Boundary Renormalization Group Flows Research Articles

G Theorem from Strong Subadditivity.

We show that strong subadditivity provides a simple derivation of the g theorem for the boundary renormalization group flow in two-dimensional conformal field theories. We work out its holographic interpretation and also give a derivation of the g theorem for the case of an interface in two-dimensional conformal field theories. We also geometrically confirm strong subadditivity for holographic duals of conformal field theories on manifolds with boundaries.

Holographic and localization calculations of boundary F for mathcal{N} = 4 SUSY Yang-Mills theory

mathcal{N} = 4 Supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM) theory can be defined on a half-space with a variety of boundary conditions preserving scale invariance and half of the original supersymmetry; more general theories with the same symmetry can be obtained by coupling to a 3D SCFT at the boundary. Each of these theories is characterized by a quantity called “boundary F”, conjectured to decrease under boundary renormalization group flows. In this paper, we calculate boundary F for U(N) mathcal{N} = 4 SYM theory with the most general half-supersymmetric boundary conditions arising from string theory constructions with D3-branes ending on collections of D5-branes and/or NS5-branes. We first perform the calculation holographically by evaluating the entanglement entropy for a half-ball centered on the boundary using the Ryu-Takayanagi formula in the dual type IIB supergravity solutions. For boundary conditions associated with D3-branes ending on D5 branes only or NS5-branes only, we also calculate boundary F exactly by evaluating the hemisphere partition function using supersymmetric localization. The leading terms at large N in the supergravity and localization results agree exactly as a function of the t’ Hooft coupling λ.

CFT in AdS and boundary RG flows

Using the fact that flat space with a boundary is related by a Weyl transformation to anti-de Sitter (AdS) space, one may study observables in boundary conformal field theory (BCFT) by placing a CFT in AdS. In addition to correlation functions of local operators, a quantity of interest is the free energy of the CFT computed on the AdS space with hyperbolic ball metric, i.e. with a spherical boundary. It is natural to expect that the AdS free energy can be used to define a quantity that decreases under boundary renormalization group flows. We test this idea by discussing in detail the case of the large N critical O(N) model in general dimension d, as well as its perturbative descriptions in the epsilon-expansion. Using the AdS approach, we recover the various known boundary critical behaviors of the model, and we compute the free energy for each boundary fixed point, finding results which are consistent with the conjectured F-theorem in a continuous range of dimensions. Finally, we also use the AdS setup to compute correlation functions and extract some of the BCFT data. In particular, we show that using the bulk equations of motion, in conjunction with crossing symmetry, gives an efficient way to constrain bulk two-point functions and extract anomalous dimensions of boundary operators.

Composite operators near the boundary

We use renormalization group methods to study composite operators existing at a boundary of an interacting conformal field theory. In particular we relate the data on boundary operators to short-distance (near-boundary) divergences of bulk two-point functions. We further argue that in the presence of running couplings at the boundary the anomalous dimensions of certain composite operators can be computed from the relevant beta functions and remark on the implications for the boundary (pseudo) stress-energy tensor. We apply the formalism to a scalar field theory in d = 3−\U0001d716 dimensions with a quartic coupling at the boundary whose beta function we determine to the first non-trivial order. We study the operators in this theory and compute their conformal data using \U0001d716 −expansion at the Wilson-Fisher fixed point of the boundary renormalization group flow. We find that the model possesses a non-zero boundary stress-energy tensor and displacement operator both with vanishing anomalous dimensions. The boundary stress tensor decouples at the fixed point in accordance with Cardy’s condition for conformal invariance. We end the main part of the paper by discussing the possible physical significance of this fixed point for various values of \U0001d716.

Irreversibility in quantum field theories with boundaries

We study conformal field theories with boundaries, and their boundary renormalization group (RG) flows, using methods from quantum information theory. Positivity of the relative entropy, together with unitarity and Lorentz invariance, give rise to bounds that characterize the irreversibility of such flows. This generalizes the recently proved entropic g-theorem to higher dimensions. In 2 + 1 dimensions with a boundary, we prove the entropic b-theorem — the decrease of the two-dimensional Weyl anomaly under boundary RG flows. In higher dimensions, the bound implies that the leading area coefficient of the entanglement entropy induced by the defect decreases along the flow. Our proof unifies these properties, and provides an information-theoretic interpretation in terms of the distinguishability between the short distance and long distance states. Finally, we establish a sum rule for the change in the area term in theories with boundaries, which could have implications for models with localized gravity.

