Conformal QED Research Articles

Quaternionic analysis, representation theory and physics II

We develop further quaternionic analysis introducing left and right doubly regular functions. We derive Cauchy-Fueter type formulas for these doubly regular functions that can be regarded as another counterpart of Cauchy's integral formula for the second order pole, in addition to the one studied in the first paper with the same title. We also realize the doubly regular functions as a subspace of the quaternionic-valued functions satisfying a Euclidean version of Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field. Then we return to the study of the original quaternionic analogue of Cauchy's second order pole formula and its relation to the polarization of vacuum. We find the decomposition of the space of quaternionic-valued functions into irreducible components that include the spaces of doubly left and right regular functions. Using this decomposition, we show that a regularization of the vacuum polarization diagram is achieved by subtracting the component corresponding to the one-dimensional subrepresentation of the conformal group. After the regularization, the vacuum polarization diagram is identified with a certain second order differential operator which yields a quaternionic version of Maxwell equations. Next, we introduce two types of quaternionic algebras consisting of spaces of scalar-valued and quaternionic-valued functions. We emphasize that these algebra structures are invariant under the action of the conformal Lie algebra. This uses techniques from our study of the vacuum polarization diagram. These algebras are not associative, but we can define an infinite family of n-multiplications, and we conjecture that they have structures of weak cyclic A-infinity algebras. We also conjecture the relation between the multiplication operations of the scalar and non-scalar quaternionic algebras with the n-photon Feynman diagrams in the scalar and ordinary conformal QED.

Conformal QED in two-dimensional topological insulators

It has been shown that local four-fermion interactions on the edges of two-dimensional time-reversal-invariant topological insulators give rise to a new non-Fermi-liquid phase, called helical Luttinger liquid (HLL). Here, we provide a first-principle derivation of this HLL based on the gauge-theory approach. We start by considering massless Dirac fermions confined on the one-dimensional boundary of the topological insulator and interacting through a three-dimensional quantum dynamical electromagnetic field. Within these assumptions, through a dimensional-reduction procedure, we derive the effective 1 + 1-dimensional interacting fermionic theory and reveal its underlying gauge theory. In the low-energy regime, the gauge theory that describes the edge states is given by a conformal quantum electrodynamics (CQED), which can be mapped exactly into a HLL with a Luttinger parameter and a renormalized Fermi velocity that depend on the value of the fine-structure constant α.

On C J and C T in conformal QED

QED with a large number $N$ of massless fermionic degrees of freedom has a conformal phase in a range of space-time dimensions. We use a large $N$ diagrammatic approach to calculate the leading corrections to $C_T$, the coefficient of the two-point function of the stress-energy tensor, and $C_J$, the coefficient of the two-point function of the global symmetry current. We present explicit formulae as a function of $d$ and check them versus the expectations in 2 and $4-\epsilon$ dimensions. Using our results in higher even dimensions we find a concise formula for $C_T$ of the conformal Maxwell theory with higher derivative action $F_{\mu \nu} (-\nabla^2)^{\frac{d}{2}-2} F^{\mu \nu}$. In $d=3$, QED has a topological symmetry current, and we calculate the correction to its two-point function coefficient, $C^{\textrm{top}}_{J}$. We also show that some RG flows involving QED in $d=3$ obey $C_T^{\rm UV} > C_T^{\rm IR}$ and discuss possible implications of this inequality for the symmetry breaking at small values of $N$.

Construction of infrared finite observables inN=4super Yang-Mills theory

In this paper we give all the details of the calculation that we presented in our previous paper ArXiv:0908.0387 where the infrared structure of the MHV gluon amplitudes in the planar limit for ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory was considered in the next-to-leading order of perturbation theory. Explicit cancellation of the infrared divergencies in properly defined inclusive cross-sections is demonstrated first in a toy model example of "conformal QED" and then in the real ${\cal N}=4$ SYM theory. We give the full-length details both for the calculation of the real emission and for the diagrams with splitting in initial and final states. The finite parts for some inclusive differential cross-sections are presented in an analytical form. In general, contrary to the virtual corrections, they do not reveal any simple structure. An example of the finite part containing just the log functions is presented. The dependence of inclusive cross-section on the external scale related to the definition of asymptotic states is discussed.

Infrared finite bremsstrahlung and compact time in conformal QED

We argue that the scalea of the compact evolution time\(|\bar t| \leqslant \pi a\) allowed by conformal invariance can be used as infrared regulator of Abelian gauge theories. By quantizing scalar conformal QED in the compact basisO(4)×O(2), and by classifying the photon states accordingly, we show that the charged-particle bremsstrahlung and the corresponding coherent states are both infrared and collinear finite.

Conformal quantum Yang–Mills

Conformally covariant quantization of non-Abelian gauge theory is presented, and the invariant propagators needed for perturbative calculations are found. The vector potential acquires a richer gauge structure displayed in the larger Gupta–Bleuler triplet whose center is occupied by conformal QED. Path integral formulation and BRS invariance are shown on a formal level in one covariant gauge.

Conformal invariance in gauge theories II. Yang-Mills theory

The results of Part 1 are generalized to the non-Abelian case. By analogy with conformal QED, in which interaction with a matter field is realized by means of a four-vector potential that transforms in accordance with a direct sum of two nonprincipal representations, the first step in the present paper is the construction of a new formulation of quantum electrodynamics, in which the four-vector potential is regarded as an independent variable. Although the potential as a whole transforms in accordance with a principal representation, the corresponding conformally invariant two-point functions have a nonzero transverse part, and the Lagrangian is nondegenerate. In the non-Abelian case, one manifestly conformally invariant gauge condition is found, and the corresponding functional determinant is calculated. It is shown that in the gauge-invariant sector this theory is equivalent to the ordinary theory with conformally noninvariant gauge condition. A local effective Lagrangian is constructed, the Faddeev-Popov ''ghost'' fields having in this case scale dimension zero. It is shown that this effective Lagrangian has a residual global supersymmetry of Becchi-Rouet-Stora type.

Gauge fixing problem in the conformal QED

The gauge fixing problem in the conformal (spinor and scalar) QED is examined. For the analysis, we generalize Dirac's manifestly conformal-covariant formalism. It is shown that the (vector and matter) fields must obey a certain mixed (conformal and gauge) type of transformation law in order to fix the local gauge symmetry preserving the conformal invariance in the Lagrangian.

Conformal gauges and renormalized equations of motion in massless quantum electrodynamics

A formulation of massless QED is studied with a non-singular Lagrangian and conformal invariant equations of motion. It makes use of non-decomposable representations of the conformal groupG and involves two dimensionless scalar fields (in addition to the conventional charged field and electromagnetic potential) but gauge invariant Green functions are shown to coincide with those of standard (massless) QED. Assuming that the (non-elementary) representation ofG for the 5-potential which leaves the equations of motion invariant and leads to the free photon propagator of Johnson-Baker-Adler (JBA) conformal QED remains unaltered by renormalization, we prove that consistency requirements for conformal invariant 2-, 3-, and 4-point Green functions satisfying (renormalized) equations of motion and standard Ward identities lead to either a trivial solution (witheψ=0) or to a subcanonical dimensiond=1/2 for the charged field.