Conformal Blocks Research Articles

Bootstrapping the gap in quantum spin systems

In this work we report on a new bootstrap method for quantum mechanical problems that closely mirrors the setup from conformal field theory (CFT). We use the equations of motion to develop an analogue of the conformal block expansion for matrix elements and impose crossing symmetry in order to place bounds on their values. The method can be applied to any quantum mechanical system with a local Hamiltonian, and we test it on an anharmonic oscillator model as well as the (1 + 1)-dimensional transverse field Ising model (TFIM). For the anharmonic oscillator model we show that a small number of crossing equations provides an accurate solution to the spectrum and matrix elements. For the TFIM we show that the Hamiltonian equations of motion, translational invariance and global symmetry selection rules imposes a rigorous bound on the gap and the matrix elements of TFIM in the thermodynamic limit. The bound improves as we consider larger systems of crossing equations, ruling out more finite-volume solutions. Our method provides a way to probe the low energy spectrum of an infinite lattice from the Hamiltonian rigorously and without approximation.

The design and characterization of a novel dynamic collimator system for synchrotron radiotherapy applications.

Novel synchrotron radiotherapy techniques are currently limited to using prefabricated beam-limiting blocks for field definition. For large experiments, a single square tungsten block is often used for every treatment since conformal blocks are both patient and field specific, and require long lead times for fabrication. Future synchrotron radiotherapy treatments would benefit from a dynamic collimatorsystem. We developed and tested a novel collimator design for use on the Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL) at the ANSTO AustralianSynchrotron. The maximum usable beam size on IMBL is 50-mm wide by 3-mm tall. Given the beam shape, targets must be vertically scanned through the synchrotron beam to cover the target volume. To shape the beam, a novel collimator design was developed, consisting of two semi-circular leaves made from 4-mm thick tungsten sheets, with each leaf capable of both vertical and horizontal movement. A software model was created to optimize motor trajectories and generate deliverable treatment fields. A series of geometric field shapes and clinical target volumes were delivered using the collimator and imaged with a digital imaging detector. Four similarity metrics (volumetric similarity, DICE, and the average and maximum Hausdorff distances) were used to measure differences between the input and planned fields, and the planned and deliveredfields. Differences between input and planned fields increased with delivery speed, and were worse for rectangular and square fields compared to circular fields. However, the differences between planned and delivered fields were small, where the maximum average deviation between the fields was 0.25mm (one pixel). Field repeatability was consistent with no difference (σ = 0 for all metrics) observed in consecutively deliveredfields. We have successfully built and demonstrated a novel collimator for synchrotron radiotherapy applications on IMBL. Several design improvements have been highlighted and will be addressed in future revisions the collimator. However, in its current state, the collimator enables dynamically delivered conformal treatment fields to be utilized on IMBL, and is ready to support the forthcoming canine treatments on IMBL.

On the Convergence of Nekrasov Functions

In this note, we present some results on the convergence of Nekrasov partition functions as power series in the instanton counting parameter. We focus on U(N) N=2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathcal N}=2$$\\end{document} gauge theories in four dimensions with matter in the adjoint and in the fundamental representations of the gauge group, respectively, and find rigorous lower bounds for the convergence radius in the two cases: if the theory is conformal, then the series has at least a finite radius of convergence, while if it is asymptotically free it has infinite radius of convergence. Via AGT correspondence, this implies that the related irregular conformal blocks of WN\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$W_N$$\\end{document} algebrae admit a power expansion in the modulus converging in the whole plane. By specifying to the SU(2) case, we apply our results to analyze the convergence properties of the corresponding Painlevé τ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ au $$\\end{document}-functions.

