Characterization of Local Observables in Integrable Quantum Field Theories

We present a solution method for the inverse scattering problem for integrable two-dimensional relativistic quantum field theories, specified in terms of a given massive single particle spectrum and a factorizing S-matrix. An arbitrary number of massive particles transforming under an arbitrary compact global gauge group is allowed, thereby generalizing previous constructions of scalar theories. The two-particle S-matrix S is assumed to be an analytic solution of the Yang–Baxter equation with standard properties, including unitarity, TCP invariance, and crossing symmetry. Using methods from operator algebras and complex analysis, we identify sufficient criteria on S that imply the solution of the inverse scattering problem. These conditions are shown to be satisfied in particular by so-called diagonal S-matrices, but presumably also in other cases such as the O(N)-invariant nonlinear $${\sigma}$$ -models.

We present a new viewpoint on the construction of pointlike local fields in integrable models of quantum field theory. As usual, we define these local observables by their form factors; but rather than exhibiting their n-point functions and verifying the Wightman axioms, we aim to establish them as closed operators affiliated with a net of local von Neumann algebras, which is defined indirectly via wedge-local quantities. We also investigate whether these fields have the Reeh–Schlieder property, and in which sense they generate the net of algebras. Our investigation focuses on scalar models without bound states. We establish sufficient criteria for the existence of averaged fields as closable operators, and complete the construction in the specific case of the massive Ising model.

We study deformations of 2D Integrable Quantum Field Theories (IQFT) which preserve integrability (the existence of infinitely many local integrals of motion). The IQFT are understood as “effective field theories”, with finite ultraviolet cutoff. We show that for any such IQFT there are infinitely many integrable deformations generated by scalar local fields Xs, which are in one-to-one correspondence with the local integrals of motion; moreover, the scalars Xs are built from the components of the associated conserved currents in a universal way. The first of these scalars, X1, coincides with the composite field (TT¯) built from the components of the energy–momentum tensor. The deformations of quantum field theories generated by X1 are “solvable” in a certain sense, even if the original theory is not integrable. In a massive IQFT the deformations Xs are identified with the deformations of the corresponding factorizable S-matrix via the CDD factor. The situation is illustrated by explicit construction of the form factors of the operators Xs in sine-Gordon theory. We also make some remarks on the problem of UV completeness of such integrable deformations.

Defects are ubiquitous in nature, for example, in the form of dislocations, shocks, bores, or impurities of various kinds, and their descriptions are an important part of any physical theory. But the following question can be asked. What types of defect are allowed, and what are their properties if maintaining integrability within an integrable field theory in two-dimensional space-time is required? We consider a collection of ideas and questions connected with this problem, including examples of integrable defects and the curiously special roles played by energy-momentum conservation and Bäcklund transformations, solitons scattering on defects, and some interesting effects in the framework of the sine-Gordon model, defects in integrable quantum field theory, and the construction of transmission matrices. In conclusion, we remark on algebraic considerations and future research directions.

The thermodynamic Bethe ansatz approach to the study of integrable quantum field theories was introduced in the early 90s. Since then it has been known that the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz equations can be recast in the form of Y-systems. These Y-systems have a number of interesting properties, notably in the high-temperature limit their solutions are constants from which the central charge of the ultraviolet fixed point can be obtained and they are typically periodic functions, with period proportional to the dimension of the perturbing field. In this letter we discuss the derivation of Y-systems when the standard thermodynamic Bethe ansatz equations are replaced by generalised versions, describing generalised Gibbs ensembles. We shown that for many integrable quantum field theories, there is a large class of distinct generalised Gibbs ensembles which share the same Y-system.

In two recent papers [1, 2] we have proposed a program of study which allows us to compute the correlation functions of local and semi-local fields in generalised textrm{T}overline{textrm{T}} -deformed integrable quantum field theories. This new program, based on the construction of form factors, opens many avenues for future study, one of which we address in this paper: computing entanglement measures employing branch point twist fields. Indeed, over the past 15 years, this has become one the leading methods for the computation of entanglement measures, both in conformal field theory and integrable quantum field theory. Thus the generalisation of this program to textrm{T}overline{textrm{T}} -perturbed theories offers a promising new tool for the study of entanglement measures in the presence of irrelevant perturbations. In this paper, we show that the natural two-particle form factor solution for branch point twist fields in replica theories with diagonal scattering admits a simple generalisation to a solution for textrm{T}overline{textrm{T}} -perturbed theories. Starting with this solution, some of the known properties of entanglement measures in massive integrable quantum field theories can be generalised to the perturbed models. We show this by focusing on the Ising field theory. During the completion of this paper, we became aware of the recent publication [3] where the same problem has been addressed.

