Flat Space Limit Research Articles

Chiral vortical effect in accelerated matter

We revisit evaluation of the chiral vortical effect in accelerated matter. To first order in the acceleration the corresponding matrix element of the axial current can be reconstructed from its flat-space limit. A crucial point is existence of an extra conservation law of fluid helicity which is not related to the symmetry of the Lagrangian. As a result, one can reproduce, via the equivalence principle, the effect of the so-called gravimagnetic anomaly; resolving in this way a long standing puzzle of its interpretation. Moreover, as a consequence of the extra conservation law the microscopic axial charge and helicity of the macroscopic motion are separately conserved. Some further consequences from the matching of the equivalence principle with hydrodynamics concerning higher orders in gradient expansion or in the acceleration are briefly discussed.

Towards bootstrapping RG flows: sine-Gordon in AdS

The boundary correlation functions for a Quantum Field Theory (QFT) in an Anti-de Sitter (AdS) background can stay conformally covariant even if the bulk theory undergoes a renormalization group (RG) flow. Studying such correlation functions with the numerical conformal bootstrap leads to non-perturbative constraints that must hold along the entire flow. In this paper we carry out this analysis for the sine-Gordon RG flows in AdS2, which start with a free (compact) scalar in the UV and end with well-known massive integrable theories that saturate many S-matrix bootstrap bounds. We numerically analyze the correlation functions of both breathers and kinks and provide a detailed comparison with perturbation theory near the UV fixed point. Our bounds are often saturated to one or two orders in perturbation theory, as well as in the flat-space limit, but not necessarily in between.

Modular invariant holographic correlators for mathcal{N} = 4 SYM with general gauge group

We study the stress tensor four-point function for mathcal{N} = 4 SYM with gauge group G = SU(N), SO(2N + 1), SO(2N) or USp(2N) at large N . When G = SU(N), the theory is dual to type IIB string theory on AdS5× S5 with complexified string coupling τs, while for the other cases it is dual to the orbifold theory on AdS5× S5/ℤ2. In all cases we use the analytic bootstrap and constraints from localization to compute 1-loop and higher derivative tree level corrections to the leading supergravity approximation of the correlator. We give perturbative evidence that the localization constraint in the large N and finite complexified coupling τ limit can be written for each G in terms of Eisenstein series that are modular invariant in terms of τs ∝ τ, which allows us to fix protected terms in the correlator in that limit. In all cases, we find that the flat space limit of the correlator precisely matches the type IIB S-matrix. We also find a closed form expression for the SU(N) 1-loop Mellin amplitude with supergravity vertices. Finally, we compare our analytic predictions at large N and finite τ to bounds from the numerical bootstrap in the large N regime, and find that they are not saturated for any G and any τ , which suggests that no physical theory saturates these bootstrap bounds.

Relation between parity-even and parity-odd CFT correlation functions in three dimensions

In this paper we relate the parity-odd part of two and three point correlation functions in theories with exactly conserved or weakly broken higher spin symmetries to the parity-even part which can be computed from free theories. We also comment on higher point functions.The well known connection of CFT correlation functions with de-Sitter amplitudes in one higher dimension implies a relation between parity-even and parity-odd amplitudes calculated using non-minimal interactions such as {mathcal{W}}^3 and {mathcal{W}}^2tilde{mathcal{W}} . In the flat-space limit this implies a relation between parity-even and parity-odd parts of flat-space scattering amplitudes.

The Virasoro-Shapiro amplitude in AdS5 \xd7 S5 and level splitting of 10d conformal symmetry