Large N analytical functional bootstrap. Part I. 1D CFTs and total positivity

We initiate the analytical functional bootstrap study of conformal field theories with large N limits. In this first paper we particularly focus on the 1D O(N) vector bootstrap. We obtain a remarkably simple bootstrap equation from the O(N) vector crossing equations in the large N limit. The numerical conformal bootstrap bound is saturated by the generalized free field theories, while its extremal functional actions do not converge to any non-vanishing limit. We study the analytical extremal functionals of this crossing equation, for which the total positivity of the SL(2, ℝ) conformal block plays a critical role. We prove the SL(2, ℝ) conformal block is totally positive in the limits with large ∆ or small 1 − z and show that the total positivity is violated below a critical value {Delta }_{textrm{TP}}^{ast } ≈ 0.32315626. The SL(2, ℝ) conformal block forms a surprisingly sophisticated mathematical structure, which for instance can violate total positivity at the order 10−5654 for a normal value ∆ = 0.1627! We construct a series of analytical functionals {αM} which satisfy the bootstrap positive conditions up to a range ∆ ⩽ ΛM. The functionals {αM} have a trivial large M limit. However, due to total positivity, they can approach the large M limit in a way consistent with the bootstrap positive conditions for arbitrarily high ΛM. Moreover, in the region ∆ ⩽ ΛM, the analytical functional actions are consistent with the numerical bootstrap results, therefore it clarifies the positive structure in the crossing equation analytically. Our result provides a concrete example to illustrate how the analytical properties of the conformal block lead to nontrivial bootstrap bounds. We expect this work paves the way for large N analytical functional bootstrap in higher dimensions.

The torus one-point diagram in two-dimensional string cosmology

We calculate numerically the torus one-point string diagram in the two-dimensional string cosmology background by decomposing the one-point functions in c = 1 and c = 25 Liouville CFT into torus one-point Virasoro conformal blocks and integrating over the fundamental domain of the torus moduli space. We find a remarkably simple result as a function of the outgoing closed string energy. This torus one-point diagram is expected to contribute to the one-point cosmological wavefunction at order gs, and to the four-point cosmological wavefunction at order {g}_s^2 through the disconnected product of the torus one-point diagram and the sphere three-point diagram.

A two-dimensional string cosmology

We study two-dimensional string theory on a time-dependent background, whose worldsheet description consists of Liouville theory at central charge c = 1 and Liouville theory at central charge c = 25, together with the conformal ghosts. We compute the tree-level three-point and four-point components of the cosmological wavefunction in string perturbation theory. The latter is evaluated numerically by decomposing the Liouville four-point correlation functions into Virasoro conformal blocks and three-point function coefficients and integrating over the moduli space of the four-punctured sphere string diagram. This computation numerically confirms a surprisingly simple conjectural result for the four-point wavefunction component whose physical interpretation remains to be clarified.

Conformal bootstrap in momentum space at finite volume

In this paper, we Fourier transform the Wightman function concerning energy and angular momentum on the SD−1 spatial slice in radial quantization in D = 2, 3 dimensions. In each case, we use the conformal Ward Identities to solve systematically for the Fourier components. We then use these Fourier components to build conformal blocks for the four-point function in momentum space, giving a finite-volume version of the momentum-space conformal blocks. We check that this construction is consistent with the known result in infinite volume. Our construction may help to find bootstrap equations that can give nontrivial constraints that do not appear in analysis in infinite volume. We show some examples of bootstrap equations and their nontriviality.

The S-matrix of 2D type 0B string theory. Part I. Perturbation theory revisited

We study the perturbative S-matrix of closed strings in the two-dimensional type 0B string theory from the worldsheet perspective, by directly integrating correlation functions of mathcal{N} = 1 Liouville theory. The latter is computed numerically using recurrence relations for super-Virasoro conformal blocks. We show that the tree level 3- and 4-point amplitudes are in agreement with the proposed dual matrix quantum mechanics. The non-perturbative aspects of the duality will be analyzed in a companion paper.

