Conformal properties of hyperinvariant tensor networks

Hyperinvariant tensor networks (hyMERA) were introduced as a way to combine the successes of perfect tensor networks (HaPPY) and the multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz (MERA) in simulations of the AdS/CFT correspondence. Although this new class of tensor network shows much potential for simulating conformal field theories arising from hyperbolic bulk manifolds with quasiperiodic boundaries, many issues are unresolved. In this manuscript we analyze the challenges related to optimizing tensors in a hyMERA with respect to some quasiperiodic critical spin chain, and compare with standard approaches in MERA. Additionally, we show two new sets of tensor decompositions which exhibit different properties from the original construction, implying that the multitensor constraints are neither unique, nor difficult to find, and that a generalization of the analytical tensor forms used up until now may exist. Lastly, we perform randomized trials using a descending superoperator with several of the investigated tensor decompositions, and find that the constraints imposed on the spectra of local descending superoperators in hyMERA are compatible with the operator spectra of several minimial model CFTs.

A perturbative CFT dual for pure NS-NS AdS3 strings

We construct a conformal field theory dual to string theory on AdS3 with pure NS-NS flux. It is given by a symmetric orbifold of a linear dilaton theory deformed by a marginal operator from the twist-2 sector. We compute two- and three-point functions on the CFT side to 4th order in conformal perturbation theory at large N. They agree with the string computation at genus 0, thus providing ample evidence for a duality. We also show that the full spectra of both short and long strings on the CFT and the string side match. The duality should be understood as perturbative in 1/N.

Finite size spectrum of the staggered six-vertex model with Uq($$ \mathfrak{sl} $$(2))-invariant boundary conditions

The finite size spectrum of the critical ℤ2-staggered spin-1/2 XXZ model with quantum group invariant boundary conditions is studied. For a particular (self-dual) choice of the staggering the spectrum of conformal weights of this model has been recently been shown to have a continuous component, similar as in the model with periodic boundary conditions whose continuum limit has been found to be described in terms of the non-compact SU(2, ℝ)/U(1) Euclidean black hole conformal field theory (CFT). Here we show that the same is true for a range of the staggering parameter. In addition we find that levels from the discrete part of the spectrum of this CFT emerge as the anisotropy is varied. The finite size amplitudes of both the continuous and the discrete levels are related to the corresponding eigenvalues of a quasi-momentum operator which commutes with the Hamiltonian and the transfer matrix of the model.

Inhomogeneous Conformal Field Theory Out of Equilibrium

We study the non-equilibrium dynamics of conformal field theory (CFT) in 1+1 dimensions with a smooth position-dependent velocity v(x) explicitly breaking translation invariance. Such inhomogeneous CFT is argued to effectively describe 1+1-dimensional quantum many-body systems with certain inhomogeneities varying on mesoscopic scales. Both heat and charge transport are studied, where, for concreteness, we suppose that our CFT has a conserved U(1) current. Based on projective unitary representations of diffeomorphisms and smooth maps in Minkowskian CFT, we obtain a recipe for computing the exact non-equilibrium dynamics in inhomogeneous CFT when evolving from initial states defined by smooth inverse-temperature and chemical-potential profiles $$\beta (x)$$ β ( x ) and $$\mu (x)$$ μ ( x ) . Using this recipe, the following exact analytical results are obtained: (i) the full time evolution of densities and currents for heat and charge transport, (ii) correlation functions for components of the energy–momentum tensor and the U(1) current as well as for any primary field, and (iii) the thermal and electrical conductivities. The latter are computed by direct dynamical considerations and alternatively using a Green–Kubo formula. Both give the same explicit expressions for the conductivities, which reveal how inhomogeneous dynamics opens up the possibility for diffusion as well as implies a generalization of the Wiedemann–Franz law to finite times within CFT.

Fractionally charged BPS particles in M-string on 3D orbifolds

In this paper, we study the M-string realization of chiral [Formula: see text]-super-conformal field theory in 6 dimensions and its orbifold compactification down to three-dimensional (3D). We analyze its fractionally charged BPS particle spectrum in connection with effective 3D Chern–Simons gauge theory and the supersymmetric fractional quantum Hall effect in [Formula: see text] dimensions. We construct the set of underlying fractionally charged BPS particles in the ground state of the compactified M string and find that it contains 144 BPS states that are generated by four basic quasi-particles (two bosonic-like and two fermionic like) and their CPT conjugate. Two representations of the gauge bosons and the gauginos as condensates of the basic quasiparticles are found and explicit realizations are also given. Other features concerning generalizations are also discussed.

A roadmap for bootstrapping critical gauge theories: decoupling operators of conformal field theories in $d>2$ dimensions

We propose a roadmap for bootstrapping conformal field theories (CFTs) described by gauge theories in dimensions d>2d>2. In particular, we provide a simple and workable answer to the question of how to detect the gauge group in the bootstrap calculation. Our recipe is based on the notion of decoupling operator, which has a simple (gauge) group theoretical origin, and is reminiscent of the null operator of 2d2d Wess-Zumino-Witten CFTs in higher dimensions. Using the decoupling operator we can efficiently detect the rank (i.e. color number) of gauge groups, e.g., by imposing gap conditions in the CFT spectrum. We also discuss the physics of the equation of motion, which has interesting consequences in the CFT spectrum as well. As an application of our recipes, we study a prototypical critical gauge theory, namely the scalar QED which has a U(1)U(1) gauge field interacting with critical bosons. We show that the scalar QED can be solved by conformal bootstrap, namely we have obtained its kinks and islands in both d=3d=3 and d=2+\epsilond=2+ϵ dimensions.

Recursive structure of the Gauß hypergeometric function and boundary/crosscap conformal block

The Gauß hypergeometric function shows a recursive structure which resembles those found in conformal blocks. We compare it with the recursive structure of the conformal block in boundary/crosscap conformal field theories that is obtained from the representation theory. We find that the pole structure perfectly agrees but the recursive structure in the Gauß hypergeometric function is slightly “off-shell”.