Seiberg–Witten theory and matrix models

We derive a family of matrix models which encode solutions to the Seiberg–Witten theory in 4 and 5 dimensions. Partition functions of these matrix models are equal to the corresponding Nekrasov partition functions, and their spectral curves are the Seiberg–Witten curves of the corresponding theories. In consequence of the geometric engineering, the 5-dimensional case provides a novel matrix model formulation of the topological string theory on a wide class of non-compact toric Calabi–Yau manifolds. This approach also unifies and generalizes other matrix models, such as the Eguchi–Yang matrix model, matrix models for bundles over P1P1, and Chern–Simons matrix models for lens spaces, which arise as various limits of our general result.