Protecting the Conformal Symmetry via Bulk Renormalization on Anti deSitter Space

The problem of perturbative breakdown of conformal symmetry can be avoided, if a conformally covariant quantum field j{\varphi} on d-dimensional Minkowski spacetime is viewed as the boundary limit of a quantum field f{\phi} on d + 1-dimensional Anti-deSitter spacetime (AdS). We study the boundary limit in renormalized perturbation theory with polynomial interactions in AdS, and point out the differences as compared to renormalization directly on the boundary. In particular, provided the limit exists, there is no conformal anomaly. We compute explicitly the one-loop “fish diagram” on AdS₄ by differential renormalization, and calculate the anomalous dimension of the composite boundary field j²{\varphi^2} with bulk interaction kf⁴{\kappa \phi^4}.     

Maximal symmetry and mass generation of Dirac fermions and gravitational gauge field theory in six-dimensional spacetime

The relativistic Dirac equation in four-dimensional spacetime reveals a coherent relation between the dimensions of spacetime and the degrees of freedom of fermionic spinors. A massless Dirac fermion generates new symmetries corresponding to chirality spin and charge spin as well as conformal scaling transformations. With the introduction of intrinsic W-parity, a massless Dirac fermion can be treated as a Majorana-type or Weyl-type spinor in a six-dimensional spacetime that reflects the intrinsic quantum numbers of chirality spin. A generalized Dirac equation is obtained in the six-dimensional spacetime with a maximal symmetry. Based on the framework of gravitational quantum field theory proposed in Ref. [1] with the postulate of gauge invariance and coordinate independence, we arrive at a maximally symmetric gravitational gauge field theory for the massless Dirac fermion in six-dimensional spacetime. Such a theory is governed by the local spin gauge symmetry SP(1,5) and the global Poincar′e symmetry P(1,5)= SO(1,5) P~(1,5) as well as the charge spin gauge symmetry SU(2). The theory leads to the prediction of doubly electrically charged bosons. A scalar field and conformal scaling gauge field are introduced to maintain both global and local conformal scaling symmetries. A generalized gravitational Dirac equation for the massless Dirac fermion is derived in the six-dimensional spacetime. The equations of motion for gauge fields are obtained with conserved currents in the presence of gravitational effects. The dynamics of the gauge-type gravifield as a Goldstone-like boson is shown to be governed by a conserved energy-momentum tensor, and its symmetric part provides a generalized Einstein equation of gravity. An alternative geometrical symmetry breaking mechanism for the mass generation of Dirac fermions is demonstrated.     

Spontaneous breaking of de Sitter symmetry by radiative effects

We show that the one-loop effective action of quantum matter in a de Sitter background induces spontaneous breaking of the O(4,1) symmetry group of the classical spacetime. The resulting instability of de Sitter space is studied by both euclidean and real time methods. By the former, all thermodynamic functions of the matter field are calculated in closed form and the instability shown to be equivalent to the generalized second law of of thermodynamics for de Sitter space. By the latter (FRW real time) analysis, the time scale for the instability to develop is found to be the same as the expansion rate itself. We discuss the consequences for inflation and the cosmological constant problem.     

One-loop approximation of Møller scattering in generalized Krein-space quantization

It has been shown that the negative-norm states necessarily appear in a covariant quantization of the free minimally coupled scalar field in de Sitter spacetime. In this processes ultraviolet and infrared divergences have been automatically eliminated. A natural renormalization of the one-loop interacting quantum field in Minkowski spacetime (λφ ⁴) has been achieved through the consideration of the negative-norm states defined in Krein space. It has been shown that the combination of quantum field theory in Krein space together with consideration of quantum metric fluctuation, results in quantum field theory without any divergences. Pursuing this approach, we express Wick’s theorem and calculate Møller scattering in the one-loop approximation in generalized Krein space. The mathematical consequence of this method is the disappearance of the ultraviolet divergence in the one-loop approximation.     

