Conformal field theories and critical phenomena

In this article we present a brief review of the conformal symmetry and the two-dimensional conformal quantum field theories. As concrete applications of the conformal theories to the critical phenomena in statistical systems, we calculate the value of central charge and the anomalous scale dimensions of the Z ₂ symmetric quantum chain with boundary condition. The results are compatible with the prediction of the conformal field theories.     

Conformal field theories and modular invariant partition functions for parafermion field theories

Parafermion conformal field theories with D_2N discrete symmetry are examined in detail. The structure of field space of parafermion field theories is studied with the help of a projection operator G. Characters of the representations of the twist sector of parafermion algebra and projected characters are given. A new class of modular invariant partition functions, therefore conformal field theories, for parafermion theories are found. We argue that the principal theories correspond to the generic critical SOS models of Andrew, Baxter and Forrest.     

Conformal field theories in six-dimensional twistor space

This article gives a study of the higher-dimensional Penrose transform between conformally invariant massless fields on space–time and cohomology classes on twistor space, where twistor space is defined to be the space of projective pure spinors of the conformal group. We focus on the six-dimensional case in which twistor space is the 6-quadric Q$Q$ in CP⁷${\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}}^7$ with a view to applications to the self-dual (0,2)$(0,2)$-theory. We show how spinor-helicity momentum eigenstates have canonically defined distributional representatives on twistor space (a story that we extend to arbitrary dimension). These yield an elementary proof of the surjectivity of the Penrose transform. We give a direct construction of the twistor transform between the two different representations of massless fields on twistor space (H²$H^2$ and H³$H^3$) in which the H³$H^3$s arise as obstructions to extending the H²$H^2$s off Q$Q$ into CP⁷${\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}}^7$.     

Conformal field theories,representations and lattice constructions

An account is given of the structure and representations of chiral bosonic meromorphic conformal field theories (CFT's), and, in particular, the conditions under which such a CFT may be extended by a representation to form a new theory. This general approach is illustrated by considering the untwisted andZ ₂-twisted theories, () and respectively, which may be constructed from a suitable even Euclidean lattice . Similarly, one may construct lattices and by analogous constructions from a doubly-even binary code . In the case when is self-dual, the corresponding lattices are also. Similarly, () and are self-dual if and only if is. We show that has a natural triality structure, which induces an isomorphism and also a triality structure on . For the Golay code, is the Leech lattice, and the triality on is the symmetry which extends the natural action of (an extension of) Conway's group on this theory to the Monster, so setting triality and Frenkel, Lepowsky and Meurman's construction of the natural Monster module in a more general context. The results also serve to shed some light on the classification of self-dual CFT's. We find that of the 48 theories () and with central charge 24 that there are 39 distinct ones, and further that all 9 coincidences are accounted for by the isomorphism detailed above, induced by the existence of a doubly-even self-dual binary code.     

Uniqueness of the Hamiltonian in quantum field theories

In most quantum field theories, one defines the Hamiltonian (energy) operatorH as a limit of cutoff operators . (The operatorH _s would be the correct Hamiltonian for a world in which all momenta are smaller thans.) Since the cutoff operators seldom converge in any of the standard operator topologies, it is often necessary to invent more subtle notions of convergence. For some of the these, it is not obvious that the limit operatorH is unique. In this note we point out that for one such method of obtaining convergence, the limit operator isnot unique. In fact, (under mild assumptions about the operatorsH _s ), ifH _s converges toH, thenH _s also converges toH+R, whereR is an arbitrary bounded positive operator.     

Conformal Hamiltonian systems

Vector fields whose flow preserves a symplectic form up to a constant, such as simple mechanical systems with friction, are called “conformal”. We develop a reduction theory for symmetric conformal Hamiltonian systems, analogous to symplectic reduction theory. This entire theory extends naturally to Poisson systems: given a symmetric conformal Poisson vector field, we show that it induces two reduced conformal Poisson vector fields, again analogous to the dual pair construction for symplectic manifolds. Conformal Poisson systems form an interesting infinite-dimensional Lie algebra of foliate vector fields. Manifolds supporting such conformal vector fields include cotangent bundles, Lie–Poisson manifolds, and their natural quotients.     

