Logarithmic Conformal Field Theory Research Articles

Modular Invariance of (Logarithmic) Intertwining Operators

Let V be a C2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$C_2$$\\end{document}-cofinite vertex operator algebra without nonzero elements of negative weights. We prove the conjecture that the spaces spanned by analytic extensions of pseudo-q-traces (q=e2πiτ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$q=e^{2\\pi i\ au }$$\\end{document}) shifted by -c24\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-\\frac{c}{24}$$\\end{document} of products of geometrically-modified (logarithmic) intertwining operators among grading-restricted generalized V-modules are invariant under modular transformations. The convergence and analytic extension result needed to formulate this conjecture and some consequences on such shifted pseudo-q-traces were proved by Fiordalisi (Logarithmic intertwining operator and genus-one correlation functions, 2015) and Fiordalisi (Commun Contemp Math 18:1650026, 2016) using the method developed in Huang (Commun Contemp Math 7:649–706, 2005). The method that we use to prove this conjecture is based on the theory of the associative algebras AN(V)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$A^{N}(V)$$\\end{document} for N∈N\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$N\\in \\mathbb {N}$$\\end{document}, their graded modules and their bimodules introduced and studied by the author in Huang (Associative algebras and the representation theory of grading-restricted vertex algebras, 2020) and Huang (Commun Math Phys 396:1–44, 2022). This modular invariance result gives a construction of C2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$C_2$$\\end{document}-cofinite genus-one logarithmic conformal field theories from the corresponding genus-zero logarithmic conformal field theories.

Logarithmic celestial conformal field theory

Logarithmic celestial conformal field theory

Integrable Floquet systems related to logarithmic conformal field theory

We study an integrable Floquet quantum system related to lattice statistical systems in the universality class of dense polymers. These systems are described by a particular non-unitary representation of the Temperley-Lieb algebra. We find a simple Lie algebra structure for the elements of Temperley-Lieb algebra which are invariant under shift by two lattice sites, and show how the local Floquet conserved charges and the Floquet Hamiltonian are expressed in terms of this algebra. The system has a phase transition between local and non-local phases of the Floquet Hamiltonian. We provide a strong indication that in the scaling limit this non-equilibrium system is described by the logarithmic conformal field theory.

Critical site percolation on the triangular lattice: from integrability to conformal partition functions

Critical site percolation on the triangular lattice is described by the Yang–Baxter solvable dilute loop model with crossing parameter specialized to , corresponding to the contractible loop fugacity . We study the functional relations satisfied by the commuting transfer matrices of this model and the associated Bethe ansatz equations. The single and double row transfer matrices are respectively endowed with strip and periodic boundary conditions, and are elements of the ordinary and periodic dilute Temperley–Lieb algebras. The standard modules for these algebras are labelled by the number of defects d and, in the latter case, also by the twist . Nonlinear integral equation techniques are used to analytically solve the Bethe ansatz functional equations in the scaling limit for the central charge c = 0 and conformal weights . For the ground states, we find for strip boundary conditions and for periodic boundary conditions, where . We give explicit conjectures for the scaling limit of the trace of the transfer matrix in each standard module. For , these conjectures are supported by numerical solutions of the logarithmic form of the Bethe ansatz equations for the leading 20 or more conformal eigenenergies. With these conjectures, we apply the Markov traces to obtain the conformal partition functions on the cylinder and torus. These precisely coincide with our previous results for critical bond percolation on the square lattice, described by the dense loop model with . The concurrence of all this conformal data provides compelling evidence supporting a strong form of universality between these two stochastic models as logarithmic conformal field theories.