The shadow formalism of Galilean CFT2

In this work, we develop the shadow formalism for two-dimensional Galilean conformal field theory (GCFT2). We define the principal series representation of Galilean conformal symmetry group and find its relation with the Wigner classification, then we determine the shadow transform of local operators. Using this formalism we derive the OPE blocks, Clebsch-Gordan kernels, conformal blocks and conformal partial waves. A new feature is that the conformal block admits additional branch points, which would destroy the convergence of OPE for certain parameters. We establish another inversion formula different from the previous one, but get the same result when decomposing the four-point functions in the mean field theory (MFT). We also construct a continuous series of bilocal actions of MFT, and an exceptional series of local actions, one of which is the BMS free scalar model. We notice that there is an outer automorphism of the Galilean conformal symmetry, and the GCFT2 can be regarded as null defect in higher dimensional CFTs.

Bootstrapping closed string field theory

The determination of the string vertices of closed string field theory is shown to be a conformal field theory problem solvable by combining insights from Liouville theory, hyperbolic geometry, and conformal bootstrap. We first demonstrate how Strebel differentials arise from hyperbolic string vertices by performing a WKB approximation to the associated Fuchsian equation, which we subsequently use it to derive a Polyakov-like conjecture for Strebel differentials. This result implies that the string vertices are generated by the interactions of n zero momentum tachyons, or equivalently, a certain limit of suitably regularized on-shell Liouville action. We argue that the latter can be related to the interaction of three zero momentum tachyons on a generalized cubic vertex through classical conformal blocks. We test this claim for the quartic vertex and discuss its generalization to higher-string interactions.

Resurgence, conformal blocks, and the sum over geometries in quantum gravity

In two dimensional conformal field theories the limit of large central charge plays the role of a semi-classical limit. Certain universal observables, such as conformal blocks involving the exchange of the identity operator, can be expanded around this classical limit in powers of the central charge c. This expansion is an asymptotic series, so — via the same resurgence analysis familiar from quantum mechanics — necessitates the existence of non-perturbative effects. In the case of identity conformal blocks, these new effects have a simple interpretation: the CFT must possess new primary operators with dimension of order the central charge. This constrains the data of CFTs with large central charge in a way that is similar to (but distinct from) the conformal bootstrap. We study this phenomenon in three ways: numerically, analytically using Zamolodchikov’s recursion relations, and by considering non-unitary minimal models with large (negative) central charge. In the holographic dual to a CFT2, the expansion in powers of c is the perturbative loop expansion in powers of ћ. So our results imply that the graviton loop expansion is an asymptotic series, whose cure requires the inclusion of new saddle points in the gravitational path integral. In certain cases these saddle points have a simple interpretation: they are conical excesses, particle-like states with negative mass which are not in the physical spectrum but nevertheless appear as non-manifold saddle points that control the asymptotic behaviour of the loop expansion. This phenomenon also has an interpretation in SL(2, ℝ) Chern-Simons theory, where the non-perturbative effects are associated with the non-Teichmüller component of the moduli space of flat connections.

Wilson lines construction of [formula omitted] toroidal conformal blocks

We study W3 toroidal conformal blocks for degenerate primary fields in AdS/CFT context. In the large central charge limit W3 algebra reduces to sl3 algebra and sl3 blocks are defined as contributions to W3 blocks coming from the generators of sl3 subalgebra. We consider the construction of sl3 toroidal blocks in terms of Wilson lines operators of 3d Chern-Simons gravity in the thermal AdS3 space-time. According to the correspondence, degenerate primary fields are associated with Wilson lines operators acting in the corresponding finite-dimensional sl3 representations. We verify this dual construction for one-point toroidal block using sl3 tensor technique in the bulk theory and an algorithm based on AGT correspondence in the boundary CFT.

Recurrence relation for instanton partition function in SU(N) gauge theory

We derive a residue formula and as a consequence a recurrence relation for the instanton partition function in mathcal{N} = 2 supersymmetric theory on ℂ2 with SU(N) gauge group.The particular cases of SU(2) and SU(3) gauge groups were considered in the literature before. The recurrence relation with SU(2) gauge group is long well known and was found as the Alday-Gaiotto-Tachikawa (AGT) counterpart of the Zamolodchikov relation for the Virasoro conformal blocks. In the SU(3) case a residue formula for the term with the minimal number of instantons was found and basing on it a recurrence relation was conjectured.We give a complete proof of the residue formula in all instanton orders in presence of any number of matter hypermultiplets in the adjoint and fundamental representations. The recurrence relation however describes only theories with not too much matter hypermultiplets so that the behaviour at infinity is moderate. The guideline of the proof is an algebro-geometric interpretation of the mathcal{N} = 2 supersymmetric gauge theory partition function in terms of the framed torsion-free sheaves. Lead by this interpretation we formulate a refined version of the residue formula and prove it by direct algebraic manipulations.

