Defect Conformal Field Theory Research Articles

Marginal deformations and defect anomalies

We deform a defect conformal field theory by an exactly marginal bulk operator and we consider the dependence on the marginal coupling of flat and spherical defect expectation values. For even dimensional spherical defects we find a logarithmic divergence which can be related to a $a$-type defect anomaly coefficient. This coefficient, for defect theories, is not invariant on the conformal manifold and its dependence on the coupling is controlled to all orders by the one-point function of the associated exactly marginal operator. For odd-dimensional defects, the flat and spherical case exhibit different qualitative behaviors, generalizing to arbitrary dimensions the line-circle anomaly of superconformal Wilson loops. Our results also imply a non-trivial coupling dependence for the recently proposed defect $C$-function. We finally apply our general result to a few specific examples, including superconformal Wilson loops and R\'enyi entropy.

Wilson surface central charge from holographic entanglement entropy

We use entanglement entropy to define a central charge associated to a twodimensional defect or boundary in a conformal field theory (CFT). We present holographic calculations of this central charge for several maximally supersymmetric CFTs dual to eleven-dimensional supergravity in Anti-de Sitter space, namely the M5-brane theory with a Wilson surface defect and three-dimensional CFTs related to the M2-brane theory with a boundary. Our results for the central charge depend on a partition of N M2-branes ending on M M5-branes. For the Wilson surface, the partition specifies a representation of the gauge algebra, and we write our result for the central charge in a compact form in terms of the algebra’s Weyl vector and the representation’s highest weight vector. We explore how the central charge scales with N and M for some examples of partitions. In general the central charge does not scale as M3 or N3/2, the number of degrees of freedom of the M5- or M2-brane theory at large M or N , respectively.

Towards a C-theorem in defect CFT

We explore a C-theorem in defect conformal field theories (DCFTs) that unify all the known conjectures and theorems until now. We examine as a candidate C-function the additional contributions from conformal defects to the sphere free energy and the entanglement entropy across a sphere in a number of examples including holographic models. We find the two quantities are equivalent, when suitably regularized, for codimension-one defects (or boundaries), but differ by a universal constant term otherwise. Moreover, we find in a few field theoretic examples that the sphere free energy decreases but the entanglement entropy increases along a certain renormalization group (RG) flow triggered by a defect localized perturbation which is assumed to have a trivial IR fixed point without defects. We hence propose a C-theorem in DCFTs stating that the increment of the regularized sphere free energy due to the defect does not increase under any defect RG flow. We also provide a proof of our proposal in several holographic models of defect RG flows.

More on boundary holographic Witten diagrams

In this paper we discuss geodesic Witten diagrams in general holographic conformal field theories with boundary or defect. In boundary or defect conformal field theory, two-point functions are non-trivial and can be decomposed into conformal blocks in two distinct ways; ambient channel decomposition and boundary channel decomposition. In our previous work we only consider two-point functions of same operators. We generalize our previous work to a situation where operators in two-point functions are different. We obtain two distinct decomposition for two-point functions of different operators.

Structure constants of defect changing operators on the 1/2 BPS Wilson loop

We study three-point functions of operators on the 1/2 BPS Wilson loop in planar mathcal{N} = 4 super Yang-Mills theory. The operators we consider are "defect changing operators", which change the scalar coupled to the Wilson loop. We first perform the computation at two loops in general set-ups, and then study a special scaling limit called the ladders limit, in which the spectrum is known to be described by a quantum mechanics with the mathrm{S}mathrm{L}left(2,mathbb{R}right) symmetry. In this limit, we resum the Feynman diagrams using the Schwinger-Dyson equation and determine the structure constants at all order in the rescaled coupling constant. Besides providing an interesting solvable example of defect conformal field theories, our result gives invaluable data for the integrability-based approach to the structure constants.

Quark-antiquark potential in defect conformal field theory

We consider antiparallel Wilson lines in mathcal{N} = 4 super Yang-Mills in the presence of a codimension-1 defect. We compute the Wilson lines’ expectation value both at weak coupling, in the gauge theory, and at strong coupling, by finding the string configurations which are dual to this operator. These configurations display a Gross-Ooguri transition between a connected, U-shaped string phase and a phase in which the string breaks into two disconnected surfaces. We analyze in detail the critical configurations separating the two phases and compare the string result with the gauge theory one in a certain double scaling limit.

Circular Wilson loops in defect conformal field theory

We study a D3-D5 system dual to a conformal field theory with a codimension-one defect that separates regions where the ranks of the gauge groups differ by k. With the help of this additional parameter, as observed by Nagasaki, Tanida and Yamaguchi, one can define a double scaling limit in which the quantum corrections are organized in powers of λ/k2, which should allow to extrapolate results between weak and strong coupling regimes. In particular we consider a radius R circular Wilson loop placed at a distance L, whose internal space orientation is given by an angle χ. We compute its vacuum expectation value and show that, in the double scaling limit and for small χ and small L/R, weak coupling results can be extrapolated to the strong coupling limit.

