Free Bosonic Theory Research Articles

On fusing matrices associated with conformal boundary conditions

In the context of rational conformal field theories (RCFT) we look at the fusing matrices that arise when a topological defect is attached to a conformal boundary condition. We call such junctions open topological defects. One type of fusing matrices arises when two open defects fuse while another arises when an open defect passes through a boundary operator. We use the topological field theory approach to RCFTs based on Frobenius algebra objects in modular tensor categories to describe the general structure associated with such matrices and how to compute them from a given Frobenius algebra object and its representation theory. We illustrate the computational process on the rational free boson theories. Applications to boundary renormalisation group flows are briefly discussed.

Entanglement entropy via double-cone regularization

This paper proposes an alternative regularization method for handling the ultraviolet behavior of entanglement entropy. Utilizing an iε prescription in the Euclidean double cone geometry, it accurately reproduces the universal behavior of entanglement entropy. The method is demonstrated in the free boson theory in arbitrary dimensions and two-dimensional conformal field theories. The findings highlight the effectiveness of the iε regularization method in addressing ultraviolet issues in quantum field theory and gravity, suggesting potential applications to other calculable quantities. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Mapping Large N Slightly Broken Higher Spin (SBHS) theory correlators to free theory correlators

We develop a systematic method to constrain any n-point correlation function of spinning operators in Large N Slightly Broken Higher Spin (SBHS) theories. As an illustration of the methodology, we work out the three point functions which reproduce the previously known results. We then work out the four point functions of spinning operators. We show that the correlation functions of spinning operators in the interacting SBHS theory take a remarkably simple form and that they can be written just in terms of the free fermionic and critical bosonic theory correlators. They also interpolate nicely between the results in these two theories. When expressed in spinor-helicity variables we obtain an anyonic phase which nicely interpolates between the free fermionic and critical bosonic results which makes 3D bosonization manifest. Further, we also obtain a form for five and higher point functions as well by performing a similar analysis.

Anyonic correlation functions in Chern-Simons matter theories

Using a novel relation between the parity-even and -odd parts of a correlator, we show that the three-point function of conserved or weakly broken currents in three-dimensional conformal field theory (CFT) can be obtained from just the free fermion (FF) or the free boson (FB) theory. In the special case of large $N$ Chern-Simons matter theories, we obtain the correlator in terms of a coupling constant dependent ``anyonic phase'' factor. This anyonic phase factor was previously obtained in the $2\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2$ exact S-matrix result and is consistent with strong-weak duality. By varying the coupling constant, the CFT correlator interpolates nicely between the same in the FF and FB theories.

Two loop ghost free quantisation of Wilson loops in [formula omitted] supersymmetric Yang-Mills

We report a perturbative calculation of the expectation value of the infinite straight line Maldacena-Wilson loop in N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory to order g6. Thus, we extend the previous perturbative result by one order. The vacuum expectation value is reformulated in terms of a non-linear and non-local transformation, the Nicolai map, mapping the full functional measure of the interacting theory to that of a free bosonic theory. The results are twofold. The perturbative cancellations of the different contributions to the Maldacena-Wilson loop are by no means trivial and seem to resemble those of the circular Maldacena-Wilson loop at order g4. Furthermore, we argue that our approach to computing quantum correlation functions is competitive with more standard diagrammatic techniques.

Nearly Optimal Quantum Algorithm for Generating the Ground State of a Free Quantum Field Theory

Generating the ground state of a free massive scalar bosonic quantum field theory: two quantum algorithms with nearly optimal runtimes are devised, delivering super-quadratic speedup over the state-of-the-art.

Generalized entanglement entropies in two-dimensional conformal field theory

We introduce and study generalized Rényi entropies defined through the traces of products of TrB(| Ψi⟩⟨Ψj| ) where ∣Ψi⟩ are eigenstates of a two-dimensional conformal field theory (CFT). When ∣Ψi⟩ = ∣Ψj⟩ these objects reduce to the standard Rényi entropies of the eigenstates of the CFT. Exploiting the path integral formalism, we show that the second generalized Rényi entropies are equivalent to four point correlators. We then focus on a free bosonic theory for which the mode expansion of the fields allows us to develop an efficient strategy to compute the second generalized Rényi entropy for all eigenstates. As a byproduct, our approach also leads to new results for the standard Rényi and relative entropies involving arbitrary descendent states of the bosonic CFT.