Effective action,conformal anomaly and the issue of quadratic divergences

For massless ?⁴${?}^4$ theory, we explicitly compute the lowest order non-local contributions to the one-loop effective action required for the determination of the trace anomaly. Imposing exact conformal invariance of the local part of the effective action, we argue that the issue of quadratic divergences does not arise in a theory where exact conformal symmetry is only broken by quantum effects. Conformal symmetry can thus replace low energy supersymmetry as a possible guide towards stabilizing the weak scale and solving the hierarchy problem, if (i) there are no intermediate scales between the weak scale and the Planck scale, and (ii) the running couplings exhibit neither Landau poles nor instabilities over this whole range of energies.     

Symmetry breaking in de Sitter spacetime by antipodal symmetric and antisymmetric fields

The symmetry behaviour of a ϵø⁴ model in the identified de Sitter space is considered. The different boundary conditions imposed on the quantum field correspond to antipodally symmetric and antisymmetric cases. For both cases, the variance of the quantum fluctuations around a constant background field is evaluated using a result on the conformal transformation of the effective action.     

Conformal field theory and the symmetries of string field theory

The two-dimensional conformal field theory representation of Witten's bosonic string field theory is discussed. The basic overlap equations, K_n symmetry and BRST invariance are proved directly, without the usual expansion in oscillators. The conformal field theory approach naturally provides local overlap identities which (when integrated over half the string) can be used to verify properties of the cubic action. In particular, a recently proposed diffeomorphism invariance is shown to be free of anomalies. Finally, a new class of symmetries, including generalizations of the K_n symmetries which are local in spacetime, are presented.     

Conformal field theories near a boundary in general dimensions

The implications of restricted conformal invariance under conformal transformations preserving a plane boundary are discussed for general dimensions d. Calculations of the universal function of a conformal invariant ξ which appears in the two-point function of scalar operators in conformally invariant theories with a plane boundary are undertaken to first order in the ge = 4 − d expansion for the operator φ² in φ⁴ theory. The form for the associated functions of ξ for the two-point functions for the basic field φ^α and the auxiliary field λ in the N → ∞ limit of the O(N) nonlinear sigma model for any d in the range 2 < d < 4 are also rederived. These results are obtained by integrating the two-point functions over planes parallel to the boundary, defining a restricted two-point function which may be obtained more simply. Assuming conformal invariance this transformation can be inverted to recover the full two-point function. Consistency of the results is checked by considering the limit d → 4 and also by analysis of the operator product expansions for φ^αφ^β and λλ. Using this method the form of the two-point function for the energy-momentum tensor in the conformal O(N) model with a plane boundary is also found. General results for the sum of the contributions of all derivative operators appearing in the operator product expansion, and also in a corresponding boundary operator expansion, to the two-point functions are also derived making essential use of conformal invariance.     

Spontaneous symmetry breaking in the present and early universe

Spontaneous symmetry breaking in λφ⁴ theory is formulated in terms of the operator φ², and in a manner which requires no specific expectation value to be assigned to φ. At the one-loop order of perturbation theory, a renormalized effective action for a field ζ, linearly related to φ², is obtained as a gradient expansion. Potential advantages of this formulation in applications to phase transitions in the early universe are discussed. They include the possibilities (i) of obtaining a well-defined semiclassical equation of motion, and (ii) of following the evolution of a field theory from an initial symmetrical high temperature state without the introduction, ad hoc, of regions in which 〈φ〉 ≠ 0.     

Radiatively induced spontaneous symmetry breaking and phase transitions in curved spacetime