One-loop Wilson loops and the particle-interface potential in AdS/dCFT

We initiate the calculation of quantum corrections to Wilson loops in a class of four-dimensional defect conformal field theories with vacuum expectation values based on N=4 super Yang–Mills theory. Concretely, we consider an infinite straight Wilson line, obtaining explicit results for the one-loop correction to its expectation value in the large-N limit. This allows us to extract the particle-interface potential of the theory. In a further double-scaling limit, we compare our results to those of a previous calculation in the dual string-theory set-up consisting of a D5-D3 probe-brane system with flux, and we find perfect agreement.

One-Loop One-Point Functions in Gauge-Gravity Dualities with Defects.

We initiate the calculation of loop corrections to correlation functions in 4D defect conformal field theories (dCFTs). More precisely, we consider N=4 SYM theory with a codimension-one defect separating two regions of space, x_{3}>0 and x_{3}<0, where the gauge group is SU(N) and SU(N-k), respectively. This setup is made possible by some of the real scalar fields acquiring a nonvanishing and x_{3}-dependent vacuum expectation value for x_{3}>0. The holographic dual is the D3-D5 probe brane system where the D5-brane geometry is AdS_{4}×S^{2} and a background gauge field has k units of flux through the S^{2}. We diagonalize the mass matrix of the dCFT making use of fuzzy-sphere coordinates and we handle the x_{3} dependence of the mass terms in the 4D Minkowski space propagators by reformulating these as standard massive AdS_{4} propagators. Furthermore, we show that only two Feynman diagrams contribute to the one-loop correction to the one-point function of any single-trace operator and we explicitly calculate this correction in the planar limit for the simplest chiral primary. The result of this calculation is compared to an earlier string-theory computation in a certain double scaling limit and perfect agreement is found. Finally, we discuss how to generalize our calculation to any single-trace operator, to finite N, and to other types of observables such as Wilson loops.

Exact results in defect conformal field theories**

Defect Conformal Field Theories describe critical points of Quantum Field Theories excited or modified in the neighbourhood of a large p‐dimensional submanifold. We elucidate the constraints of conformal invariance on correlation functions and we provide both recurrence relations, and in some cases exact results, for the conformal blocks with scalar external operators.

One-point functions in defect CFT and integrability

We calculate planar tree level one-point functions of non-protected operators in the defect conformal field theory dual to the D3-D5 brane system with k units of the world volume flux. Working in the operator basis of Bethe eigenstates of the Heisenberg XXX_{1/2} spin chain we express the one-point functions as overlaps of these eigenstates with a matrix product state. For k=2 we obtain a closed expression of determinant form for any number of excitations, and in the case of half-filling we find a relation with the N\'eel state. In addition, we present a number of results for the limiting case of infinite k.

Boundary and interface CFTs from the conformal bootstrap

We explore some consequences of the crossing symmetry for defect conformal field theories, focusing on codimension one defects like flat boundaries or interfaces. We study surface transitions of the 3d Ising and other O(N) models through numerical solutions to the crossing equations with the method of determinants. In the extraordinary transition, where the low-lying spectrum of the surface operators is known, we use the bootstrap equations to obtain information on the bulk spectrum of the theory. In the ordinary transition the knowledge of the low-lying bulk spectrum allows to calculate the scale dimension of the relevant surface operator, which compares well with known results of two-loop calculations in 3d. Estimates of various OPE coefficients are also obtained. We also analyze in 4-epsilon dimensions the renormalization group interface between the O(N) model and the free theory and check numerically the results in 3d.

Bending branes for DCFT in two dimensions

We consider a holographic dual model for defect conformal field theories (DCFT) in which we include the backreaction of the defect on the dual geometry. In particular, we consider a dual gravity system in which a two-dimensional hypersurface with matter fields, the brane, is embedded into a three-dimensional asymptotically Anti-de Sitter spacetime. Motivated by recent proposals for holographic duals of boundary conformal field theories (BCFT), we assume the geometry of the brane to be determined by Israel junction conditions. We show that these conditions are intimately related to the energy conditions for the brane matter fields, and explain how these energy conditions constrain the possible geometries. This has implications for the holographic entanglement entropy in particular. Moreover, we give exact analytical solutions for the case where the matter content of the brane is a perfect fluid, which in a particular case corresponds to a free massless scalar field. Finally, we describe how our results may be particularly useful for extending a recent proposal for a holographic Kondo model.

Holography for a non-inflationary early universe

We construct a gravitational dual of the pseudo-conformal universe, a proposed alternative to inflation in which a conformal field theory in nearly flat space develops a time dependent vacuum expectation value. Constructing this dual amounts to finding five-dimensional domain-wall spacetimes with anti-de Sitter asymptotics, for which the wall has the symmetries of four-dimensional de Sitter space. This holographically realizes the characteristic symmetry breaking pattern O(2,4) to O(1,4) of the pseudo-conformal universe. We present an explicit example with a massless scalar field, using holographic renormalization to obtain general expressions for the renormalized scalar and stress-tensor one-point functions. We discuss the relationship between these solutions and those of four-dimensional holographic defect conformal field theories which break O(2,4) to O(2,3)

Defect scaling Lee–Yang model from the perturbed DCFT point of view

We analyze the defect scaling Lee–Yang model from the perturbed defect conformal field theory (DCFT) point of view. First the defect Lee–Yang model is solved by calculating its structure constants from the sewing relations. Integrable defect perturbations are identified in conformal defect perturbation theory. Then pure defect flows connecting integrable conformal defects are described. We develop a defect truncated conformal space approach (DTCSA) to analyze the one parameter family of integrable massive perturbations in finite volume numerically. Fusing the integrable defect to an integrable boundary the relation between the IR and UV parameters can be derived from the boundary relations. We checked these results by comparing the spectrum for large volumes to the scattering theory.