Multi-point passage probabilities and Green’s functions for SLE$${}_{8/3}$$

We consider a loop representation of the $$O(n)$$ model at the critical point. In the case $$n=0$$ , the model reduces to statistical ensembles of self-avoiding loops, which can be described by Schramm–Loewner evolution (SLE) with $$\kappa=8/3$$ . In this limit, the $$O(n=0)$$ model corresponds to a logarithmic conformal field theory (LCFT) with the central charge $$c=0$$ . We study the LCFT correlation functions in the upper half-plane containing several twist operators in the bulk and a pair of the $$\Phi_{1,2}$$ boundary operators. By using a Coulomb gas representation for the correlation functions, we obtain explicit results for the probabilities of the SLE $${}_{8/3}$$ trace to pass in various ways about $$N\geq 1$$ marked points. When the points approach each other pairwise, the probabilities reduce to multipoint SLE Green’s functions. We propose an explicit representation for the Green’s functions in terms of the correlation functions of the bulk $$\Phi_{3,1}$$ and boundary $$\Phi_{1,2}$$ operators.

Logarithmic Vertex Algebras

We introduce and study the notion of a logarithmic vertex algebra, which is a vertex algebra with logarithmic singularities in the operator product expansion of quantum fields; thus providing a rigorous formulation of the algebraic properties of quantum fields in logarithmic conformal field theory. We develop a framework that allows many results about vertex algebras to be extended to logarithmic vertex algebras, including in particular the Borcherds identity and Kac Existence Theorem. Several examples are investigated in detail, and they exhibit some unexpected new features that are peculiar to the logarithmic case.

Multiple-SLE κ connectivity weights for rectangles, hexagons, and octagons

In previous work, two of the authors determined, completely and rigorously, a solution space for a homogeneous system of 2N + 3 linear partial differential equations (PDEs) in 2N variables that arises in conformal field theory (CFT) and multiple Schramm–Löwner evolution (SLE κ ). The system comprises 2N null-state equations and three conformal ward identities that govern CFT correlation functions of 2N one-leg boundary operators or SLE κ partition functions. M Bauer et al conjectured a formula, expressed in terms of ‘pure SLE κ partition functions,’ for the probability that the growing curves of a multiple-SLE κ process join in a particular connectivity. In a previous article, we rigorously define certain elements of , which we call ‘connectivity weights,’ argue that they are in fact pure SLE κ partition functions, and show how to find explicit formulas for them in terms of Coulomb gas contour integrals. Our formal definition of the connectivity weights immediately leads to a method for finding explicit expressions for them. However, this method gives very complicated formulas where simpler versions may be available, and it is not applicable for certain values of κ ∈ (0, 8) corresponding to well-known critical lattice models in statistical mechanics. In this article, we determine expressions for all connectivity weights in for N ∈ {1, 2, 3, 4} (those with N ∈ {3, 4} are new) and for so-called ‘rainbow connectivity weights’ in for all . We verify these formulas by explicitly showing that they satisfy the formal definition of a connectivity weight. In appendix B, we investigate logarithmic singularities of some of these expressions, appearing for certain values of κ predicted by logarithmic CFT.

Combinatorial solution of the eclectic spin chain

The one-loop dilatation operator in the holomorphic 3-scalar sector of the dynamical fishnet theory is studied. Due to the non-unitary nature of the underlying field theory this operator, dubbed in [1] the eclectic spin chain Hamiltonian, is non-diagonalisable. The corresponding spectrum of Jordan blocks leads to logarithms in the two-point functions, which is characteristic of logarithmic conformal field theories. It was conjectured in [2] that for certain filling conditions and generic couplings the spectrum of the eclectic model is equivalent to the spectrum of a simpler model, the hypereclectic spin chain. We provide further evidence for this conjecture, and introduce a generating function which fully characterises the Jordan block spectrum of the simplified model. This function is found by purely combinatorial means and is simply related to the q-binomial coefficient.

