Functions In Conformal Field Theory Research Articles

Differential equations for Carrollian amplitudes

Differential equations are powerful tools in the study of correlation functions in conformal field theories (CFTs). Carrollian amplitudes behave as correlation functions of Carrollian CFT that holographically describes asymptotically flat spacetime. We derive linear differential equations satisfied by Carrollian MHV gluon and graviton amplitudes. We obtain non-distributional solutions for both the gluon and graviton cases. We perform various consistency checks for these differential equations, including compatibility with conformal Carrollian symmetries.

Holographic description for correlation functions

We study general correlation functions of various quantum field theories in the holographic setup. Following the holographic proposal, we investigate correlation functions via a geodesic length connecting boundary operators. We show that this holographic description can reproduce the known two- and three-point functions of conformal field theory. Using this holographic method, we further study general two-point functions of a two-dimensional thermal conformal field theory (CFT) and of a scalar field theory living in a de Sitter or anti–de Sitter space. Due to the nontrivial thermal or curvature effect, the two-point functions in an IR limit show different scaling behaviors from those of the UV CFT. We study such nontrivial IR scaling behaviors by applying the holographic method. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Connection probabilities of multiple FK-Ising interfaces

We find the scaling limits of a general class of boundary-to-boundary connection probabilities and multiple interfaces in the critical planar FK-Ising model, thus verifying predictions from the physics literature. We also discuss conjectural formulas using Coulomb gas integrals for the corresponding quantities in general critical planar random-cluster models with cluster-weight q∈[1,4)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${q \\in [1,4)}$$\\end{document}. Thus far, proofs for convergence, including ours, rely on discrete complex analysis techniques and are beyond reach for other values of q than the FK-Ising model (q=2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$q=2$$\\end{document}). Given the convergence of interfaces, the conjectural formulas for other values of q could be verified similarly with relatively minor technical work. The limit interfaces are variants of SLEκ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ ext {SLE}_\\kappa $$\\end{document} curves (with κ=16/3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\kappa = 16/3$$\\end{document} for q=2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$q=2$$\\end{document}). Their partition functions, that give the connection probabilities, also satisfy properties predicted for correlation functions in conformal field theory (CFT), expected to describe scaling limits of critical random-cluster models. We verify these properties for all q∈[1,4)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$q \\in [1,4)$$\\end{document}, thus providing further evidence of the expected CFT description of these models.

Genus two correlation functions in CFTs with $$T\bar T$$ deformation

Since the definition of $$T\bar T$$ deformation in the curved Riemann surface is obstructive in the literature, we propose a way to do the deformation in the genus two Riemann surfaces by sewing prescription. We construct the correlation functions of conformal field theories (CFTs) on genus two Riemann surfaces with the $$T\bar T$$ deformation in terms of the perturbative CFT approach. Thanks to sewing construction to form higher genus Riemann surfaces from lower genus ones and conformal symmetry, we systematically obtain the first-order $$T\bar T$$ correction to the genus two correlation functions in the $$T\bar T$$ deformed CFTs, e.g., partition function and one/higher-point correlation functions.

Shadow celestial amplitudes

We study scattering amplitudes in the shadow conformal primary basis, which satisfies the same defining properties as the original conformal primary basis and has many advantages over it. The shadow celestial amplitudes exhibit locality manifestly on the celestial sphere, and behave like correlation functions in conformal field theory under the operator product expansion (OPE) limit. We study the OPE limits for three-point shadow celestial amplitude, and general 2 → n − 2 shadow celestial amplitudes from a certain class of Feynman diagrams. In particular, we compute the conformal block expansion of the s-channel four-point shadow celestial amplitude of massless scalars at tree-level, and show that the expansion coefficients factorize as products of OPE coefficients.

Quantum nonequilibrium dynamics from Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations

We consider a set of non-stationary quantum models. We show that their dynamics can be studied using links to Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov (KZ) equations for correlation functions in conformal field theories. We specifically consider the boundary Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model, where equations for correlators of primary fields are defined by an extension of KZ equations and explore the links to dynamical systems. As an example of the workability of the proposed method, we provide an exact solution to a dynamical system that is a specific multi-level generalization of the two-level Landau-Zenner system known in the literature as the Demkov-Osherov model. The method can be used to study the nonequilibrium dynamics in various multi-level systems from the solution of the corresponding KZ equations.

Recursion relations for 5-point conformal blocks

We consider 5-point functions in conformal field theories in d > 2 dimensions. Using weight-shifting operators, we derive recursion relations which allow for the computation of arbitrary conformal blocks appearing in 5-point functions of scalar operators, reducing them to a linear combination of blocks with scalars exchanged. We additionally derive recursion relations for the conformal blocks which appear when one of the external operators in the 5-point function has spin 1 or 2. Our results allow us to formulate positivity constraints using 5-point functions which describe the expectation value of the energy operator in bilocal states created by two scalars.

