Integrability of a family of quantum field theories related to sigma models

A method is introduced for constructing lattice discretizations of large classes of integrable quantum field theories. The method proceeds in two steps: The quantum algebraic structure underlying the integrability of the model is determined from the algebra of the interaction terms in the light-cone representation. The representation theory of the relevant quantum algebra is then used to construct the basic ingredients of the quantum inverse scattering method, the lattice Lax matrices and R-matrices. This method is illustrated with four examples: The sinh-Gordon model, the affine sl(3) Toda model, a model called the fermionic sl(2|1) Toda theory, and the N=2 supersymmetric sine-Gordon model. These models are all related to sigma models in various ways. The N=2 supersymmetric sine-Gordon model, in particular, describes the Pohlmeyer reduction of string theory on AdS₂×S², and is dual to a supersymmetric non-linear sigma model with a sausage-shaped target space.     

Quantum equivalence of dual field theories

Motivated by the study of ultraviolet properties of different versions of supergravities duality transformations at the quantum level are discussed. Using the background field method it is proven on shell quantum equivalence for several pairs of dual field theories known to be classically equivalent. The examples considered include duality in chiral model, duality of scalars and second rank antisymmetric gauge tensors, vector duality and duality of the Einstein theory with cosmological term and the Eddington-Schrödinger theory.     

The pion propagator in relativistic quantum field theories of the nuclear many-body problem

Pion interactions in the nuclear medium are studied using renormalizable relativistic quantum field theories. Previous studies using pseudoscalar πN coupling encountered difficulties due to the large strength of the πNN vertex. We therefore formulate renormalizable field theories with pseudovector πN coupling using techniques introduced by Weinberg and Schwinger. Calculations are performed for two specific models: the scalar-vector theory of Walecka, extended to include π and ρ mesons in a non-chiral fashion, and the linear σ-model with an additional neutral vector meson. Both models qualitatively reproduce low-energy πN phenomenology and lead to nuclear matter saturation in the relativistic Hartree formalism, which includes baryon vacuum fluctuations. The pion propagator is evaluated in the onenucleon-loop approximation, which corresponds to a relativistic random-phase approximation built on the Hartree ground state. Virtual $\text{N}\text{N}$ loops are included, and suitable renormalization techniques are illustrated. The local-density approximation is used to compare the threshold pion self-energy to the s-wave pion-nucleus optical potential. In the non-chiral model, s-wave pion-nucleus scattering is too large in both pseudoscalar and pseudovector calculations, indicating that additional constraints must be imposed on the lagrangian. In the chiral model, the threshold self-energy vanishes automatically in the pseudovector case, but does so for pseudoscalar coupling only if the baryon effective mass is chosen self-consistently. Since extrapolation from free space to nuclear density can lead to large effects, pion propagation in the medium can determine which πN coupling is more suitable for the relativistic nuclear many-body problem. Conversely, pion interactions constrain the model lagrangian and the nuclear matter equation of state. An approximately chiral model with pseudovector coupling is favored. The techniques developed here allow for a consistent treatment of these models using renormalizable relativistic quantum field theores.     

Local versus non-local charges in integrable field theories

We contrast the two types of charge, local and non-local, which appear in integrable (1+1)-dimensional integrable quantum field theories based on Lie algebras. This is the wider setting for the new work which we describe, on local conserved quantities in principal chiral models.     

KAC-moody algebras,Yang-Baxter-Zamolodchikov-Faddeev algebras and integrable field theories

A large class of integrable two-dimensional field theories exhibit Yang-Baxter-Zamolodchikov-Faddeev (YBZF) algebras and Kac-Moody (KM) algebras. Examples of them are chiral fermionic models, sigma models and Wess-Zumino-Witten sigma models. With their help an explicit link is found between representations of YBZF and KM algebras.     

Purely transmitting defect field theories

We define an infinite class of integrable theories with a defect which are formulated as chiral defect perturbations of a conformal field theory. Such theories are massless in the bulk and are purely transmitting through the defect. The integrability of these theories requires the introduction of defect degrees of freedom. Such degrees of freedom lead to a novel set of Yang-Baxter equations. The defect degrees of freedom are identified through folding the chiral defect theories onto massless boundary field theories. The examples of the sine-Gordon theory and Ising model are worked out in some detail.     

Yang-Baxter algebras of monodromy matrices in integrable quantum field theories

We consider a large class of two-dimensional integrable quantum field theories with non-abelian internal symmetry and classical scale invariance. We present a general procedure to determine explicitly the conserved quantum monodromy operator generating infinitely many non-local charges. The main features of our method are a factorization principle and the use of $\text{P}$, $\text{T}$, and internal symmetries. The monodromy operator is shown to satisfy a Yang-Baxter algebra, the structure constants (i.e. the quantum R-matrix) of which are determined by two-particle S-matrix of the theory. We apply the method to the chiral SU(N) and the O(2N) Gross-Neveu models.     

Approaching the large-N limit: A renormalization group approach to large-N field theories

A technique is developed for finding recursive solutions to field theories that take values in SU(N). The approach can be used as a method of solving the large-N limit as well as calculating finite-N effects. This is illustrated with examples of the anharmonic oscillator, SU(N) chiral model and two-dimensional lattice QCD.     

Meromorphicc=24 conformal field theories

Modular invariant conformal field theories with just one primary field and central chargec=24 are considered. It has been shown previously that if the chiral algebra of such a theory contains spin-1 currents, it is either the Leech lattice CFT, or it contains a Kac-Moody sub-algebra with total central charge 24. In this paper all meromorphic modular invariant combinations of the allowed Kac-Moody combinations are obtained. The result suggests the existence of 71 meromorphicc=24 theories, including the 41 that were already known.     

