N=2☆ from topological amplitudes in string theory

In this paper, we explicitly construct string theory backgrounds that realise the so-called N = 2(star) gauge theory. We prove the consistency of our models by calculating their partition function and obtaining the correct gauge theory spectrum. We further provide arguments in favour of the universality of our construction which covers a wide class of models all of which engineer the same gauge theory. We reproduce the corresponding Nekrasov partition function once the Omega-deformation is included and the appropriate field theory limit taken. This is achieved by calculating the topological amplitudes F-g in the string models. In addition to heterotic and type II constructions, we also realise the mass deformation in type I theory, thus leading to a natural way of uplifting the result to the instanton sector. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license.