Entanglement of magnon excitations in spin chains

We calculate exactly the entanglement content of magnon excited states in the integrable spin-1/2 XXX and XXZ chains in the scaling limit. In particular, we show that as far as the number of excited magnons with respect to the size of the system is small one can decompose the entanglement content, in the scaling limit, to the sum of the entanglement of particular excited states of free fermionic or bosonic theories. In addition we conjecture that the entanglement content of the generic translational invariant free fermionic and bosonic Hamiltonians can be also classified, in the scaling limit, with respect to the entanglement content of the fermionic and bosonic chains with the number operator as the Hamiltonian in certain circumstances. Our results effectively classify the entanglement content of wide range of integrable spin chains in the scaling limit.

Constraining momentum space CFT correlators with consistent position space OPE limit and the collider bound

Consistency with position space OPE limit requires three-point momentum space CFT correlators to have only total energy singularity. We show that this requirement gives a simple proof of the known result that in three dimensions the parity-odd structure cannot exist for three-point correlators of exactly conserved currents with spins si, sj, sk, when triangle inequality si ≤ sj + sk is violated. We also show that even for parity even correlation functions the properties are different inside and outside the triangle. It was previously shown that if we allow for weakly broken higher spin symmetry, parity-odd correlators can exist even when triangle inequality is violated. In this paper we establish a relation between non-conservation Ward-Takahashi (WT) identities for weakly broken currents at large N and the WT identities for exactly conserved currents with the help of a few examples. This allows us to calculate the parity violating results outside the triangle using parity-even free bosonic and free fermionic results.In general, there is one parity-odd structure and two parity-even structures for three-point functions. It can be shown that the coefficient of one of the parity-even and odd parts can be combined into a complex parameter c when correlators are expressed in spinor-helicity variables. When this complex parameter takes real value c = ±1 it corresponds to either the free boson or free fermion theory. When c is a pure phase, it corresponds to Chern-Simons matter theories. Furthermore, re-expressing known results for conformal collider bounds we see that |c| ≤ 1 for generic 3d CFTs and |c| ≤ f(∆gap) for holographic CFTs.

Quantum simulation of second-quantized Hamiltonians in compact encoding

We describe methods for simulating general second-quantized Hamiltonians using the compact encoding, in which qubit states encode only the occupied modes in physical occupation number basis states. These methods apply to second-quantized Hamiltonians composed of a constant number of interactions, i.e., linear combinations of ladder operator monomials of fixed form. Compact encoding leads to qubit requirements that are optimal up to logarithmic factors. We show how to use sparse Hamiltonian simulation methods for second-quantized Hamiltonians in compact encoding, give explicit implementations for the required oracles, and analyze the methods. We also describe several example applications including the free boson and fermion theories, the $\phi^4$-theory, and the massive Yukawa model, all in both equal-time and light-front quantization. Our methods provide a general-purpose tool for simulating second-quantized Hamiltonians, with optimal or near-optimal scaling with error and model parameters.

Lorentzian dynamics and factorization beyond rationality

We investigate the emergence of topological defect lines in the conformal Regge limit of two-dimensional conformal field theory. We explain how a local operator can be factorized into a holomorphic and an anti-holomorphic defect operator connected through a topological defect line, and discuss implications on analyticity and Lorentzian dynamics including aspects of chaos. We derive a formula relating the infinite boost limit, which holographically encodes the “opacity” of bulk scattering, to the action of topological defect lines on local operators. Leveraging the unitary bound on the opacity and the positivity of fusion coefficients, we show that the spectral radii of a large class of topological defect lines are given by their loop expectation values. Factorization also gives a formula relating the local and defect operator algebras and fusion categorical data. We then review factorization in rational conformal field theory from a defect perspective, and examine irrational theories. On the orbifold branch of the c = 1 free boson theory, we find a unified description for the topological defect lines through which the twist fields are factorized; at irrational points, the twist fields factorize through “non-compact” topological defect lines which exhibit continuous defect operator spectra. Along the way, we initiate the development of a formalism to characterize non-compact topological defect lines.