We determine the form factor expansion of the one-point functions in integrable quantum field theory at finite temperature and find that it is simpler than previously conjectured. We show that no singularities are left in the final expression provided that the operator is local with respect to the particles and argue that the divergences arising in the non-local case are related to the absence of spontaneous symmetry breaking on the cylinder. As a specific application, we give the first terms of the low temperature expansion of the one-point functions for the Ising model in a magnetic field.

We study homogeneous quenches in integrable quantum field theory where the initial state contains zero-momentum particles. We demonstrate that the two-particle pair amplitude necessarily has a singularity at the two-particle threshold. Albeit the explicit discussion is carried out for special (integrable) initial states, we argue that the singularity is inevitably present and is a generic feature of homogeneous quenches involving the creation of zero momentum particles. We also identify the singularity in quenches in the Ising model across the quantum critical point, and compute it perturbatively in phase quenches in the quantum sine-Gordon model which are potentially relevant to experiments. We then construct the explicit time dependence of one-point functions using a linked cluster expansion regulated by a finite volume parameter. We find that the secular contribution normally linear in time is modified by a t ln t term. We additionally encounter a novel type of secular contribution which is shown to be related to parametric resonance. It is an interesting open question to resum the new contributions and to establish their consequences directly observable in experiments or numerical simulations.

We propose a boundary thermodynamic Bethe ansatz calculation technique to obtain the Loschmidt echo and the statistics of the work done when a global quantum quench is performed on an integrable quantum field theory. We derive an analytic expression for the lowest edge of the probability density function and find that it exhibits universal features, in the sense that its scaling form depends only on the statistics of excitations. We perform numerical calculations on the sinh-Gordon model, a deformation of the free boson theory, and we obtain that by turning on the interaction the density function develops fermionic properties. The calculations are facilitated by a previously unnoticed property of the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz construction.

On the relation between Stokes multipliers and the T-Q systems of conformal field theory

At half-filling the repulsive Hubbard model is in a Mott insulating phase. The charge degrees of freedom are gapped, whereas the spin degrees of freedom remain gapless. At low energies the spin sector is actually scale invariant (apart from logarithmic corrections) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT) methods may be applied to determine the low-energy behaviour of correlation functions involving only the spin sector. On the other hand, the charge sector is not scale invariant and CFT does not provide any information for correlators involving the charge degrees of freedom. In this chapter we will show that there exists a particular continuum limit of the half filled Hubbard model, in which it is possible to calculate dynamical correlation functions by means of methods of integrable quantum field theory. We first construct a Lorentz invariant scaling limit starting from the results for the excitation spectrum and the S-matrix discussed in Chapter 7. This scaling limit is identified as the SU(2) Thirring model, which is an integrable relativistic quantum field theory. Next we discuss a continuum limit, which is obtained directly from the Hubbard Hamiltonian and describes the vicinity of the scaling limit.

Quantum field theories in finite volume: Excited state energies

In this paper we derive from field theory a Lüscher-formula, which gives the leading exponentially small in volume corrections to the 1-particle form-factors in non-diagonally scattering integrable quantum field theories. Our final formula is expressed in terms of appropriate expressions of 1- and 3-particle form-factors, and can be considered as the generalization of previous results obtained for diagonally scattering bosonic integrable quantum field theories. Since our formulas are also valid for fermions and operators with non-zero Lorentz-spin, we demonstrated our results in the Massive Thirring Model, and checked our formula against 1-loop perturbation theory finding perfect agreement.

Conformal boundary conditions - and what they teach us, V.B. Petkova and J.-B. Zuber a physical basis for the entropy of the AdS3 black hole, S. Fernando and F. Mansouri spinon formulation of the Kondo problem, A. Klumper and J.R. Reyes-Martinez boundary integrable quantum field theories, P. Dorey finite size effects in integrable quantum field theories, F. Ravanini nonperturbative analysis of the two-frequency Sine-Gordon model, Z. Bajnok et al screening in hot SU(2) gauge theory and propagators in 3D adjoint Higgs model, A. Cucchieri et al effective average action in statistical physics and quantum field theory, Ch. Wetterich phase transitions in non-Hermitean matrix models and the single ring theorem, J. Feinberg et al unravelling the mystery of flavor, A. Falk the Nahm transformation of R2 X T2, C. Ford a 2D integrable axion model and target space duality, P. Forgacs supersymmetric ward identities and chiral symmetry breaking in SUSY QED, M.L. Walker. (Part contents).

Integrable quantum field theories and conformal field theories from lattice models in the light-cone approach