Convergence of sewing conformal blocks

In a recent work [On factorization and vector bundles of conformal blocks from vertex algebras, preprint (2019), arXiv:1909.04683], Damiolini et al. showed that for a [Formula: see text]-cofinite rational vertex operator algebra [Formula: see text], sheaves of conformal blocks are locally free and satisfy the factorization property. In this paper, we prove that if [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-cofinite, the sewing of conformal blocks is convergent. This proves a conjecture proposed by Zhu [Global vertex operators on Riemann surfaces, Commun. Math. Phys. 165(3) (1994) 485–531] and Huang [Some open problems in mathematical two-dimensional conformal field theory, preprint (2016), arXiv:1606.04493], generalizing previous results on the convergence of products, iterates, and traces (but not pseudo-traces) of vertex operators and intertwining operators in [Y. Zhu, Modular invariance of characters of vertex operator algebras, J. Amer. Math. Soc. 9(1) (1996) 237–302; Y. Z. Huang, A theory of tensor products for module categories for a vertex operator algebra, IV, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 100(1–3) (1995) 173–216; Y. Z. Huang, Differential equations, duality and modular invariance, Commun. Contemp. Math. 7(05) (2005) 649–706; Y. Z. Huang, J. Lepowsky and L. Zhang, Logarithmic tensor category theory, VII: Convergence and extension properties and applications to expansion for intertwining maps, preprint (2011), arXiv:1110.1929] and on the convergence of projective factors related to the central charge of the Virasoro algebra in [Y. Z. Huang, Two-Dimensional Conformal Geometry and Vertex Operator Algebras, Vol. 148 (Springer Science & Business Media, 1997)].

Effective description of sub-maximal chaos: stringy effects for SYK scrambling

It has been proposed that the exponential decay and subsequent power law saturation of out-of-time-order correlation functions can be universally described by collective ‘scramblon’ modes. We develop this idea from a path integral perspective in several examples, thereby establishing a general formalism. After reformulating previous work on the Schwarzian theory and identity conformal blocks in two-dimensional CFTs relevant for systems in the infinite coupling limit with maximal quantum Lyapunov exponent, we focus on theories with sub-maximal chaos: we study the large-q limit of the SYK quantum dot and chain, both of which are amenable to analytical treatment at finite coupling. In both cases we identify the relevant scramblon modes, derive their effective action, and find bilocal vertex functions, thus constructing an effective description of chaos. The final results can be matched in detail to stringy corrections to the gravitational eikonal S-matrix in holographic CFTs, including a stringy Regge trajectory, bulk to boundary propagators, and multi-string effects that are unexplored holographically.

Universal spinning Casimir equations and their solutions

Conformal blocks are a central analytic tool for higher dimensional conformal field theory. We employ Harish-Chandra’s radial component map to construct universal Casimir differential equations for spinning conformal blocks in any dimension d of Euclidean space. Furthermore, we also build a set of differential “shifting” operators that allow to construct solutions of the Casimir equations from certain seeds. In the context of spinning four-point blocks of bulk conformal field theory, our formulas provide an elegant and far reaching generalisation of existing expressions to arbitrary tensor fields and arbitrary dimension d. The power of our new universal approach to spinning blocks is further illustrated through applications to defect conformal field theory. In the case of defects of co-dimension q = 2 we are able to construct conformal blocks for two-point functions of symmetric traceless bulk tensor fields in both the defect and the bulk channel. This opens an interesting avenue for applications to the defect bootstrap. Finally, we also derive the Casimir equations for bulk-bulk-defect three-point functions in the bulk channel.