Excited state R\xe9nyi entropy and subsystem distance in two-dimensional non-compact bosonic theory. Part II. Multi-particle states

We study the excited state Rényi entropy and subsystem Schatten distance in the two-dimensional free massless non-compact bosonic field theory, which is a conformal field theory. The discretization of the free non-compact bosonic theory gives the harmonic chain with local couplings. We consider the field theory excited states that correspond to the harmonic chain states with excitations of more than one quasiparticle, which we call multi-particle states. This extends the previous work by the same authors to more general excited states. In the field theory we obtain the exact Rényi entropy and subsystem Schatten distance for several low-lying states. We obtain short interval expansion of the Rényi entropy and subsystem Schatten distance for general excited states, which display different universal scaling behaviors in the gapless and extremely gapped limits of the non-compact bosonic theory. In the locally coupled harmonic chain we calculate numerically the excited state Rényi entropy and subsystem Schatten distance using the wave function method. We find excellent matches of the analytical results in the field theory and numerical results in the gapless limit of the harmonic chain. We also make some preliminary investigations of the Rényi entropy and the subsystem Schatten distance in the extremely gapped limit of the harmonic chain.

U(1) symmetry resolved entanglement in free 1+1 dimensional field theories via form factor bootstrap

We generalise the form factor bootstrap approach to integrable field theories with U(1) symmetry to derive matrix elements of composite branch-point twist fields associated with symmetry resolved entanglement entropies. The bootstrap equations are solved for the free massive Dirac and complex boson theories, which are the simplest theories with U(1) symmetry. We present the exact and complete solution for the bootstrap, including vacuum expectation values and form factors involving any type and arbitrarily number of particles. The non-trivial solutions are carefully cross-checked by performing various limits and by the application of the ∆-theorem. An alternative and compact determination of the novel form factors is also presented. Based on the form factors of the U(1) composite branch-point twist fields, we re-derive earlier results showing entanglement equipartition for an interval in the ground state of the two models.

Constraining momentum space correlators using slightly broken higher spin symmetry

In this work, building up on [1] we present momentum space Ward identities related to broken higher spin symmetry as an alternate approach to computing correlators of spinning operators in interacting theories such as the quasi-fermionic and quasi-bosonic theories. The direct Feynman diagram approach to computing correlation functions is intricate and in general has been performed only in specific kinematic regimes. We use higher spin equations to obtain the parity even and parity odd contributions to two-, three- and four-point correlators involving spinning and scalar operators in a general kinematic regime, and match our results with existing results in the literature for cases where they are available.One of the interesting facts about higher spin equations is that one can use them away from the conformal fixed point. We illustrate this by considering mass deformed free boson theory and solving for two-point functions of spinning operators using higher spin equations.

Entanglement and complexity of purification in ( 1+1 )-dimensional free conformal field theories

Finding pure states in an enlarged Hilbert space that encode the mixed state of a quantum field theory as a partial trace is necessarily a challenging task. Nevertheless, such purifications play the key role in characterizing quantum information-theoretic properties of mixed states via entanglement and complexity of purifications. In this article, we analyze these quantities for two intervals in the vacuum of free bosonic and Ising conformal field theories using, for the first time, the~most general Gaussian purifications. We provide a comprehensive comparison with existing results and identify universal properties. We further discuss important subtleties in our setup: the massless limit of the free bosonic theory and the corresponding behaviour of the mutual information, as well as the Hilbert space structure under the Jordan-Wigner mapping in the spin chain model of the Ising conformal field theory.

