Conformal Theory Research Articles

Comments on the quantum field theory of the Coulomb gas formalism

The holomorphic Coulomb gas formalism, as developed by Feigin-Fuchs, Dotsenko-Fateev and Felder, is a set of rules for computing minimal model observables using free field techniques. We attempt to derive and clarify these rules using standard techniques of quantum field theory. We begin with a careful examination of the timelike linear dilaton. Although the background charge of the model breaks the scalar field’s continuous shift symmetry, the exponential of the action remains invariant under a discrete shift because the background charge is imaginary. Gauging this symmetry makes the dilaton compact and introduces winding modes into the spectrum. One of these winding operators corresponds to the anti-holomorphic completion of the BRST current first introduced by Felder, and the full left/right cohomology of this BRST charge isolates the irreducible representations of the Virasoro algebra within the degenerate Fock space of the linear dilaton. The “supertrace” in the BRST complex reproduces the minimal model partition function and exhibits delicate cancellations between states with both momentum and winding. The model at the radius R=sqrt{pp^{prime }} has two marginal operators corresponding to the Dotsenko-Fateev “screening charges”. Deforming by them, we obtain a model that might be called a “BRST quotiented compact timelike Liouville theory”. The Hamiltonian of the zero-mode quantum mechanics of this model is not Hermitian, but it is PT-symmetric and exactly solvable. Its eigenfunctions have support on an infinite number of plane waves, suggesting an infinite reduction in the number of independent states in the full quantum field theory. Applying conformal perturbation theory to the exponential interactions reproduces the Coulomb gas calculations of minimal model correlation functions. In contrast to spacelike Liouville, these “resonance correlators” are finite because the zero mode is compact. We comment on subtleties regarding the reflection operator identification, as well as naive violations of truncation in correlators with multiple reflection operators inserted. This work is part of an attempt to understand the relationship between the JT model of two dimen- sional gravity and the worldsheet description of the (2, p) minimal string as suggested by Seiberg and Stanford.

On rational points in CFT moduli spaces

Motivated by the search for rational points in moduli spaces of two-dimensional conformal field theories, we investigate how points with enhanced symmetry algebras are distributed there. We first study the bosonic sigma-model with S1 target space in detail and uncover hitherto unknown features. We find for instance that the vanishing of the twist gap, though true for the S1 example, does not automatically follow from enhanced symmetry points being dense in the moduli space. We then explore the supersymmetric sigma-model on K3 by perturbing away from the torus orbifold locus. Though we do not reach a definite conclusion on the distribution of enhanced symmetry points in the K3 moduli space, we make several observations on how chiral currents can emerge and disappear under conformal perturbation theory.

Eigenvalue spectrum and scaling dimension of lattice mathcal{N} = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills

We investigate the lattice regularization of mathcal{N} = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, by stochastically computing the eigenvalue mode number of the fermion operator. This provides important insight into the non-perturbative renormalization group flow of the lattice theory, through the definition of a scale-dependent effective mass anomalous dimension. While this anomalous dimension is expected to vanish in the conformal continuum theory, the finite lattice volume and lattice spacing generically lead to non-zero values, which we use to study the approach to the continuum limit. Our numerical results, comparing multiple lattice volumes, ’t Hooft couplings, and numbers of colors, confirm convergence towards the expected continuum result, while quantifying the increasing significance of lattice artifacts at larger couplings.

Light-Cone Bootstrap of Higher Point Functions and Wilson Loop Duality.

We initiate an exploration of the conformal bootstrap for n>4 point correlation functions. Here we bootstrap correlation functions of the lightest scalar gauge invariant operators in planar non-Abelian conformal gauge theories as their locations approach the cusps of a null polygon. For that we consider consistency of the OPE in the so-called snowflake channel with respect to cyclicity transformations which leave the null configuration invariant. For general non-Abelian gauge theories this allows us to strongly constrain the OPE structure constants of up to three large spin J_{j} operators (and large polarization quantum number l_{j}) to all loop orders. In N=4 we fix them completely through the duality to null polygonal Wilson loops and the recent origin limit of the hexagon explored by Basso, Dixon, and Papathanasiou.

Synthesis, crystal structure, density functional theory, Hirshfeld surface analysis and molecular docking studies of 2-(2-phenylanthracen-9-yl)thiophene derivatives

Thiophene containing molecules have been distinguished as potential candidates in the largely emergent chemical world of heterocyclic compounds that show likely pharmacological characteristics. The knowledge of a mixture of synthetic pathways and the different physicochemical parameters of such compounds describe the especial interest of medicinal chemists to produce combinatorial collections and carry out in-depth efforts in the search of lead molecules. Among the various group of compounds studied, thiophene moieties stand out as unique in features due to their biological, pharmacological and medicinal properties. Synthesis, crystal structure, conformation and density functional theory of 2-(2-phenylanthracen-9-yl)thiophene derivative have been investigated in detail. Thiophene moiety are in planar conformation and having C-H…O type of hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces. Density functional theory has been applied to the thiophene derivative. Thiophene compounds score highly against the targeted protein and can be compared to the co-crystal ligand. Hirshfeld surface studies have been used to confirm and quantify the supramolecular features.