Entanglement entropy and boundary renormalization group flow: Exact results in the Ising universality class

The entanglement entropy in one dimensional critical systems with boundaries has been associated with the noninteger ground state degeneracy. This quantity, being a characteristic of boundary fixed points, decreases under renormalization group flow, as predicted by the g-theorem. Here, using conformal field theory methods, we exactly calculate the entanglement entropy in the boundary Ising universality class. Our expression can be separated into the well known bulk term and a boundary entanglement term, displaying a universal flow between two boundary conditions, in accordance with the g-theorem. These results are obtained within the replica trick approach, where we show that the associated twist field, a central object generating the geometry of an $n$-sheeted Riemann surface, can be bosonized, giving simple analytic access to multiple quantities of interest. We argue that our result applies to other models falling into the same universality class. This includes the vicinity of the quantum critical point of the two-channel Kondo model, allowing to track in real space the presence of a region containing one half of a qubit with entropy $\frac{1}{2} \log (2)$, associated with a free local Majorana fermion.

The g-theorem and quantum information theory

We study boundary renormalization group flows between boundary conformal field theories in $1+1$ dimensions using methods of quantum information theory. We define an entropic $g$-function for theories with impurities in terms of the relative entanglement entropy, and we prove that this $g$-function decreases along boundary renormalization group flows. This entropic $g$-theorem is valid at zero temperature, and is independent from the $g$-theorem based on the thermal partition function. We also discuss the mutual information in boundary RG flows, and how it encodes the correlations between the impurity and bulk degrees of freedom. Our results provide a quantum-information understanding of (boundary) RG flow as increase of distinguishability between the UV fixed point and the theory along the RG flow.

Constraint on Defect and Boundary Renormalization Group Flows.

A conformal field theory (CFT) in dimension d≥3 coupled to a planar, two-dimensional, conformal defect is characterized in part by a "central charge" b that multiplies the Euler density in the defect's Weyl anomaly. For defect renormalization group flows, under which the bulk remains critical, we use reflection positivity to show that b must decrease or remain constant from the ultraviolet to the infrared. Our result applies also to a CFT in d=3 flat space with a planar boundary.

RG flow and thermodynamics of causal horizons in AdS

Causal horizons in pure Poincare $AdS$ are Killing horizons generated by dilatation vector. Renormalization group (RG) flow breaks the dilatation symmetry and makes the horizons dynamical. We propose that the boundary RG flow is dual to the thermodynamics of the causal horizon. As a check of our proposal we show that the gravity dual of the boundary $c$-theorem is the second law of thermodynamics obeyed by causal horizons. The holographic $c$-function is the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy (density) of the dynamical causal horizon. We explicitly construct the $c$-function in a generic class of RG-flow geometries and show that it interpolates monotonically between the UV and IR central charges as a result of the second law.

Path integral on star graph

In this paper we study path integral for a single spinless particle on a star graph with N edges, whose vertex is known to be described by U(N) family of boundary conditions. After carefully studying the free particle case, both at the critical and off-critical levels, we propose a new path integral formulation that correctly captures all the scale-invariant subfamily of boundary conditions realized at fixed points of boundary renormalization group flow. Our proposal is based on the folding trick, which maps a scalar-valued wave function on star graph to an N-component vector-valued wave function on half-line. All the parameters of scale-invariant subfamily of boundary conditions are encoded into the momentum independent weight factors, which appear to be associated with the two distinct path classes on half-line that form the cyclic group Z2. We show that, when bulk interactions are edge-independent, these weight factors are generally given by an N-dimensional unitary representation of Z2. Generalization to momentum dependent weight factors and applications to worldline formalism are briefly discussed.

Defect loops in gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten models

We consider loop observables in gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten models, and study the action of renormalization group flows on them. In the WZW model based on a compact Lie group G, we analyze at the classical level how the space of renormalizable defects is reduced upon the imposition of global and affine symmetries. We identify families of loop observables which are invariant with respect to an affine symmetry corresponding to a subgroup H of G, and show that they descend to gauge-invariant defects in the gauged model based on G/H. We study the flows acting on these families perturbatively, and quantize the fixed points of the flows exactly. From their action on boundary states, we present a derivation of the "generalized Affleck-Ludwig rule, which describes a large class of boundary renormalization group flows in rational conformal field theories.

New WZW D-branes from the algebra of Wilson loop operators

We investigate the algebra generated by the topological Wilson loop operators in WZW models. Wilson loops describe the nontrivial fixed points of the boundary renormalization group flows triggered by Kondo perturbations. Their enveloping algebra therefore encodes all the fixed points which can be reached by sequences of Kondo flows. This algebra is easily described in the case of SU(2), but displays a very rich structure for higher rank groups. In the latter case, its action on known D-branes creates a profusion of new and generically non-rational D-branes. We describe their symmetries and the geometry of their worldvolumes. We briefly explain how to extend these results to coset models.

Unparticles and holographic renormalization group

We revisit the unparticle interactions and propagators from the AdS-CFT point of view, and we show how the contact terms and their renormalization group flow appear in the context of the holographic renormalization. We study both vector unparticles and unfermions, uncovering the relevant boundary conditions and renormalization group flows.

