Partition Functions of $\mathcal{N}=1$ Gauge Theories on $S^2 \times \mathbb{R}^2_\varepsilon$ and Duality

Abstract: We compute the partition functions of $\mathcal{N} = 1$ gauge theories on $S^2 \times \mathbb{R}^2_\varepsilon$ using supersymmetric localization. The path integral reduces to a sum over vortices at the poles of $S^2$ and at the origin of $\mathbb{R}^2_\varepsilon$. The exact partition functions allow us to test Seiberg duality beyond the supersymmetric index. We propose the $\mathcal{N} = 1$ partition functions on the $\Omega$-background, and show that the Nekrasov partition functions can be recovered from these building blocks.