Local gauge symmetries which are spontaneously broken in flat spacetime are shown to be restored for large spacetime curvatures. The case of symmetry breaking due to radiative quantum corrections in gauge theories with elementary scalar fields is considered explicitly. In spacetimes with a positive Ricci curvature scalar R and a cosmological event horizon, the critical curvature R_C is of O(m_H²) or O(m_W²), depending on whether the theory is formulated with conformal or minimal scalar fields. In Ricci flat spacetimes with a conventional event horizon the symmetry is expected to be restored when the temperature of the Hawking thermal radiation is of O(m_W). This phenomenon is described in detail, using functional integral methods and dimensional renormalization, for massless scalar electro-dynamics in de-Sitter spacetime. For conformal scalars, the symmetry restoring phase transition is first order, the critical curvature being R_C = 0.910 m_H². For minimal scalars, an anomalous, curvature dependent mass counterterm is required. The phase transition in this case is second order, and occurs at R_C = 83.57 m_W². Symmetry restoration at finite temperature in flat spacetime is considered in an appendix. The critical temperature at which a first-order phase transition occurs in the Weinberg-Salam model is found to be T_C = 0.329 m_W.     

Are scattering amplitudes dual to super Wilson loops?

The MHV scattering amplitudes in planar N=4 SYM are dual to bosonic light-like Wilson loops. We explore various proposals for extending this duality to generic non-MHV amplitudes. The corresponding dual object should have the same symmetries as the scattering amplitudes and be invariant to all loops under the chiral half of the N=4 superconformal symmetry. We analyze the recently introduced supersymmetric extensions of the light-like Wilson loop (formulated in Minkowski space-time) and demonstrate that they have the required symmetry properties at the classical level only, up to terms proportional to field equations of motion. At the quantum level, due to the specific light-cone singularities of the Wilson loop, the equations of motion produce a nontrivial finite contribution which breaks some of the classical symmetries. As a result, the quantum corrections violate the chiral supersymmetry already at one loop, thus invalidating the conjectured duality between Wilson loops and non-MHV scattering amplitudes. We compute the corresponding anomaly to one loop and solve the supersymmetric Ward identity to find the complete expression for the rectangular Wilson loop at leading order in the coupling constant. We also demonstrate that this result is consistent with conformal Ward identities by independently evaluating corresponding one-loop conformal anomaly.     

Conformal anomaly in 4D gravity-matter theories non-minimally coupled with a dilaton

The conformal anomaly for 4D gravity-matter theories, which are non-minimally coupled with the dilaton, is systematically studied. Special care is taken of rescaling of fields, treatment of total derivatives, hermiticity of the system operator and the choice of measure. Scalar, spinor and vector fields are taken as the matter quantum fields and their explicit conformal anomalies in the gravity-dilaton background are found. The cohomology analysis is carried out and some new conformal invariants and trivial terms, involving the dilaton, are obtained. The symmetry of the constant shift of the dilaton field plays an important role. The general structure of the conformal anomaly is examined. It is shown that the dilaton affects the conformal anomaly characteristically for each case: (1) [Scalar] The dilaton changes the conformal anomaly only by a new conformal invariant, I₄; (2) [Spinor] The dilaton does not change the conformal anomaly; (3) [Vector] The dilaton changes the conformal anomaly by three new (generalized) conformal invariants, I₄, I₂, I₁. We present some new anomaly formulae which are useful for practical calculations. Finally, the anomaly induced action is calculated for the dilatonic Wess-Zumino model. We point out that the coefficient of the total derivative term in the conformal anomaly for the 2D scalar coupled to a dilaton is ambiguous. This resolves the disagreement between earlier calculations and the result of Hawking and Bousso.     

Partially massless higher-spin theory II: one-loop effective actions

We continue our study of a generalization of the D-dimensional linearized Vasiliev higher-spin equations to include a tower of partially massless (PM) fields. We compute one-loop effective actions by evaluating zeta functions for both the “minimal” and “non-minimal” parity-even versions of the theory. Specifically, we compute the log-divergent part of the effective action in odd-dimensional Euclidean AdS spaces for D = 7 through 19 (dual to the a-type conformal anomaly of the dual boundary theory), and the finite part of the effective action in even-dimensional Euclidean AdS spaces for D = 4 through 8 (dual to the free energy on a sphere of the dual boundary theory). We pay special attention to the case D = 4, where module mixings occur in the dual field theory and subtlety arises in the one-loop computation. The results provide evidence that the theory is UV complete and one-loop exact, and we conjecture and provide evidence for a map between the inverse Newton’s constant of the partially massless higher-spin theory and the number of colors in the dual CFT.     