The symplectic fermion ribbon quasi-Hopf algebra and the [formula omitted]-action on its centre

We introduce a family of factorisable ribbon quasi-Hopf algebras Q(N) for N a positive integer: as an algebra, Q(N) is the semidirect product of CZ2 with the direct sum of a Graßmann and a Clifford algebra in 2N generators. We show that RepQ(N) is ribbon equivalent to the symplectic fermion category SF(N) that was computed in [54] from conformal blocks of the corresponding logarithmic conformal field theory. The latter category in turn is conjecturally ribbon equivalent to representations of Vev, the even part of the symplectic fermion vertex operator super algebra.Using the formalism developed in [20] we compute the projective SL(2,Z)-action on the centre of Q(N) as obtained from Lyubashenko's general theory of mapping class group actions for factorisable finite ribbon categories. This allows us to test a conjectural non-semisimple version of the modular Verlinde formula: we verify that the SL(2,Z)-action computed from Q(N) agrees projectively with that on pseudo trace functions of Vev.

Representations of the Nappi–Witten vertex operator algebra

The Nappi-Witten model is a Wess-Zumino-Witten model in which the target space is the nonreductive Heisenberg group $H_4$. We consider the representation theory underlying this conformal field theory. Specifically, we study the category of weight modules, with finite-dimensional weight spaces, over the associated affine vertex operator algebra $\mathsf{H}_4$. In particular, we classify the irreducible $\mathsf{H}_4$-modules in this category and compute their characters. We moreover observe that this category is nonsemisimple, suggesting that the Nappi-Witten model is a logarithmic conformal field theory.

Homoclinic Renormalization Group Flows, or When Relevant Operators Become Irrelevant.

We study an N=1 supersymmetric quantum field theory with O(M)×O(N) symmetry. Working in 3-ε dimensions, we calculate the beta functions up to second loop order and analyze in detail the renormalization group (RG) flow and its fixed points. We allow N and M to assume general real values, which results in them functioning as bifurcation parameters. In studying the behavior of the model in the space of M and N, we demarcate the region where the RG flow is nonmonotonic and determine curves along which Hopf bifurcations take place. At a number of points in the space of M and N we find that the model exhibits an interesting phenomenon: at these points the RG flow possesses a fixed point located at real values of the coupling constants g_{i} but with a stability matrix (∂β_{i}/∂g_{j}) that is not diagonalizable and has a Jordan block of size two with zero eigenvalue. Such points correspond to logarithmic conformal field theories and represent Bogdanov-Takens bifurcations, a type of bifurcation known to give rise to a nearby homoclinic orbit-an RG flow that originates and terminates at the same fixed point. In the present example, we are able to employ analytic and numeric evidence to display the existence of the homoclinic RG flow.

Bulk from boundary in finite CFT by means of pivotal module categories

We present explicit mathematical structures that allow for the reconstruction of the field content of a full local conformal field theory from its boundary fields. Our framework is the one of modular tensor categories, without requiring semisimplicity, and thus covers in particular finite rigid logarithmic conformal field theories. We assume that the boundary data are described by a pivotal module category over the modular tensor category, which ensures that the algebras of boundary fields are Frobenius algebras. Bulk fields and, more generally, defect fields inserted on defect lines, are given by internal natural transformations between the functors that label the types of defect lines. We use the theory of internal natural transformations to identify candidates for operator products of defect fields (of which there are two types, either along a single defect line, or accompanied by the fusion of two defect lines), and for bulk-boundary OPEs. We show that the so obtained OPEs pass various consistency conditions, including in particular all genus-zero constraints in Lewellen's list.

Conical spaces, modular invariance and cp,1 holography

We propose a non-unitary example of holography for the family of two-dimensional logarithmic conformal field theories with negative central charge c = cp,1 = −6p + 13 − 6p−1. We argue that at large p, these models have a semiclassical gravity-like description which contains, besides the global AdS3 spacetime, a tower of solitonic solutions describing conical excess angles. Evidence comes from the fact that the central charge and the natural modular invariant partition function of such a theory coincide with those of the cp,1 model. These theories have an extended chiral W-algebra whose currents have large spin of order |c|, and which in the bulk are realized as spinning conical solutions. As a by-product we also find a direct link between geometric actions for exceptional Virasoro coadjoint orbits, which describe fluctuations around the conical spaces, and Felder’s free field construction of degenerate representations.

