Reconstruction of spectra and an algorithm based on the theorems of Darboux and Puiseux

Abstract

Assuming only a known dispersion relation of a single mode in the spectrum of a meromorphic two-point function (in the complex frequency plane at fixed wavevector) in some quantum field theory, we investigate when and how the reconstruction of the complete spectrum of physical excitations is possible. In particular, we develop a constructive algorithm based on the theorems of Darboux and Puiseux that allows for such a reconstruction of all modes connected by level-crossings. For concreteness, we focus on theories in which the known mode is a gapless excitation described by the hydrodynamic gradient expansion, known at least to some (preferably high) order. We first apply the algorithm to a simple algebraic example and then to the transverse momentum excitations in the holographic theory that describes a stack of M2 branes and includes momentum diffusion as its gapless excitation.