T overline{T} -flow effects on torus partition functions

In this paper, we investigate the partition functions of conformal field theories (CFTs) with the T overline{T} deformation on a torus in terms of the perturbative QFT approach. In Lagrangian path integral formalism, the first- and second-order deformations to the partition functions of 2D free bosons, free Dirac fermions, and free Majorana fermions on a torus are obtained. The corresponding Lagrangian counterterms in these theories are also discussed. The first two orders of the deformed partition functions and the first-order vacuum expectation value (VEV) of the first quantum KdV charge obtained by the perturbative QFT approach are consistent with results obtained by the Hamiltonian formalism in literature.

Note on higher-point correlation functions of the $$T\bar T$$ or $$J\bar T$$ deformed CFTs

We investigate generic n-point correlation functions of conformal field theories (CFTs), with $$T\bar T$$ and $$J\bar T$$ deformations, in terms of the perturbative CFT approach. We systematically obtain the first order correction to the generic correlation functions of CFTs with $$T\bar T$$ or $$J\bar T$$ deformation. We compute the out of time ordered correlation function (OTOC) in the Ising model with $$T\bar T$$ or $$J\bar T$$ deformation, which confirms that these deformations do not change the integrable property up to the first order level.

Analyticity and causality in conformal field theory

We investigate analyticity properties of correlation functions in conformal field theories (CFTs) in the Wightman formulation. The goal is to determine domain of holomorphy of permuted Wightman functions. We focus on crossing property of three-point functions. The domain of holomorphy of a pair of three-point functions is determined by appealing to Jost’s theorem and by adopting the technique of analytic completion. This program paves the way to address the issue of crossing for the four-point functions on a rigorous footing.

Distributions in CFT. Part I. Cross-ratio space

We show that the four-point functions in conformal field theory are defined as distributions on the boundary of the region of convergence of the conformal block expansion. The conformal block expansion converges in the sense of distributions on this boundary, i.e. it can be integrated term by term against appropriate test functions. This can be interpreted as a giving a new class of functionals that satisfy the swapping property when applied to the crossing equation, and we comment on the relation of our construction to other types of functionals. Our language is useful in all considerations involving the boundary of the region of convergence, e.g. for deriving the dispersion relations. We establish our results by elementary methods, relying only on crossing symmetry and the standard convergence properties of the conformal block expansion. This is the first in a series of papers on distributional properties of correlation functions in conformal field theory.

Toward a conformal field theory for Schramm-Loewner evolutions

We discuss the partition function point of view for chordal Schramm-Loewner evolutions and their relationship with correlation functions in conformal field theory. Both are closely related to crossing probabilities and interfaces in critical models in two-dimensional statistical mechanics. We gather and supplement previous results with different perspectives, point out remaining difficulties, and suggest directions for future studies.

Conformally covariant boundary correlation functions with a quantum group

Particular boundary correlation functions of conformal field theory are needed to answer some questions related to random conformally invariant curves known as Schramm–Loewner evolutions (SLE). In this article, we introduce a correspondence and establish its fundamental properties, which are used in the companion articles [JJK16, KP16] to explicitly solve two such problems. The correspondence associates Coulomb gas type integrals to vectors in a tensor product representation of a quantum group, a q -deformation of the Lie algebra \mathfrak {sl}_2 . We show that the desired properties of the functions are guaranteed by natural representation-theoretical properties of the vectors.

Conformal blocks, $q$-combinatorics, and quantum group symmetry

In this article, we find a q -analogue for Fomin’s formulas. The original Fomin’s formulas relate determinants of random walk excursion kernels to loop-erased random walk partition functions, and our formulas analogously relate conformal block functions of conformal field theories to pure partition functions of multiple SLE random curves. We also provide a construction of the conformal block functions by a method based on a quantum group, the q -deformation of \mathfrak {sl}_2 . The construction both highlights the representation theoretic origin of conformal block functions and explains the appearance of q -combinatorial formulas.

Multipoint conformal blocks in the comb channel

Conformal blocks are the building blocks for correlation functions in conformal field theories. The four-point function is the most well-studied case. We consider conformal blocks for n-point correlation functions. For conformal field theories in dimensions d = 1 and d = 2, we use the shadow formalism to compute n-point conformal blocks, for arbitrary n, in a particular channel which we refer to as the comb channel. The result is expressed in terms of a multivariable hypergeometric function, for which we give series, differential, and integral representations. In general dimension d we derive the 5-point conformal block, for external and exchanged scalar operators.