The genus zero contribution to the four-point correlator leftlangle {mathcal{O}}_{p_1}{mathcal{O}}_{p_2}{mathcal{O}}_{p_3}{mathcal{O}}_{p_4}rightrangle of half-BPS single-particle operators {mathcal{O}}_p in mathcal{N} = 4 super Yang-Mills, at strong coupling, computes the Virasoro-Shapiro amplitude of closed superstrings in AdS5× S5. Combining Mellin space techniques, the large p limit, and data about the spectrum of two-particle operators at tree level in supergravity, we design a bootstrap algorithm which heavily constrains its α′ expansion. We use crossing symmetry, polynomiality in the Mellin variables and the large p limit to stratify the Virasoro-Shapiro amplitude away from the ten-dimensional flat space limit. Then we analyse the spectrum of exchanged two-particle operators at fixed order in the α′ expansion. We impose that the ten-dimensional spin of the spectrum visible at that order is bounded above in the same way as in the flat space amplitude. This constraint determines the Virasoro-Shapiro amplitude in AdS5× S5 up to a small number of ambiguities at each order. We compute it explicitly for (α′)5,6,7,8,9. As the order of α′ grows, the ten dimensional spin grows, and the set of visible two-particle operators opens up. Operators illuminated for the first time receive a string correction to their anomalous dimensions which is uniquely determined and lifts the residual degeneracy of tree level supergravity, due to ten-dimensional conformal symmetry. We encode the lifting of the residual degeneracy in a characteristic polynomial. This object carries information about all orders in α′. It is analytic in the quantum numbers, symmetric under an AdS5 ↔ S5 exchange, and it enjoys intriguing properties, which we explain and detail in various cases.

AdS bulk locality from sharp CFT bounds

It is a long-standing conjecture that any CFT with a large central charge and a large gap ∆gap in the spectrum of higher-spin single-trace operators must be dual to a local effective field theory in AdS. We prove a sharp form of this conjecture by deriving numerical bounds on bulk Wilson coefficients in terms of ∆gap using the conformal bootstrap. Our bounds exhibit the scaling in ∆gap expected from dimensional analysis in the bulk. Our main tools are dispersive sum rules that provide a dictionary between CFT dispersion relations and S-matrix dispersion relations in appropriate limits. This dictionary allows us to apply recently-developed flat-space methods to construct positive CFT functionals. We show how AdS4 naturally resolves the infrared divergences present in 4D flat-space bounds. Our results imply the validity of twice-subtracted dispersion relations for any S-matrix arising from the flat-space limit of AdS/CFT.

Flat limit chiral gravity in GMMG and EGMG

In this work we extend the holographic correspondence between flat space limit of chiral topological massive gravity and a specific unitary field theory to flat space limit of chiral general minimal massive gravity and chiral exotic general massive gravity. To check the conjecture, we compare the entropy and partition function of flat limit of BTZ black hole from viewpoint of both sides.

Notes on flat-space limit of AdS/CFT

Different frameworks exist to describe the flat-space limit of AdS/CFT, include momentum space, Mellin space, coordinate space, and partial-wave expansion. We explain the origin of momentum space as the smearing kernel in Poincare AdS, while the origin of latter three is the smearing kernel in global AdS. In Mellin space, we find a Mellin formula that unifies massless and massive flat-space limit, which can be transformed to coordinate space and partial-wave expansion. Furthermore, we also manage to transform momentum space to smearing kernel in global AdS, connecting all existed frameworks. Finally, we go beyond scalar and verify that leftlangle VVmathcal{O}rightrangle maps to photon-photon-massive amplitudes.

Towards all loop supergravity amplitudes on AdS5×S5

We study the four point function of the superconformal primary of the stress-tensor multiplet in four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super Yang Mills, at large 't Hooft coupling and in a large $N$ expansion. This observable is holographically dual to four graviton amplitudes in type IIB supergravity on $AdS_5 \times S^5$. We construct the most trascendental piece of the correlator at order $N^{-6}$ and compare it with the flat space limit of the corresponding two loops amplitude. This comparison allows us to conjecture structures of the correlator/amplitude which should be present at any loop order.

Notes on gravity multiplet correlators in AdS3 \xd7 S3

We present a compact formula in Mellin space for the four-point tree-level holographic correlators of chiral primary operators of arbitrary conformal weights in (2, 0) supergravity on AdS3× S3, with two operators in tensor multiplet and the other two in gravity multiplet. This is achieved by solving the recursion relation arising from a hidden six-dimensional conformal symmetry. We note the compact expression is obtained after carefully analysing the analytic structures of the correlators. Various limits of the correlators are studied, including the maximally R-symmetry violating limit and flat-space limit.