The effect of Guanxi culture on the voting of independent directors: Evidence from China

The effect of formal institutions on the monitoring behavior of independent directors has been recognized, but knowledge of informal institutions, which can help explain how independent directors act in different social and cultural environments, is lacking. Based on the conformity theory, we investigated the influence of regional guanxi culture, a new informal institution, on directors' voting behavior. We found that the likelihood of independent directors casting a dissenting vote was lower when they were appointed to firms located in regions with an intense guanxi culture. The specific guanxi culture of the locations in which independent directors reside had a negatively moderating effect on the relationship between the firms' guanxi culture and the likelihood of their dissenting votes. In addition, independent directors who had dissented before departing a firm obtained fewer future directorships in local provinces with intense guanxi cultures. We argue that directors adapt to maintain their interpersonal relationships when the guanxi culture is intense, leading to a weaker monitoring effect and less independence.

Lorentzian Toda field theories

We propose several different types of construction principles for new classes of Toda field theories based on root systems defined on Lorentzian lattices. In analogy to conformal and affine Toda theories based on root systems of semi-simple Lie algebras, also their Lorentzian extensions come about in conformal and massive variants. We carry out the Painlevé integrability test for the proposed theories, finding in general only one integer valued resonance corresponding to the energy-momentum tensor. Thus most of the Lorentzian Toda field theories are not integrable, as the remaining resonances, that grade the spins of the W-algebras in the semi-simple cases, are either non-integer or complex valued. We analyze in detail the classical mass spectra of several massive variants. Lorentzian Toda field theories may be viewed as perturbed versions of integrable theories equipped with an algebraic framework.

Comparative study on numerical performances of log-conformation representation and standard conformation representation in the simulation of viscoelastic fluid turbulent drag-reducing channel flow

In this paper, a new derivation process of the log-conformation governing equation for viscoelastic fluid flows is presented by using the Taylor series definition of the matrix logarithm. Based on the log-conformation representation (LCR) and standard conformation representation (CR) methods, the turbulent drag-reducing channel flow of viscoelastic fluid described by the Oldroyd-B constitutive model is simulated by the finite difference method. The comparison illustrates that the turbulent drag reduction (DR) effect under the condition of a low Weissenberg number (Wi = 1) or moderate Weissenberg number (Wi = 5) can be successfully reproduced by the CR method but is very difficult to be obtained by the LCR method at the same grid resolution if the commonly used interpolation approaches in the computing domain (i.e., log domain) are employed. Further research reveals that the interpolation method of log-conformation tensor involved is one of the dominant reasons responsible for the disability to obtain a turbulent DR effect by using the LCR method. If the interpolation is performed in a physical domain, the turbulent DR effect can be reproduced by using the LCR method. If the interpolation involved in the CR method is carried out in a log domain, the turbulent DR phenomenon can still be simulated but with a weakened DR effect. In sum, this study demonstrates that the commonly used interpolation approaches in the log domain should be responsible for the poor performance of the LCR method.

The effective action of superrotation modes

Starting from an analysis of four-dimensional asymptotically flat gravity in first order formulation, we show that superrotation reparametrization modes are governed by an Alekseev-Shatashvili action on the celestial sphere. This two-dimensional conformal theory describes spontaneous symmetry breaking of Virasoro superrotations together with the explicit symmetry breaking of more general Diff( {mathcal{S}}^2 ) superrotations. We arrive at this result by first reformulating the asymptotic field equations and symmetries of the radiative vacuum sector in terms of a Chern-Simons theory at null infinity, and subsequently performing a Hamiltonian reduction of this theory onto the celestial sphere.