Excited state R\xe9nyi entropy and subsystem distance in two-dimensional non-compact bosonic theory. Part I. Single-particle states

We investigate the Rényi entropy of the excited states produced by the current and its derivatives in the two-dimensional free massless non-compact bosonic theory, which is a two-dimensional conformal field theory. We also study the subsystem Schatten distance between these states. The two-dimensional free massless non-compact bosonic theory is the continuum limit of the finite periodic gapless harmonic chains with the local interactions. We identify the excited states produced by current and its derivatives in the massless bosonic theory as the single-particle excited states in the gapless harmonic chain. We calculate analytically the second Rényi entropy and the second Schatten distance in the massless bosonic theory. We then use the wave functions of the excited states and calculate the second Rényi entropy and the second Schatten distance in the gapless limit of the harmonic chain, which match perfectly with the analytical results in the massless bosonic theory. We verify that in the large momentum limit the single-particle state Rényi entropy takes a universal form. We also show that in the limit of large momenta and large momentum difference the subsystem Schatten distance takes a universal form but it is replaced by a new corrected form when the momentum difference is small. Finally we also comment on the mutual Rényi entropy of two disjoint intervals in the excited states of the two-dimensional free non-compact bosonic theory.

Momentum space spinning correlators and higher spin equations in three dimensions

In this article, we explicitly compute in momentum space the three and four-point correlation functions involving scalar and spinning operators in the free bosonic and the free fermionic theory in three dimensions. We also evaluate the five-point function of the scalar operator in the free bosonic theory. We discuss techniques which are more efficient than the usual PV reduction to evaluate one loop integrals. Our techniques can be easily generalised to momentum space correlators of complicated spinning operators and to higher point functions. The three dimensional fermionic theory has the interesting feature that the scalar operator overline{psi}psi is odd under parity. To account for this, we develop a parity odd basis which is useful to write correlation functions involving spinning operators and an odd number of overline{psi}psi operators. We further study higher spin (HS) equations in momentum space which are algebraic in nature and hence simpler than their position space counterparts. We use them to solve for three-point functions involving spinning operators without invoking conformal invariance. However, at the level of four-point functions, solving the HS equation requires additional constraints that come from conformal invariance and we could only verify that our explicit results solve the HS equation.

Entanglement revivals as a probe of scrambling in finite quantum systems

The entanglement evolution after a quantum quench became one of the tools to distinguish integrable versus chaotic (non-integrable) quantum many-body dynamics. Following this line of thoughts, here we propose that the revivals in the entanglement entropy provide a finite-size diagnostic benchmark for the purpose. Indeed, integrable models display periodic revivals manifested in a dip in the block entanglement entropy in a finite system. On the other hand, in chaotic systems, initial correlations get dispersed in the global degrees of freedom (information scrambling) and such a dip is suppressed. We show that while for integrable systems the height of the dip of the entanglement of an interval of fixed length decays as a power law with the total system size, upon breaking integrability a much faster decay is observed, signalling strong scrambling. Our results are checked by exact numerical techniques in free-fermion and free-boson theories, and by time-dependent density matrix renormalisation group in interacting integrable and chaotic models.

N=4 super-Yang-Mills correlators without anticommuting variables

Quantum correlators of pure supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories in D=3,4,6 and 10 dimensions can be reformulated via the non-linear and non-local transformation (`Nicolai map') that maps the full functional measure of the interacting theory to that of a free bosonic theory. As a special application we show that for the maximally extended N=4 theory in four dimensions, and up to order O(g^2), all known results for scalar correlators can be recovered in this way without any use of anti-commuting variables, in terms of a purely bosonic and ghost free functional measure for the gauge fields. This includes in particular the dilatation operator yielding the anomalous dimensions of composite operators. The formalism is thus competitive with more standard perturbative techniques.

Proof of the quantum null energy condition for free fermionic field theories

The quantum null energy condition (QNEC) is a quantum generalization of the null energy condition, which gives a lower bound on the null energy in terms of the second derivative of the von Neumann entropy or entanglement entropy of some region with respect to a null direction. The QNEC states that $⟨{T}_{kk}{⟩}_{p}\ensuremath{\ge}{\mathrm{lim}}_{A\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0}(\frac{\ensuremath{\hbar}}{2\ensuremath{\pi}A}{S}_{\mathrm{out}}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}})$, where ${S}_{\mathrm{out}}$ is the entanglement entropy restricted to one side of a codimension-2 surface $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}$, which is deformed in the null direction about a neighborhood of point $p$ with area $A$. A proof of QNEC has been given before, which applies to free and super-renormalizable bosonic field theories, and to any points that lie on a stationary null surface. Using similar assumptions and methods, we prove the QNEC for fermionic field theories.