules as a consequence of this equivalence and obtain interesting relations with associated quantum group representations.