Exact Modular $S$ Matrix for ${\mathbb Z}_{k}$ Parafermion Quantum Hall Islands and Measurement of Non-Abelian Anyons

Using the decomposition of rational conformal filed theory characters for the $\Z_k$ parafermion quantum Hall droplets for general $k=2,3,\dots$, we derive analytically the full modular $S$ matrix for these states, including the $\uu$ parts corresponding to the charged sector of the full conformal field theory and the neutral parafermion contributions corresponding to the diagonal affine coset models. This precise neutral-part parafermion $S$ matrix is derived from the explicit relations between the coset matrix and those for the numerator and denominator of the coset and the latter is expressed in compact form due to the level-rank duality between the affine Lie algebras $\widehat{\frak{su}(k)_2}$ and $\widehat{\frak{su}(2)_k}$. The exact results obtained for the $S$ matrix elements are expected to play an important role for identifying interference patterns of fractional quantum Hall states in Fabry-P\'erot interferometers which can be used to distinguish between Abelian and non-Abelian statistics of quasiparticles localized in the bulk of fractional quantum Hall droplets as well as for nondestructive interference measurement of Fibonacci anyons which can be used for universal topological quantum computation

Scale-fixed predictions for \u03b3 + \u03b7c production in electron-positron collisions at NNLO in perturbative QCD

In the paper, we present QCD predictions for γ + ηc production at an electron-positron collider up to next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) accuracy without renormalization scale ambiguities. The NNLO total cross-section for e+ + e− → γ + ηc using the conventional scale-setting approach has large renormalization scale ambiguities, usually estimated by choosing the renormalization scale to be the e+e− center-of-mass collision energy sqrt{s} . The Principle of Maximum Conformality (PMC) provides a systematic way to eliminate such renormalization scale ambiguities by summing the nonconformal β contributions into the QCD coupling αs(Q2). The renormalization group equation then sets the value of αs for the process. The PMC renormalization scale reflects the virtuality of the underlying process, and the resulting predictions satisfy all of the requirements of renormalization group invariance, including renormalization scheme invariance. After applying the PMC, we obtain a renormalization scale-and-scheme independent prediction, σ|NNLO,PMC ≃ 41.18 fb for sqrt{s} =10.6 GeV. The resulting pQCD series matches the series for conformal theory and thus has no divergent renormalon contributions. The large K factor which contributes to this process reinforces the importance of uncalculated NNNLO and higher-order terms. Using the PMC scale-and-scheme independent conformal series and the Padé approximation approach, we predict σ|NNNLO,PMC+Pade ≃ 18.99 fb, which is consistent with the recent BELLE measurement {sigma}^{mathrm{obs}}={16.58}_{-9.93}^{+10.51} fb at sqrt{s} ≃ 10.6 GeV. This procedure also provides a first estimate of the NNNLO contribution.

Line and surface defects for the free scalar field

For a single free scalar field in d ≥ 2 dimensions, almost all the unitary conformal defects must be ‘trivial’ in the sense that they cannot hold interesting dynamics. The only possible exceptions are monodromy defects in d ≥ 4 and co-dimension three defects in d ≥ 5. As an intermediate result we show that the n-point correlation functions of a conformal theory with a generalized free spectrum must be those of the generalized free theory.

QED_{3}-Inspired Three-Dimensional Conformal Lattice Gauge Theory without Fine-Tuning.

We construct a conformal lattice theory with only gauge degrees of freedom based on the induced nonlocal gauge action in QED_{3} coupled to large number of flavors N of massless two-component Dirac fermions. This lattice system displays signatures of criticality in gauge observables, without any fine-tuning of couplings and can be studied without MonteCarlo critical slowdown. By coupling exactly massless fermion sources to the lattice gauge model, we demonstrate that nontrivial anomalous dimensions are induced in fermion bilinears depending on the dimensionless electric charge of the fermion. We present a proof-of-principle lattice computation of the Wilson-coefficients of various fermion bilinear three-point functions. Finally, by mapping the charge q of fermion in the model to a flavor N in massless QED_{3}, we point to a universality in low-lying Dirac spectrum and an evidence of self-duality of N=2 QED_{3}.

Boundary effects on symmetry resolved entanglement

We study the symmetry resolved entanglement entropies in one-dimensional systems with boundaries. We provide some general results for conformal invariant theories and then move to a semi-infinite chain of free fermions. We consider both an interval starting from the boundary and away from it. We derive exact formulas for the charged and symmetry resolved entropies based on theorems and conjectures about the spectra of Toeplitz+Hankel matrices. En route to characterise the interval away from the boundary, we prove a general relation between the eigenvalues of Toeplitz+Hankel matrices and block Toeplitz ones. An important aspect is that the saddle-point approximation from charged to symmetry resolved entropies introduces algebraic corrections to the scaling that are much more severe than in systems without boundaries.

5d SCFTs from (En, Em) conformal matter

We determine 5d mathcal{N} = 1 SCFTs originating from 6d (En, Em) conformal matter theories with n ≠ m by circle reduction and mass deformations. The marginal geometries are constructed and we derive their combined fiber diagrams (CFDs). The CFDs allow for an enumeration of descendant SCFTs obtained by decoupling matter hypermultiplets and a description of candidate weakly coupled quivers.