Double copy structure of parity-violating CFT correlators

We show that general parity-violating 3d conformal field theories show a double copy structure for momentum space 3-point functions of conserved currents, stress tensor and marginal scalar operators. Splitting up the CFT correlator into two parts — called homogeneous and non-homogeneous — we show that double copy relations exist for each part separately. We arrive at similar conclusions regarding double copy structures using tree-level correlators of massless fields in dS4. We also discuss the flat space limit of these correlators. We further extend the double copy analysis to correlators involving higher-spin conserved currents, which suggests that the spin-s current correlator can be thought of as s copies of the spin one current correlator.

Inflaton effective potential from fermions for general ε

We accurately approximate the contribution of a Yukawa-coupled fermion to the inflaton effective potential for inflationary geometries with a general first slow roll parameter $\ensuremath{\epsilon}(t)$. For $\ensuremath{\epsilon}=0$ our final result agrees with the famous computation of Candelas and Raine done long ago on the de Sitter background [P. Candelas and D. Raine, Phys. Rev. D 12, 965 (1975).], and both computations degenerate to the result of Coleman and Weinberg in the flat space limit [S. R. Coleman and E. J. Weinberg, Phys. Rev. D 7, 1888 (1973).]. Our result contains a small part that depends nonlocally on the inflationary geometry. Even in the numerically larger local part, very little of the $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ dependence takes the form of Ricci scalars. We discuss the implications of these corrections for inflation.

Inflaton effective potential from photons for general ε

We accurately approximate the contribution that photons make to the effective potential of a charged inflaton for inflationary geometries with an arbitrary first slow roll parameter $\epsilon$. We find a small, nonlocal contribution and a numerically larger, local part. The local part involves first and second derivatives of $\epsilon$, coming exclusively from the constrained part of the electromagnetic field which carries the long range interaction. This causes the effective potential induced by electromagnetism to respond more strongly to geometrical evolution than for either scalars, which have no derivatives, or spin one half particles, which have only one derivative. For $\epsilon = 0$ our final result agrees with that of Allen on de Sitter background, while the flat space limit agrees with the classic result of Coleman and Weinberg.

The perturbative CFT optical theorem and high-energy string scattering in AdS at one loop

We derive an optical theorem for perturbative CFTs which computes the double discontinuity of conformal correlators from the single discontinuities of lower order correlators, in analogy with the optical theorem for flat space scattering amplitudes. The theorem takes a purely multiplicative form in the CFT impact parameter representation used to describe high-energy scattering in the dual AdS theory. We use this result to study four-point correlation functions that are dominated in the Regge limit by the exchange of the graviton Regge trajectory (Pomeron) in the dual theory. At one-loop the scattering is dominated by double Pomeron exchange and receives contributions from tidal excitations of the scattering states which are efficiently described by an AdS vertex function, in close analogy with the known Regge limit result for one-loop string scattering in flat space at finite string tension. We compare the flat space limit of the conformal correlator to the flat space results and thus derive constraints on the one-loop vertex function for type IIB strings in AdS and also on general spinning tree level type IIB amplitudes in AdS.

On genus-one string amplitudes on AdS5 \xd7 S5

We study non-planar correlators in mathcal{N} = 4 super-Yang-Mills in Mellin space. We focus in the stress tensor four-point correlator to order 1/N4 and in a strong coupling expansion. This can be regarded as the genus-one four-point graviton amplitude of type IIB string theory on AdS5× S5 in a low energy expansion. Both the loop supergravity result as well as the tower of stringy corrections have a remarkable simple structure in Mellin space, making manifest important properties such as the correct flat space limit and the structure of UV divergences.

Notes on AdS-Schwarzschild eikonal phase

We consider the eikonal phase associated with the gravitational scattering of a highly energetic light particle off a very heavy object in AdS spacetime. A simple expression for this phase follows from the WKB approximation to the scattering amplitude and has been computed to all orders in the ratio of the impact parameter to the Schwarzschild radius of the heavy particle. The eikonal phase is related to the deflection angle by the usual stationary phase relation. We consider the flat space limit and observe that for sufficiently small impact parameters (or angular momenta) the eikonal phase develops a large imaginary part; the inelastic cross-section is exactly the classical absorption cross-section of the black hole. We also consider a double scaling limit where the momentum becomes null simultaneously with the asymptotically AdS black hole becoming very large. In the dual CFT this limit retains contributions from all leading twist multi stress tensor operators, which are universal with respect to the addition of higher derivative terms to the gravitational lagrangian. We compute the eikonal phase and the associated Lyapunov exponent in the double scaling limit.