Twisted Modules and G-equivariantization in Logarithmic Conformal Field Theory

A two-dimensional chiral conformal field theory can be viewed mathematically as the representation theory of its chiral algebra, a vertex operator algebra. Vertex operator algebras are especially well suited for studying logarithmic conformal field theory (in which correlation functions have logarithmic singularities arising from non-semisimple modules for the chiral algebra) because of the logarithmic tensor category theory of Huang, Lepowsky, and Zhang. In this paper, we study not-necessarily-semisimple or rigid braided tensor categories $\mathcal{C}$ of modules for the fixed-point vertex operator subalgebra $V^G$ of a vertex operator (super)algebra $V$ with finite automorphism group $G$. The main results are that every $V^G$-module in $\mathcal{C}$ with a unital and associative $V$-action is a direct sum of $g$-twisted $V$-modules for possibly several $g\in G$, that the category of all such twisted $V$-modules is a braided $G$-crossed (super)category, and that the $G$-equivariantization of this braided $G$-crossed (super)category is braided tensor equivalent to the original category $\mathcal{C}$ of $V^G$-modules. This generalizes results of Kirillov and M\"{u}ger proved using rigidity and semisimplicity. We also apply the main results to the orbifold rationality problem: whether $V^G$ is strongly rational if $V$ is strongly rational. We show that $V^G$ is indeed strongly rational if $V$ is strongly rational, $G$ is any finite automorphism group, and $V^G$ is $C_2$-cofinite.

Two-dimensional O(n) models and logarithmic CFTs

We study O(n)-symmetric two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) for a continuous range of n below two. These CFTs describe the fixed point behavior of self-avoiding loops. There is a pair of known fixed points connected by an RG flow. When n is equal to two, which corresponds to the Kosterlitz-Thouless critical theory, the fixed points collide. We find that for n generic these CFTs are logarithmic and contain negative norm states; in particular, the O(n) currents belong to a staggered logarithmic multiplet. Using a conformal bootstrap approach we trace how the negative norm states decouple at n = 2, restoring unitarity. The IR fixed point possesses a local relevant operator, singlet under all known global symmetries of the CFT, and, nevertheless, it can be reached by an RG flow without tuning. Besides, we observe logarithmic correlators in the closely related Potts model.

N-cluster correlations in four- and five-dimensional percolation

We study $N$-cluster correlation functions in four- and five-dimensional (4D, 5D) bond percolation by extensive Monte Carlo simulation. We reformulate the transfer Monte Carlo algorithm for percolation [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 72}, 016126 (2005)] using the disjoint-set data structure, and simulate a cylindrical geometry $L^{d-1}\times \infty$, with the linear size up to $L=512$ for 4D and $128$ for 5D. We determine with a high precision all possible $N$-cluster exponents, for $N \! =\!2$ and $3$, and the universal amplitude for a logarithmic correlation function. From the symmetric correlator with $N \! = \!2$, we obtain the correlation-length critical exponent as $1/\nu \! =\! 1.4610(12)$ for 4D and $1/\nu \! =\! 1.737 (2)$ for 5D, significantly improving over the existing results. Estimates for the other exponents and the universal logarithmic amplitude have not been reported before to our knowledge. Our work demonstrates the validity of logarithmic conformal field theory and adds to the growing knowledge for high-dimensional percolation.

