Non-invertible symmetry and vertex operator algebra outer-automorphism

Abstract

We argue that the non-invertible symmetry of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory, obtained by combining S-duality, half-space gauging, and R-symmetry twist, is realized as an outer-automorphism of the associated vertex operator algebra. Hence, the Schur and Macdonald index of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory with non-invertible symmetry twist corresponds to the (refined) vacuum character of the associated vertex operator algebra with the outer-automorphism twist. We provide a few checks of our proposal from the large-$N$ limit and by matching the fusion rules, which involve charge conjugation on local operators. The `charged' Schur index indeed matches the outer-automorphism-twisted vacuum character.