Exact correlators from conformal Ward identities in momentum space and the perturbative TJJ vertex

We present a general study of 3-point functions of conformal field theory in momentum space, following a reconstruction method for tensor correlators, based on the solution of the conformal Ward identities (CWI's), introduced in recent works by Bzowski, McFadden and Skenderis (BMS). We investigate and detail the structure of the CWI's, their non-perturbative solutions and the transition to momentum space, comparing them to perturbation theory by taking QED as an example. We then proceed with an analysis of the TJJ correlator, presenting independent and detailed re-derivations of the conformal equations in the reconstruction method of BMS, originally formulated using a minimal tensor basis in the transverse traceless sector. A careful comparison with a second basis introduced in previous studies shows that this correlator is affected by one anomaly pole in the graviton (T) line, induced by renormalization. The result shows that the origin of the anomaly, in this correlator, should be necessarily attributed to the exchange of a massless effective degree of freedom. Our results are then exemplified in massless QED at one-loop in d-dimensions, expressed in terms of perturbative master integrals. An independent analysis of the Fuchsian character of the solutions, which bypasses the 3K integrals, is also presented. We show that the combination of field theories at one-loop – with a specific field content of degenerate massless scalar and fermions – is sufficient to generate the complete non-perturbative solution, in agreement with a previous study in coordinate space. The result shows that free conformal field theories, in specific dimensions, arrested at one-loop, reproduce the general result for the TJJ. Analytical checks of this correspondence are presented in d=3,4 and 5 spacetime dimensions. This implies that the generalized 3K integrals of the BMS solution can be expressed in terms of the two single master integrals B0 and C0 of 2- and 3-point functions, with significant simplifications.

Accessory parameters in conformal mapping: exploiting the isomonodromic tau function for Painlevé VI.

We present a novel method to solve the accessory parameter problem arising in constructing conformal maps from a canonical simply connected planar region to the interior of a circular arc quadrilateral. The Schwarz–Christoffel accessory parameter problem, relevant when all sides have zero curvature, is also captured within our approach. The method exploits the isomonodromic tau function associated with the Painlevé VI equation. Recently, these tau functions have been shown to be related to certain correlation functions in conformal field theory and asymptotic expansions have been given in terms of tuples of the Young diagrams. After showing how to extract the monodromy data associated with the target domain, we show how a numerical approach based on the known asymptotic expansions can be used to solve the conformal mapping accessory parameter problem. The viability of this new method is demonstrated by explicit examples and we discuss its extension to circular arc polygons with more than four sides.

Conformal Ward Identities and the Coupling of QED and QCD to Gravity

We present a general study of 3-point functions of conformal field theory (CFT) in momentum space, following a reconstruction method for tensor correlators, based on the solution of the conformal Ward identities (CWIs), introduced in recent works. We investigate and detail the structure of the CWIs and their non-perturbative solutions, and compare them to perturbation theory, taking QED and QCD as examples. Exact solutions of CFT’s in the flat background limit in momentum space are matched by the perturbative realizations in free field theories, showing that the origin the conformal anomaly is related to effective scalar interactions, generated by the renormalization of the longitudinal components of the corresponding operators.

Boundary conformal field theory and a boundary central charge

We consider the structure of current and stress tensor two-point functions in conformal field theory with a boundary. The main result of this paper is a relation between a boundary central charge and the coefficient of a displacement operator correlation function in the boundary limit. The boundary central charge under consideration is the coefficient of the product of the extrinsic curvature and the Weyl curvature in the conformal anomaly. Along the way, we describe several auxiliary results. Three of the more notable are as follows: (1) we give the bulk and boundary conformal blocks for the current two-point function; (2) we show that the structure of these current and stress tensor two-point functions is essentially universal for all free theories; (3) we introduce a class of interacting conformal field theories with boundary degrees of freedom, where the interactions are confined to the boundary. The most interesting example we consider can be thought of as the infrared fixed point of graphene. This particular interacting conformal model in four dimensions provides a counterexample of a previously conjectured relation between a boundary central charge and a bulk central charge. The model also demonstrates that the boundary central charge can change in response to marginal deformations.

Matrix product approximations to conformal field theories

We establish rigorous error bounds for approximating correlation functions of conformal field theories (CFTs) by certain finite-dimensional tensor networks. For chiral CFTs, the approximation takes the form of a matrix product state. For full CFTs consisting of a chiral and an anti-chiral part, the approximation is given by a finitely correlated state. We show that the bond dimension scales polynomially in the inverse of the approximation error and sub-exponentially in inverse of the minimal distance between insertion points. We illustrate our findings using Wess–Zumino–Witten models, and show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between group-covariant MPS and our approximation.