The fate of conformal symmetry in the non-linear Schrödinger theory

The free Schrödinger theory in d   space dimensions is a non-relativistic conformal field theory. The interacting non-linear theory preserves this symmetry in specific numbers of dimensions at the classical (tree) level. This holds in particular for the |Φ|⁴${|\Phi |}^4$-theory in d=2$d=2$. We compute the full quantum corrections to the 1PI 4-point function in d=2−?$d=2-\mathrm{?}$ dimensions and find a non-trivial β  -function completely given by the 1-loop result. We exhibit an explicit Ward-identity showing that scale-invariance is broken in the limit d=2$d=2$ by an anomalous contribution proportional to the β-function.     

The role of conformal symmetry in the Jackiw–Pi model

The Jackiw–Pi model in 2+1$2+1$ dimensions is a non-relativistic conformal field theory of charged particles with point-like self-interaction. For specific values of the interaction strengths the classical theory possesses vortex and multi-vortex solutions, which are all degenerate in energy. We compute the full set of first-order perturbative quantum corrections. Only the coupling constant g²$g^2$ requires renormalization; the fields and electric charge e are not renormalized. It is shown that in general the conformal symmetries are broken by an anomalous contribution to the conservation law, proportional to the β-function. However, the β  -function vanishes upon restricting the coupling constants to values g²=±e²$g^2=\pm e^2$, which includes the case in which vortex solutions exist. Therefore the existence of vortices also guarantees the preservation of the conformal symmetries.     

Some remarks on defects and T-duality

The equations of motion for a conformal field theory in the presence of defect lines can be derived from an action that includes contributions from bibranes. For T-dual toroidal compactifications, they imply a direct relation between Poincaré line bundles and the action of T-duality on boundary conditions. We also exhibit a class of diagonal defects that induce a shift of the B-field. We finally study T-dualities for S¹$S^1$-fibrations in the example of the Wess–Zumino–Witten model on SU(2)$\mathrm{SU}(2)$ and lens spaces. Using standard techniques from D-branes, we derive from algebraic data in rational conformal field theories geometric structures familiar from Fourier–Mukai transformations.     

Spontaneous Lorentz violation: Non-Abelian gauge fields as pseudo-Goldstone vector bosons

We argue that non-Abelian gauge fields can be treated as the pseudo-Goldstone vector bosons caused by spontaneous Lorentz invariance violation (SLIV). To this end, the SLIV which evolves in a general Yang–Mills type theory with the nonlinear vector field constraint Tr(AμAμ)=±M²$\mathrm{Tr}({\mathit{A}}_{\mu }{\mathit{A}}^{\mu })=\pm M^2$ (M is a proposed SLIV scale) imposed is considered in detail. Specifically, we show that in a theory with an internal symmetry group G having D   generators not only the pure Lorentz symmetry SO(1,3)$\mathit{SO}(1,3)$, but the larger accidental symmetry SO(D,3D)$\mathit{SO}(D,3D)$ of the SLIV constraint in itself appears to be spontaneously broken as well. As a result, although the pure Lorentz violation on its own still generates only one genuine Goldstone vector boson, the accompanying pseudo-Goldstone vector bosons related to the SO(D,3D)$\mathit{SO}(D,3D)$ breaking also come into play properly completing the whole gauge multiplet of the internal symmetry group G taken. Remarkably, they appear to be strictly massless as well, being protected by the starting non-Abelian gauge invariance of the Yang–Mills theory involved. When expressed in terms of the pure Goldstone vector modes, this theory look essentially nonlinear and contains a plethora of Lorentz and CPT violating couplings. However, they do not lead to physical SLIV effects which turn out to be strictly cancelled in all the lowest order processes considered.     

Entanglement entropy and variational methods: Interacting scalar fields

We develop a variational approximation to the entanglement entropy for scalar ?⁴${?}^4$ theory in 1+1$1+1$, 2+1$2+1$, and 3+1$3+1$ dimensions, and then examine the entanglement entropy as a function of the coupling. We find that in 1+1$1+1$ and 2+1$2+1$ dimensions, the entanglement entropy of ?⁴${?}^4$ theory as a function of coupling is monotonically decreasing and convex. While ?⁴${?}^4$ theory with positive bare coupling in 3+1$3+1$ dimensions is thought to lead to a trivial free theory, we analyze a version of ?⁴${?}^4$ with infinitesimal negative bare coupling, an asymptotically free theory known as precarious  ?⁴${?}^4$ theory, and explore the monotonicity and convexity of its entanglement entropy as a function of coupling. Within the variational approximation, the stability of precarious ?⁴${?}^4$ theory is related to the sign of the first and second derivatives of the entanglement entropy with respect to the coupling.     