Spectrum-Wide Quantum Criticality at the Surface of Class AIII Topological Phases: An “Energy Stack” of Integer Quantum Hall Plateau Transitions

In the absence of spin-orbit coupling, the conventional dogma of Anderson localization asserts that all states localize in two dimensions, with a glaring exception: the quantum Hall plateau transition (QHPT). In that case, the localization length diverges and interference-induced quantum-critical spatial fluctuations appear at all length scales. Normally QHPT states occur only at isolated energies; accessing them therefore requires fine-tuning of the electron density or magnetic field. In this paper we show that QHPT states can be realized throughout an energy continuum, i.e. as an "energy stack" of critical states wherein each state in the stack exhibits QHPT phenomenology. The stacking occurs without fine-tuning at the surface of a class AIII topological phase, where it is protected by U(1) and (anomalous) chiral or time-reversal symmetries. Spectrum-wide criticality is diagnosed by comparing numerics to universal results for the longitudinal Landauer conductance and wave function multifractality at the QHPT. Results are obtained from an effective 2D surface field theory and from a bulk 3D lattice model. We demonstrate that the stacking of quantum-critical QHPT states is a robust phenomenon that occurs for AIII topological phases with both odd and even winding numbers. The latter conclusion may have important implications for the still poorly-understood logarithmic conformal field theory believed to describe the QHPT.

Yang–Baxter integrable dimers on a strip

The dimer model on a strip is considered as a Yang–Baxter integrable six vertex model at the free-fermion point with crossing parameter and quantum group invariant boundary conditions. A one-to-many mapping of vertex onto dimer configurations allows for the solution of the free-fermion model to be applied to the anisotropic dimer model on a square lattice where the dimers are rotated by compared to their usual orientation. In a suitable gauge, the dimer model is described by the Temperley–Lieb algebra with loop fugacity . It follows that the model is exactly solvable in geometries of arbitrary finite size. We establish and solve transfer matrix inversion identities on the strip with arbitrary finite width N. In the continuum scaling limit, in sectors with magnetization Sz, we obtain the conformal weights where . We further show that the corresponding finitized characters decompose into sums of q-Narayana numbers or, equivalently, skew q-binomials. In the particle representation, the local face tile operators give a representation of the fermion algebra and the fermion particle trajectories play the role of nonlocal degrees of freedom. We argue that, in the continuum scaling limit, there exist nontrivial Jordan blocks of rank 2 in the Virasoro dilatation operator L0. This confirms that, with quantum group invariant boundary conditions, the dimer model gives rise to a logarithmic conformal field theory with central charge c = −2, minimal conformal weight and effective central charge . Our analysis of the structure of the ensuing rank 2 modules indicates that the familiar staggered c = −2 modules appear as submodules.

Analytic bootstrap for logarithmic CFT

We study logarithmic conformal field theory (LogCFT) in four dimensions using conformal bootstrap techniques in the large spin limit. We focus on the constraints imposed by conformal symmetry on the four point function of certain logarithmic scalar operators and compute the leading correction to the anomalous dimension of double trace operators in the large spin limit. There exist certain holographic duals to such LogCFTs, which involve higher derivative equations of motion. The anomalous dimension is related to the binding energy of a state where two scalars rotate around each other with a large angular momentum. We compute this energy shift and compare it to the anomalous dimension of the large spin double trace operators due to stress tensor exchange in the LogCFT. Our result shows that the cluster decomposition principle is satisfied for LogCFTs as long as the dimensions of the operators are positive.

Matrix product state description and gaplessness of the Haldane-Rezayi state

We derive an exact matrix product state representation of the Haldane-Rezayi state on both the cylinder and torus geometry. Our derivation is based on the description of the Haldane-Rezayi state as a correlator in a non-unitary logarithmic conformal field theory. This construction faithfully captures the ten degenerate ground states of this model state on the torus. Using the cylinder geometry, we probe the gapless nature of the phase by extracting the correlation length, which diverges in the thermodynamic limit. The numerically extracted topological entanglement entropies seem to only probe the Abelian part of the theory, which is reminiscent of the Gaffnian state, another model state deriving from a non-unitary conformal field theory.