Solitons and vertex operators in twisted affine Toda field theories

Affine Toda field theories in two dimensions constitute families of integrable, relativistically invariant field theories in correspondence with the affine Kac-Moody algebras. The particles which are the quantum excitations of the fields display interesting patterns in their masses and coupling which have recently been shown to extend to the classical soliton solutions arising when the couplings are imaginary. Here these results are extended from the untwisted to the twisted algebras. The new soliton solutions and their masses are found by a folding procedure which can be applied to the affine Kac-Moody algebras themselves to provide new insights into their structures. The relevant foldings are related to inner automorphisms of the associated finite dimensional Lie group which are calculated explicitly and related to what is known as the twisted Coxeter element. The fact that the twisted affine Kac-Moody algebras possess vertex operator constructions emerges naturally and is relevant to the soliton solutions.     

The ultraviolet behaviour of integrable quantum field theories,affine Toda field theory

We investigate the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) equations for a system of particles which dynamically interacts via the scattering matrix of affine Toda field theory and whose statistical interaction is of a general Haldane type. Up to the first leading order, we provide general approximated analytical expressions for the solutions of these equations from which we derive general formulae for the ultraviolet scaling functions for theories in which the underlying Lie algebra is simply laced. For several explicit models we compare the quality of the approximated analytical solutions against the numerical solutions. We address the question of existence and uniqueness of the solutions of the TBA equations, derive precise error estimates and determine the rate of convergence for the applied numerical procedure. A general expression for the Fourier transformed kernels of the TBA equations allows one to derive the related Y-systems and a reformulation of the equations into a universal form.     

Aspects of affine Toda field theory

Several of the recently discovered classical and quantum features of affine Toda field theory are briefly reviewed, with particular emphasis on the Lie algebraic structure of masses, conserved quantities and S-matrices.     

On characteristic integrals of Toda field theories

Characteristic integrals of Toda field theories associated to general simple Lie algebras are constructed using systematic techniques, and complete mathematical proofs are provided. Plenty of examples illustrating the results are presented in explicit forms.     

Light-cone quantisation of the Liouville and Toda field theories

The Toda field is a multicomponent field in two space-time dimensions satisfying a generalisation of the Liouville equation ?²? + exp ? = 0. We define the quantum field theory, and solve for the fields in terms of their initial values on a forward light-cone, demonstrating that our solution is regular. We give an explicit result for the Liouville equation which is the quantum version of the well-known classical solution. We also discuss the energy-momentum spectrum, and the conformal properties of the theory.     

On a2(1) reflection matrices and affine Toda theories

We construct new non-diagonal solutions to the boundary Yang-Baxter equation corresponding to a two-dimensional field theory with U_q(a₂⁽¹⁾) quantum affine symmetry on a half-line. The requirements of boundary unitarity and boundary crossing symmetry are then used to find overall scalar factors which lead to consistent reflection matrices. Using the boundary bootstrap equations we also compute the reflection factors for scalar bound states (breathers). These breathers are expected to be identified with the fundamental quantum particles in a₂⁽¹⁾ affine Toda field theory and we therefore obtain a conjecture for the affine Toda reflection factors. We compare these factors with known classical results and discuss their duality properties and their connections with particular boundary conditions.     

Non-unitarity in quantum affine Toda theory and perturbed conformal field theory

There has been some debate about the validity of quantum affine Toda field theory at imaginary coupling, owing to the non-unitarity of the action, and consequently of its usefulness as a model of perturbed conformal field theory. Drawing on our recent work, we investigate the two simplest affine Toda theories for which this is an issue –a₂⁽¹⁾ and a₂⁽²⁾. By investigating the S-matrices of these theories before RSOS restriction, we show that quantum Toda theory (with or without RSOS restriction) indeed has some fundamental problems, but that these problems are of two different sorts. For a₂⁽¹⁾, the scattering of solitons and breathers is flawed in both classical and quantum theories, and RSOS restriction cannot solve this problem. For a₂⁽²⁾ however, while there are no problems with breather-soliton scattering there are instead difficulties with soliton-excited soliton scattering in the unrestricted theory. After RSOS restriction, the problems with kink-excited kink may be cured or may remain, depending in part on the choice of gradation, as we found earlier [Nucl. Phys. B 489 [FS] (1997) 557]. We comment on the importance of regradations, and also on the survival of R-matrix unitarity and the S-matrix bootstrap in these circumstances.     

Vertex operators and soliton time delays in affine Toda field theory

In a space-time of two dimensions the overall effect of the collision of two solitons is a time delay (or advance) of their final trajectories relative to their initial trajectories. For the solitons of affine Toda field theories, the space-time displacement of the trajectories is proportional to the logarithm of a number X depending only on the species of the colliding solitons and their rapidity difference. X is the factor arising in the normal ordering of the product of the two vertex operators associated with the solitons. X is shown to take real values between 0 and 1. This means that, whenever the solitons are distinguishable, so that transmission rather than reflection is the only possible interpretation of the classical scattering process, the time delay is negative and so an indication of attractive forces between the solitons.     

Solving Toda field theories and related algebraic and differential properties

Toda field theories are important integrable systems. They can be regarded as constrained WZNW models, and this viewpoint helps to give their explicit general solutions, especially when a Drinfeld–Sokolov gauge is used. The main objective of this paper is to carry out this approach of solving the Toda field theories for the classical Lie algebras, following Balog et al. (1990) [5]. In this process, we discover and prove some algebraic identities for principal minors of special matrices. The known elegant solutions of Leznov (1980) [10] fit in our scheme in the sense that they are the general solutions to our conditions discovered in this solving process. To prove this, we find and prove some differential identities for iterated integrals. It can be said that altogether our paper gives complete mathematical proofs for Leznov’s solutions.     

On new conformal field theories with affine fusion rules

Some time ago, conformal data with affine fusion rules were found. Our purpose here is to realize some of these conformal data, using systems of free bosons and parafermions. The so constructed theories have extended W algebras which are close analogues of affine algebras. Exact character formulae are given, and the realizations are shown to be full-fledged unitary conformal field theories.     

W-algebras for generalized Toda theories

The generalized Toda theories obtained in a previous paper by the conformal reduction of WZNW theories possess a new class ofW-algebras, namely the algebras of gauge-invariant polynomials of the reduced theories. An algorithm for the construction of base-elements for theW-algebras of all such generalized Toda theories is found, and theW-algebras for the maximalSL(N,R) generalized Toda theories are constructed explicitly, the primary field basis being identified.     

Ultraviolet stability in Euclidean scalar field theories

We develop a technique for reducing the problem of the ultraviolet divergences and their removal to a free field problem. This work is an example of a problem to which a rather general method can be applied. It can be thought as an attempt towards a rigorous version (in 2 or 3 space-time dimensions) of the analysis of the structure of the functional integrals developed in [9], the underlying mechanism being essentially the same as in [11,3].Supported by IHES, through financial support from the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk     

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.