D mesic nuclei

The energies and widths of several D⁰$D^0$ meson bound states for different nuclei are obtained using a D  -meson selfenergy in the nuclear medium, which is evaluated in a selfconsistent manner using techniques of unitarized coupled-channel theory. The kernel of the meson–baryon interaction is based on a model that treats heavy pseudoscalar and heavy vector mesons on equal footing, as required by heavy quark symmetry. We find D⁰$D^0$ bound states in all studied nuclei, from ¹²C up to ²⁰⁸Pb. The inclusion of vector mesons is the keystone for obtaining an attractive D  –nucleus interaction that leads to the existence of D⁰$D^0$–nucleus bound states, as compared to previous studies based on SU(4) flavor symmetry. In some cases, the half widths are smaller than the separation of the levels, what makes possible their experimental observation by means of a nuclear reaction. This can be of particular interest for the future P?ANDA@FAIR physics program. We also find a D⁺$D^{+}$ bound state in ¹²C, but it is too broad and will have a significant overlap with the energies of the continuum.     

Intermediate scale inflation and metastable supersymmetry breaking

We investigate the possibility of obtaining a low scale of supersymmetry breaking within the ISS framework using a metastable vacuum. This is achieved by introducing an R   symmetry preserving gravitational coupling of the ISS sector to a relatively low scale inflationary sector. We find the allowed range for the supersymmetry breaking scale, ¹⁰⁴ GeV?μ?¹⁰⁸ GeV${10}^4\text{GeV}?\mu ?{10}^8\text{GeV}$, which is low enough to be amenable to gauge supersymmetry breaking mediation. This scenario is based upon a so-called hilltop inflation phase whose initial condition problem is also addressed.     

A note on the UV behaviour of maximally supersymmetric Yang–Mills theories

The question of whether BPS invariants are protected in maximally supersymmetric Yang–Mills theories is investigated from the point of view of algebraic renormalisation theory. The protected invariants are those whose cohomology type differs from that of the action. It is confirmed that one-half BPS invariants (F⁴$F^4$) are indeed protected while the double-trace one-quarter BPS invariant (d²F⁴$d^2{F}^4$) is not protected at two loops in D=7$D=7$, but is protected at three loops in D=6$D=6$ in agreement with recent calculations. Non-BPS invariants, i.e. full superspace integrals, are also shown to be unprotected.     

On the anatomy of multi-spin magnon and single spike string solutions

We study rigid string solutions rotating in AdS₅×S⁵${\mathit{AdS}}_5\times S^5$ background. For particular values of the parameters of the solutions we find multispin solutions corresponding to giant magnons and single spike strings. We present an analysis of the dispersion relations in the case of three spin solutions distributed only in S⁵$S^5$ and the case of one spin in AdS₅${\mathit{AdS}}_5$ and two spins in S⁵$S^5$. The possible relation of these string solutions to gauge theory operators and spin chains are briefly discussed.     

Hidden global conformal symmetry without Virasoro extension in theory of elasticity

The theory of elasticity (a.k.a. Riva–Cardy model) has been regarded as an example of scale invariant but not conformal field theories. We argue that in d=2$d=2$ dimensions, the theory has hidden global conformal symmetry of SL(2,R)×SL(2,R)$SL(2,\mathbb{R})\times SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ without its Virasoro extension. More precisely, we can embed all the correlation functions of the displacement vector into a global conformal field theory with four-derivative action in terms of two scalar potential variables, which necessarily violates the reflection positivity. The energy–momentum tensor for the potential variables cannot be improved to become traceless so that it does not show the Virasoro symmetry even with the existence of global special conformal current.     

Magnon-like dispersion relation from M-theory

We investigate classical rotating membranes in two different backgrounds. First, we obtain membrane solution in AdS₄×S⁷${\mathit{AdS}}_4\times S^7$ background, analogous to the solution obtained by Hofman and Maldacena in the case of string theory. We find a magnon type dispersion relation similar to that of Hofman and Maldacena and to the one found by Dorey for the two spin case. In the appendix of the paper, we consider membrane solutions in AdS₇×S⁴${\mathit{AdS}}_7\times S^4$, which give new relations between the conserved charges.     

Evidence for the discrete asymptotically-free BFKL Pomeron from HERA data

We show that the next-to-leading-order renormalization-group-improved asymptotically-free BFKL Pomeron provides a good fit to HERA data on virtual photoproduction at small x   and large Q²$Q^2$. The leading discrete Pomeron pole reproduces qualitatively the Q²$Q^2$ dependence of the HERA data for x∼¹⁰⁻³$x\sim {10}^{\mathrm{-3}}$, and a fit using the three leading discrete singularities reproduces quantitatively the Q²$Q^2$ and x   dependence of the HERA data for x<¹⁰⁻²$x<{10}^{\mathrm{-2}}$. This fit fixes the phase for all the BFKL wavefunctions at a chosen infrared scale.