On the application of conformal symmetry to quantum field theory

To leading order in α_s(Q²) conformal symmetry specifies the eigensolutions of the evolution equation for meson distribution amplitudes, the wavefunctions which control large-momentum-transfer exclusive mesonic processes in QCD. We find that at next to leading order, the eigensolutions in various field theories depend on the regularization scheme, even for zero β-function. This is contrary to the expectations of conformal symmetry.     

Cosmological analysis of scalar field models in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) gravity

This paper determines the existence of Noether symmetry in non-minimally coupled f(R, T) gravity admitting minimal coupling with scalar field models. We consider a generalized spacetime which corresponds to different anisotropic and homogeneous universe models. We formulate symmetry generators along with conserved quantities through Noether symmetry technique for direct and indirect curvature–matter coupling. For dust and perfect fluids, we evaluate exact solutions and construct their cosmological analysis through some cosmological parameters. We conclude that decelerated expansion is obtained for the quintessence model with a dust distribution, while a perfect fluid with dominating potential energy over kinetic energy leads to the current cosmic expansion for both phantom as well as quintessence models.     

Hawking Radiation in Trace Anomaly Free Frames

We have used the results of renormalization of a two-dimensional quantum stress-tensor to develop a conformally invariant dynamical model. The model requires the consideration of those conformal frames in which there exists a correspondence between the trace anomaly and a cosmological constant. We apply this model to a two-dimensional Schwarzschild (-de Sitter) spacetime to show that in these conformal frames one may achieve Hawking radiation without recourse to the trace anomaly.     

Magneto-optical activity at the structural phase transition in paramagnetic KMnF3

The magneto-optical Verdet constant ø has been measured in the paramagnetic phase of KMnF₃ and particularly in the neighbourhood of the cubic-tetragonal phase transition driven by the softening of zone boundary modes. ø is positive and displays a sizeable decrease on cooling, thus indicating the presence of a temperature dependent paramagnetic contribution that, in view of the ⁶S ground state of the Mn²⁺ ion, is attributed to the role of spin-orbit interaction. In a temperature range of about 20K around T_c = 186K, a cusp-shaped anomaly of ø is observed. From the dependence on the wavelength, and by taking into account also EPR linewidth and g measurements and optical absorption spectra, an analysis of the possible mechanisms for the cusp-shaped anomaly is given. It is argued that the enhancement of the critical rotational fluctuations of the MnF₆ octahedra can be responsible for this effect.     

Spontaneous breaking of local supersymmetry by gravitational instantons

We study the gravitino condensate 〈(D_μΨ_ν − D_μΨ_ν)(D^μΨ^ν − D^νΨ^μ)〉 in the one-loop approximation around a nontrivial background metric. It turns out that, among the known regular solutions of the euclidean Einstein equations, the Eguchi-Hanson metric is the unique relevant configuration. The standard functional integration gives a finite answer for the gravitino condensate. Due to the presence of an anomalous supersymmetry transformation law, this implies that local supersymmetry is broken spontaneously in all supergravity models with scalar multiplets.     

The 2D effective field theory of interfaces derived from 3D field theory

The one-loop determinant computed around the kink solution in the 3D φ⁴ theory, in cylindrical geometry, allows one to obtain the partition function of the interface separating coexisting phases. The quantum fluctuations of the interface around its equilibrium position are described by a c = 1 two-dimensional conformal field theory, namely a 2D free massless scalar field living on the interface. In this way the capillary wave model conjecture for the interface free energy in its gaussian approximation is proved.     

N=3 supersymmetry multiplets with vanishing trace anomaly: Building blocks of the N>3 supergravities

N?3 supergravity theories with vanishing one-loop trace anomaly may be constructed fron three basic N=3 multiplets, one of which contains an antisymmetric tensor gauge field. As an example we construct the N=4 theory and discuss its relationship to ten-dimensional supergravity.