Near conformal perturbation theory in SYK type models

We present a systematic procedure to extract the dynamics of the low energy soft mode in SYK type models with a single energy scale J and emergent reparametrization symmetry in the IR. This is given in the framework of the perturbative scheme of arXiv:1608.07567 based on a specific (off-shell) breaking of conformal invariance in the UV, adjusted to yield the exact large-N saddle point. While this breaking term formally vanishes on-shell, it has a non-trivial effect on correlation functions and the effective action. In particular, it leads to the Schwarzian action with a specific coupling to bi-local matter. The method is applied to the evaluation of O(1) corrections to the correlation function of bi-locals. As a byproduct we confirm precise agreement with the explicit, symmetry breaking procedure. We provide a verification in the large q limit (Liouville theory), where the correlators can be calculated exactly at all length scales. In this case, our scheme illuminates how the enhanced O(J) and the subleading O(1) contributions originate from the Schwarzian dynamics of the soft mode and its interaction with h = 2 (bi-local) matter.

Distribution of conformal contact pressure in spherical plain bearings considering friction and free-edge effects

The pressure distribution of conformal contact in spherical plain bearings is studied adopting both theoretical methods and finite element simulations. The effects of normal loads and friction coefficients on the distribution of both axial and circumferential contact stress are investigated. The results show that the circumferential stress can be exactly described with the complete spherical conformal contact theory while the axial one presents strong free-edge effects, mainly caused by the compressive strain. In addition, the distribution of contact stress tends to be uniform with the increase of the load and the friction coefficient, referring to a decrease of contact pressure in the central region and a rise on both edges of the outer ring, which can be attributed to the obstruction effects of friction on the deformation of bearings and the corresponding alteration of contact area.

Comments on contact terms and conformal manifolds in the AdS/CFT correspondence

Abstract We study the contact terms that appear in the correlation functions of exactly marginal operators using the anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory (AdS/CFT) correspondence. It is known that CFT with an exactly marginal deformation requires the existence of the contact terms with their coefficients having a geometrical interpretation in the context of conformal manifolds. We show that the AdS/CFT correspondence captures properly the mathematical structure of the correlation functions that is expected from the CFT analysis. For this purpose, we employ a holographic renormalization group to formulate a most general setup in the bulk for describing an exactly marginal deformation. The resultant bulk equations of motion are nonlinear and solved perturbatively to obtain the on-shell action. We compute three- and four-point functions of the exactly marginal operators using the GKP–Witten prescription, and show that they match the expected results precisely. The cut-off surface prescription in the bulk serves as a regularization scheme for conformal perturbation theory in the boundary CFT. As an application, we examine a double OPE limit of the four-point functions. The anomalous dimensions of double trace operators are written in terms of the geometrical data of a conformal manifold.

Double box and hexagon conformal Feynman integrals

The off-shell massless six-point double box and hexagon conformal Feynman integrals with generic propagator powers are expressed in terms of linear combinations of multiple hypergeometric series of the generalized Horn type. These results are derived from 9-fold Mellin-Barnes representations obtained from their dual conformal Feynman parameter representations. The individual terms in the presented expressions satisfy the differential equation that relates the double box in $D$ dimensions to the hexagon in $D+2$ dimensions.

4-point function from conformally coupled scalar in AdS6

We explore conformally coupled scalar theory in AdS6 extensively and their classical solutions by employing power expansion order by order in its self-interaction coupling λ. We describe how we get the classical solutions by diagrammatic ways which show general rules constructing the classical solutions. We study holographic correlation functions of scalar operator deformations to a certain 5-dimensional conformal field theory where the operators share the same scaling dimension ∆ = 3, from the classical solutions. We do not assume any specific form of the micro Lagrangian density of the 5-dimensional conformal field theory. For our solutions, we choose a scheme where we remove co-linear divergences of momenta along the AdS boundary directions which frequently appear in the classical solutions. This shows clearly that the holographic correlation functions are free from the co-linear divergences. It turns out that this theory provides correct conformal 2- and 3- point functions of the ∆ = 3 scalar operators as expected in previous literature. It makes sense since 2- and 3- point functions are determined by global conformal symmetry not being dependent on the details of the conformal theory. We also get 4-point function from this holographic model. In fact, it turns out that the 4-point correlation function is not conformal because it does not satisfy the special conformal Ward identity although it does dilation Ward identity and respect SO(5) rotation symmetry. However, in the co-linear limit that all the external momenta are in a same direction, the 4-point function is conformal which means that it satisfy the special conformal Ward identity. We inspect holographic n-point functions of this theory which can be obtained by employing a certain Feynman-like rule. This rule is a construction of n-point function by connecting l-point functions each other where l < n. In the co-linear limit, these n-point functions reproduce the conformal n-point functions of ∆ = 3 scalar operators in d = 5 Euclidean space addressed in arXiv:2001.05379.