Vortex Loop Operators, M2-branes and Holography

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We construct vortex loop operators in the three-dimensional N = 6 supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory recently constructed by Aharony, Bergman, Jafferis and Maldacena. These disorder loop operators are specified by a vortex-like singularity for the scalar and gauge fields along a one dimensional curve in spacetime. We identify the 1/2, 1/3 and 1/6 BPS loop operators in the Chern-Simons theory with excitations of M-theory corresponding to M2-branes ending along a curve on the boundary of AdS₄ x S⁷/Zₖ. The vortex loop operators can also be given a purely geometric description in terms of regular "bubbling" solutions of eleven dimensional supergravity which are asymptotically AdS₄ x S⁷/Zₖ.