Holography, entanglement entropy, and conformal field theories with boundaries or defects

We study entanglement entropy (EE) in conformal field theories (CFTs) in Minkowski space with a planar boundary or with a planar defect of any codimension. In any such boundary CFT (BCFT) or defect CFT (DCFT), we consider the reduced density matrix and associated EE obtained by tracing over the degrees of freedom outside of a (hemi-)sphere centered on the boundary or defect. Following Casini, Huerta, and Myers, we map the reduced density matrix to a thermal density matrix of the same theory on hyperbolic space. The EE maps to the thermal entropy of the theory on hyperbolic space. For BCFTs and DCFTs dual holographically to Einstein gravity theories, the thermal entropy is equivalent to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of a hyperbolic black brane. We show that the horizon of the hyperbolic black brane coincides with the minimal area surface used in Ryu and Takayanagi's conjecture for the holographic calculation of EE. We thus prove their conjecture in these cases. We use our results to compute the R\'enyi entropies and EE in DCFTs in which the defect corresponds to a probe brane in a holographic dual.

Chiral primary one-point functions in the D3-D7 defect conformal field theory

We compute the one-point functions of chiral primary operators in the non-supersymmetric defect conformal field theory that is dual to the IIB string theory on $AdS_5\times S^5$ background with a probe D7 brane with internal gauge field flux, both in perturbative Yang-Mills theory and in the string theory dual. The former is expected to be accurate at weak coupling whereas the latter should be accurate in the planar strong coupling limit of the gauge theory. We consider the distinct cases where the D7 brane has geometry $AdS_4\times S^4$ with an instanton bundle of the worldvolume gauge fields on $S^4$ and $AdS_4\times S^2\times S^2$ with Dirac monopole bundles on each $S^2$. The gauge theory computation and the string theory computation can be compared directly in the planar limit and then a subsequent limit where the worldvolume flux is large. We find that there is exact agreement between the two in the leading order.

Holographic quantum quench

We discuss recent results in the study the evolution of strongly coupled field theories in the presence of time dependent couplings using the holographic correspondence. The aim is to understand (i) thermalization and (ii) universal behavior when the coupling crosses a critical point. Our emphasis is on situations where a subset of bulk fields can be treated in a probe approximation. We consider two different setups. In the first, defect conformal field theories are described by probe branes in AdS space-times, and an initial vacuum state evolves due to a time dependent coupling in the probe sector. While a black hole formation is invisible in this approximation, we show that thermalization can nevertheless happen - this is signalled by formation of apparent horizons on the brane worldvolume. In the second setup, we consider a probe bulk scalar field in the background of a AdS black brane. In equilibrium, this system undergoes a critical phase transition at some temperature when the source for the dual operator vanishes. For a time dependent source which goes across this critical point, we show that a zero mode of the bulk field dominates the dynamics and leads to scaling behavior of the order parameter as a function of the rate of change.

Spin-2 spectrum of defect theories

We study spin-2 excitations in the background of the recently-discovered type-IIB solutions of D'Hoker et al. These are holographically-dual to defect conformal field theories, and they are also of interest in the context of the Karch-Randall proposal for a string-theory embedding of localized gravity. We first generalize an argument by Csaki et al to show that for any solution with four-dimensional anti-de Sitter, Poincare or de Sitter invariance the spin-2 excitations obey the massless scalar wave equation in ten dimensions. For the interface solutions at hand this reduces to a Laplace-Beltrami equation on a Riemann surface with disk topology, and in the simplest case of the supersymmetric Janus solution it further reduces to an ordinary differential equation known as Heun's equation. We solve this equation numerically, and exhibit the spectrum as a function of the dilaton-jump parameter $\Delta\phi$. In the limit of large $\Delta\phi$ a nearly-flat linear-dilaton dimension grows large, and the Janus geometry becomes effectively five-dimensional. We also discuss the difficulties of localizing four-dimensional gravity in the more general backgrounds with NS5-brane or D5-brane charge, which will be analyzed in detail in a companion paper.

Flavor from M5-branes

We study various aspects of the defect conformal field theory that arises when placing a single M5-brane probe in AdS 4 × S 7. We derive the full set of fluctuation modes and dimensions of the corresponding dual operators. We argue that the latter does not depend on the presence of a non-trivial magnetic flux on the M5-brane world-volume. Finally we give a mass to the hypermultiplet living on the defect, and compute the resulting mesonic spectrum.