On representations of conformal field theories and the construction of orbifolds

We consider representations of meromorphic bosonic chiral conformal field theories and demonstrate that such a representation is completely specified by a state within the theory. The necessary and sufficient conditions upon this state are derived and, because of their form, we show that we may extend the representation to a representation of a suitable larger conformal field theory. In particular, we apply this procedure to the (untwisted) lattice conformal field theories (i.e. corresponding to the propagation of a bosonic string on a torus), and deduce that Dong's proof of the uniqueness of the twisted representation for the reflection-twisted projection of the Leech lattice conformal field theory generalises to an arbitrary even (self-dual) lattice. As a consequence, we see that the reflection-twisted lattice theories of Dolan, Goddard and Montague are truly self-dual, extending the analogies with the theories of lattices and codes which were being pursued. Some comments are also made on the general concept of the definition of an orbifold of a conformal field theory in relation to this point of view.     

Numerical study on schramm-loewner evolution in nonminimal conformal field theories

The Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE) is a powerful tool to describe fractal interfaces in 2D critical statistical systems, yet the application of SLE is well established for statistical systems described by quantum field theories satisfying only conformal invariance, the so-called minimal conformal field theories (CFTs). We consider interfaces in Z(N) spin models at their self-dual critical point for N = 4 and N = 5. These lattice models are described in the continuum limit by nonminimal CFTs where the role of a ZN symmetry, in addition to the conformal one, should be taken into account. We provide numerical results on the fractal dimension of the interfaces which are SLE candidates for nonminimal CFTs. Our results are in excellent agreement with some recent theoretical predictions.     

Integrable quantum field theories and Bogoliubov transformations

The Federbush, massless Thirring and continuum Ising models and related integrable relativistic quantum field theories are studied. It is shown that local and covariant classical field operators exist that generate Bogoliubov transformations of the annihilation and creation operators on the Fock spaces of the respective models. The quantum fields of these models are closely related or equal to quadratic forms implementing these transformations, and hence formally inherit the covariance and locality of the underlying classical field operators. It is proved that the Federbush and massless Thirring fields on the physical sector do not satisfy the equation of motion. Closely related fields are defined that do satisfy it, and which lead to the same S-matrix, but these fields are presumably non-local. Bethe transforms are constructed for the various models, and on the unphysical sector the relation with the field theory approach is established.     

Exact g-function flow between conformal field theories

Exact equations are proposed to describe g-function flows in integrable boundary quantum field theories which interpolate between different conformal field theories in their ultraviolet and infrared limits, extending previous work where purely massive flows were treated. The approach is illustrated with flows between the tricritical and critical Ising models, but the method is not restricted to these cases and should be of use in unravelling general patterns of integrable boundary flows between pairs of conformal field theories.     

Quantum group structure of quantum Toda conformal field theories (I)

We consider the quantization of non-affine Toda field theories in the light-cone and lattice formalisms. The vertex operators are constructed and their braiding is found to be a consequence of the fundamental commutation relations satisfied by the monodromy matrix. For certain values of the coupling, which correspond to the minimal models, the truncation of the operator algebra is closely tied to the quantum group structure.     

Gauge field theories on a lattice

We begin a rigorous, nonperturbative investigation of quantum field theories with local internal symmetries. We discuss the lattice approximation of Yang-Mills fields and of fermion fields in the Euclidean setup and we verify physical positivity for the Schwinger functions of these approximations. This implies the existence of a positive self-adjoint transfer matrix. We then prove existence and analyticity of the infinite volume limit of strongly coupled Yang-Mills theories on the lattice and we verify Wilson's confinement bound. Finally we present a rigorous treatment of the Higgs mechanism in lattice gauge theories.     

Applying the variational principle to (1+1)-dimensional quantum field theories

We extend the recently introduced continuous matrix product state variational class to the setting of (1+1)-dimensional relativistic quantum field theories. This allows one to overcome the difficulties highlighted by Feynman concerning the application of the variational procedure to relativistic theories, and provides a new way to regularize quantum field theories. A fermionic version of the continuous matrix product state is introduced which is manifestly free of fermion doubling and sign problems. We illustrate the power of the formalism by studying the momentum occupation for free massive Dirac fermions and the chiral symmetry breaking in the Gross-Neveu model.     

Nonequilibrium quantum field theories

Combining the Feynman-Vernon influence functional formalism with the real-time formulation of finite-temperature quantum field theories we present a general approach to relativistic quantum field theories out of thermal equilibrium. We clarify the physical meaning of the additional fields encountered in the real-time formulation of quantum statistics and outline diagrammatic rules for perturbative nonequilibrium computations. We derive a generalization of Boltzmann's equation which gives a complete characterization of relativistic nonequilibrium phenomena.     

Analytic approximations to hamiltonian lattice field theories: (I). Periodic gaussian model for U(1) theories

Periodic gaussian models are introduced for local and global U(1) invariant hamiltonian lattice field theories. The models coincide with standard lattice theories at weak coupling, but the leading non-perturbative contributions to wave functions and physical quantities are exactly calculable. Electric charges are confined and the mass gap is finite if correlations of an integer-valued magnetic field are of infinite range (d = 2 + 1 gauge model). Otherwise, for short-range correlations, the mass gap and the string tension vanish at weak coupling (QED, XY model, etc.)