General properties of the boundary renormalization group flow for supersymmetric systems in $1 + 1$ dimensions

We consider the general supersymmetric one-dimensional quantum system with boundary, critical in the bulk but not at the boundary. The renormalization group (RG) flow on the space of boundary conditions is generated by the boundary beta functions β a (λ) for the boundary coupling constants λ a . We prove a gradient formula ∂ ln z/∂λ a = −g S abβ b where z(λ) is the boundary partition function at given temperature T =1 /β, and g S (λ) is a certain positive-definite metric on the

Kondo flow invariants, twisted K-theory and Ramond-Ramond charges

We take a worldsheet point of view on the relation between Ramond-Ramond charges, invariants of boundary renormalization group flows and K-theory. In compact super Wess-Zumino-Witten models, we show how to associate invariants of the generalized Kondo renormalization group flows to a given supersymmetric boundary state. The procedure involved is reminiscent of the way one can probe the Ramond-Ramond charge carried by a D-brane in conformal field theory, and the set of these invariants is isomorphic to the twisted K-theory of the Lie group. We construct various supersymmetric boundary states, and we compute the charges of the corresponding D-branes, disproving two conjectures on this subject. We find a complete agreement between our algebraic charges and the geometry of the D-branes.

Vacuum structure and boundary renormalization group

The vacuum structure is probed by boundary conditions. The behaviour of thermodynamical quantities such as free energy, boundary entropy and entanglement entropy under the boundary renormalization group flow are analysed in 2D conformal field theories. The results show that wherever vacuum energy and boundary entropy turn out to be very sensitive to boundary conditions, the vacuum entanglement entropy is independent of boundary properties when the boundary of the entanglement domain does not overlap the boundary of the physical space. In all cases the second law of thermodynamics holds along the boundary renormalization group flow.

Quantization of Wilson loops in Wess-Zumino-Witten models

We describe a non-perturbative quantization of classical Wilson loops in the WZW model. The quantized Wilson loop is an operator acting on the Hilbert space of closed strings and commuting either with the full Kac-Moody chiral algebra or with one of its subalgebras. We prove that under open/closed string duality, it is dual to a boundary perturbation of the open string theory. As an application, we show that such operators are useful tools for identifying fixed points of the boundary renormalization group flow.

Entanglement and boundary critical phenomena

We investigate boundary critical phenomena from a quantum information perspective. Bipartite entanglement in the ground state of one-dimensional quantum systems is quantified using the Renyi entropy S_alpha, which includes the von Neumann entropy (alpha=1) and the single-copy entanglement (alpha=infinity) as special cases. We identify the contribution from the boundary entropy to the Renyi entropy, and show that there is an entanglement loss along boundary renormalization group (RG) flows. This property, which is intimately related to the Affleck-Ludwig g-theorem, can be regarded as a consequence of majorization relations between the spectra of the reduced density matrix along the boundary RG flows. We also point out that the bulk contribution to the single-copy entanglement is half of that to the von Neumann entropy, whereas the boundary contribution is the same.

Landau-Ginzburg Description of Boundary Critical Phenomena in Two Dimensions

The Virasoro minimal models with boundary are described in the Landau-Ginzburg theory by introducing a boundary potential, function of the boundary field value. The ground state field configurations become non-trivial and are found to obey the soliton equations. The conformal invariant boundary conditions are characterized by the reparametrization-invariant data of the boundary potential, that are the number and degeneracies of the stationary points. The boundary renormalization group flows are obtained by varying the boundary potential while keeping the bulk critical: they satisfy new selection rules and correspond to real deformations of the Arnold simple singularities of A_k type. The description of conformal boundary conditions in terms of boundary potential and associated ground state solitons is extended to the N=2 supersymmetric case, finding agreement with the analysis of A-type boundaries by Hori, Iqbal and Vafa.

Exact ϕ1,3 boundary flows in the tricritical Ising model

We consider the tricritical Ising model on a strip or cylinder under the integrable perturbation by the thermal ϕ 1,3 boundary field. This perturbation induces five distinct renormalization group (RG) flows between Cardy type boundary conditions labelled by the Kac labels ( r, s). We study these boundary RG flows in detail for all excitations. Exact thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) equations are derived using the lattice approach by considering the continuum scaling limit of the A 4 lattice model with integrable boundary conditions. Fixing the bulk weights to their critical values, the integrable boundary weights admit a thermodynamic boundary field ξ which induces the flow and, in the continuum scaling limit, plays the role of the perturbing boundary field ϕ 1,3. The excitations are completely classified, in terms of string content, by ( m, n) systems and quantum numbers but the string content changes by either two or three well-defined mechanisms along the flow. We identify these mechanisms and obtain the induced maps between the relevant finitized Virasoro characters. We also solve the TBA equations numerically to determine the boundary flows for the leading excitations.