Anyonic defect branes and conformal blocks in twisted equivariant differential (TED) K-theory

We demonstrate that twisted equivariant differential K-theory of transverse complex curves accommodates exotic charges of the form expected of codimension[Formula: see text]2 defect branes, such as of [Formula: see text]-branes in IIB/F-theory on [Formula: see text]-type orbifold singularities, but also of their dual 3-brane defects of class-S theories on M5-branes. These branes have been argued, within F-theory and the AGT correspondence, to carry special [Formula: see text]-monodromy charges not seen for other branes, at least partially reflected in conformal blocks of the [Formula: see text]-WZW model over their transverse punctured complex curve. Indeed, it has been argued that all “exotic” branes of string theory are defect branes carrying such U-duality monodromy charges — but none of these had previously been identified in the expected brane charge quantization law given by K-theory. Here we observe that it is the subtle (and previously somewhat neglected) twisting of equivariant K-theory by flat complex line bundles appearing inside orbi-singularities (“inner local systems”) that makes the secondary Chern character on a punctured plane inside an [Formula: see text]-type singularity evaluate to the twisted holomorphic de Rham cohomology which Feigin, Schechtman and Varchenko showed realizes [Formula: see text]-conformal blocks, here in degree 1 — in fact it gives the direct sum of these over all admissible fractional levels [Formula: see text]. The remaining higher-degree [Formula: see text]-conformal blocks appear similarly if we assume our previously discussed “Hypothesis H” about brane charge quantization in M-theory. Since conformal blocks — and hence these twisted equivariant secondary Chern characters — solve the Knizhnik–Zamolodchikov equation and thus constitute representations of the braid group of motions of defect branes inside their transverse space, this provides a concrete first-principles realization of anyon statistics of — and hence of topological quantum computation on — defect branes in string/M-theory.

Isomonodromic Tau Functions on a Torus as Fredholm Determinants, and Charged Partitions

We prove that the isomonodromic tau function on a torus with Fuchsian singularities and generic monodromies in GL(N,{mathbb {C}}) can be written in terms of a Fredholm determinant of Plemelj operators. We further show that the minor expansion of this Fredholm determinant is described by a series labeled by charged partitions. As an example, we show that in the case of SL(2,{mathbb {C}}) this combinatorial expression takes the form of a dual Nekrasov–Okounkov partition function, or equivalently of a free fermion conformal block on the torus. Based on these results we also propose a definition of the tau function of the Riemann–Hilbert problem on a torus with generic jump on the A-cycle.

A dispersion relation for defect CFT

We present a dispersion relation for defect CFT that reconstructs two-point functions in the presence of a defect as an integral of a single discontinuity. The main virtue of this formula is that it streamlines explicit bootstrap calculations, bypassing the resummation of conformal blocks. As applications we reproduce known results for monodromy defects in the epsilon-expansion, and present new results for the supersymmetric Wilson line at strong coupling in mathcal{N} = 4 SYM. In particular, we derive a new analytic formula for the highest R-symmetry channel of single-trace operators of arbitrary length.

Modular linear differential equations for four-point sphere conformal blocks

We construct modular linear differential equations (MLDEs) w.r.t. subgroups of the modular group whose solutions are Virasoro conformal blocks appearing in the expansion of a crossing symmetric 4-point correlator on the sphere. This uses a connection between crossing transformations and modular transformations. We focus specifically on second order MLDEs with the cases of all identical and pairwise identical operators in the correlator. The central charge, the dimensions of the above operators and those of the intermediate ones are expressed in terms of parameters that occur in such MLDEs. In doing so, the q-expansions of the solutions to the MLDEs are compared with those of Virasoro blocks; hence, Zamolodchikov’s elliptic recursion formula provides an important input. Using the actions of respective subgroups, bootstrap equations involving the associated 3-point coefficients have been set up and solved as well in terms of the MLDE parameters. We present explicit examples of MLDEs corresponding to BPZ and novel non-BPZ equations, as well as unitary and non-unitary CFTs.