Color/kinematics duality in AdS4

In flat space, the color/kinematics duality states that perturbative Yang-Mills amplitudes can be written in such a way that kinematic numerators obey the same Jacobi relations as their color factors. This remarkable duality implies BCJ relations for Yang-Mills amplitudes and underlies the double copy to gravitational amplitudes. In this paper, we find analogous relations for Yang-Mills amplitudes in AdS4. In particular we show that the kinematic numerators of 4-point Yang-Mills amplitudes computed via Witten diagrams in momentum space enjoy a generalised gauge symmetry which can be used to enforce the kinematic Jacobi relation away from the flat space limit, and we derive deformed BCJ relations which reduce to the standard ones in the flat space limit. We illustrate these results using compact new expressions for 4-point Yang-Mills amplitudes in AdS4 and their kinematic numerators in terms of spinors. We also spell out the relation to 3d conformal correlators in momentum space, and speculate on the double copy to graviton amplitudes in AdS4.

On the quantization of Seiberg-Witten geometry

We propose a double quantization of four-dimensional mathcal{N} = 2 Seiberg-Witten geometry, for all classical gauge groups and a wide variety of matter content. This can be understood as a set of certain non-perturbative Schwinger-Dyson identities, following the program initiated by Nekrasov [1]. The construction relies on the computation of the instanton partition function of the gauge theory on the so-called Ω-background on ℝ4, in the presence of half-BPS codimension 4 defects. The two quantization parameters are identified as the two parameters of this background. The Seiberg-Witten curve of each theory is recovered in the flat space limit. Whenever possible, we motivate our construction from type IIA string theory.

6d (2, 0) and M-theory at 1-loop

We study the stress tensor multiplet four-point function in the 6d maximally supersymmetric (2, 0) AN−1 and DN theories, which have no Lagrangian description, but in the large N limit are holographically dual to weakly coupled M-theory on AdS7× S4 and AdS7× S4/ℤ2, respectively. We use the analytic bootstrap to compute the 1-loop correction to this holographic correlator coming from Witten diagrams with supergravity R and the first higher derivative correction R4 vertices, which is the first 1-loop correction computed for a non-Lagrangian theory. We then take the flat space limit and find precise agreement with the corresponding terms in the 11d M-theory S-matrix, some of which we compute for the first time using two-particle unitarity cuts.

Modular invariance in superstring theory from mathcal{N} = 4 super-Yang-Mills

We study the four-point function of the lowest-lying half-BPS operators in the mathcal{N} = 4 SU(N) super-Yang-Mills theory and its relation to the flat-space four-graviton amplitude in type IIB superstring theory. We work in a large-N expansion in which the complexified Yang-Mills coupling τ is fixed. In this expansion, non-perturbative instanton contributions are present, and the SL(2, ℤ) duality invariance of correlation functions is manifest. Our results are based on a detailed analysis of the sphere partition function of the mass-deformed SYM theory, which was previously computed using supersymmetric localization. This partition function determines a certain integrated correlator in the undeformed mathcal{N} = 4 SYM theory, which in turn constrains the four-point correlator at separated points. In a normalization where the two-point functions are proportional to N2− 1 and are independent of τ and overline{tau} , we find that the terms of order sqrt{N} and 1/sqrt{N} in the large N expansion of the four-point correlator are proportional to the non-holomorphic Eisenstein series Eleft(frac{3}{2},tau, overline{tau}right) and Eleft(frac{5}{2},tau, overline{tau}right) , respectively. In the flat space limit, these terms match the corresponding terms in the type IIB S-matrix arising from R4 and D4R4 contact inter-actions, which, for the R4 case, represents a check of AdS/CFT at finite string coupling. Furthermore, we present striking evidence that these results generalize so that, at order {N}^{frac{1}{2}-m} with integer m ≥ 0, the expansion of the integrated correlator we study is a linear sum of non-holomorphic Eisenstein series with half-integer index, which are manifestly SL(2, ℤ) invariant.