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.     

The Hamiltonian formulation of regular rth-order Lagrangian field theories

A Hamiltonian formulation of regular rth-order Lagrangian field theories over an m-dimensional manifold is presented in terms of the Hamilton-Cartan formalism. It is demonstrated that a uniquely determined Cartan m-form may be associated to an rth-order Lagrangian by imposing conditions of congruence modulo a suitably defined system of contact m-forms. A geometric regularity condition is given and it is shown that, for a regular Lagrangian, the momenta defined by the Hamilton-Cartan formalism, together with the coordinates on the (r−1)st-order jet bundle, are a minimal set of local coordinates needed to express the Euler-Lagrange equations. When r is greater than one, the number of variables required is strictly less than the dimension of the (2r−1)st order jet bundle. It is shown that, in these coordinates, the Euler-Lagrange equations take the first-order Hamiltonian form given by de Donder. It is also shown that the geometrically natural generalization of the Hamilton-Jacobi procedure for finding extremals is equivalent to de Donder's Hamilton-Jacobi equation. Research supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.     

Relating field theories via stochastic quantization

This note aims to subsume several apparently unrelated models under a common framework. Several examples of well-known quantum field theories are listed which are connected via stochastic quantization. We highlight the fact that the quantization method used to obtain the quantum crystal is a discrete analog of stochastic quantization. This model is of interest for string theory, since the (classical) melting crystal corner is related to the topological A-model. We outline several ideas for interpreting the quantum crystal on the string theory side of the correspondence, exploring interpretations in the Wheeler–De Witt framework and in terms of a non-Lorentz invariant limit of topological M-theory.     

Routh reduction for first-order Lagrangian field theories

Letters in Mathematical Physics - We present a reduction theory for first-order Lagrangian field theories which takes into account the conservation of momenta. The relation between the solutions of...     

Conformal theories and punctured surfaces

We define conformal theories as realizations of certain operations involving punctured Riemann surfaces (with coordinates chosen at the punctures) in a Hilbert space. We describe the connections of our formalism with other formulations of conformal theories.     

Conformal invariance and scalar-tensor theories

A new generalisation of Einstein’s theory is proposed which is invariant under conformal mappings. Two scalar fields are introduced in addition to the metric tensor field, so that two special choices of gauge are available for physical interpretation, the ‘Einstein gauge’ and the ‘atomic gauge’. The theory is not unique but contains two adjustable parameters ζ anda. Witha=1 the theory viewed from the atomic gauge is Brans-Dicke theory (ω=−3/2+ζ/4). Any other choice ofa leads to a creation-field theory. In particular the theory given by the choicea=−3 possesses a cosmological solution satisfying Dirac’s ‘large numbers’ hypothesis.     

Conformal Hamiltonian dynamics of general relativity

The General Relativity formulated with the aid of the spin connection coefficients is considered in the finite space geometry of similarity with the Dirac scalar dilaton. We show that the redshift evolution of the General Relativity describes the vacuum creation of the matter in the empty Universe at the electroweak epoch and the dilaton vacuum energy plays a role of the dark energy.     

Conformal transformations in scalar-tensor gravitation theories

Conformal transformations in scalar-tensor gravitation theories are investigated in the present paper. It is demonstrated that the field equations of these theories can be expressed in the Vaidya form. A scalar field equation is derived based on the compatibility condition for the field equations. The conformal factor, dilaton, and restrictions on the metric are determined for the diagonal metric of type I in the Bianchi classification. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 10–14, February, 2006.     

Self-Dual Conformal Supergravity and the Hamiltonian Formulation

In terms of Dirac matrices the self-dual and anti-self-dual decomposition of conformal supergravity is given and a self-dual conformal supergravity theory is developed as a connection dynamic theory in which the basic dynamic variables include the self-dual spin connection i.e. the Ashtekar connection rather than the triad. The Hamiltonian formulation and the constraints are obtained by using the Dirac-Bergmann algorithm.     

Obtaining non-Abelian field theories via the Faddeev-Jackiw symplectic formalism

In this Letter we construct non-Abelian field theories employing the Faddeev-Jackiw symplectic formalism. The original Abelian fields were modified in order to introduce the non-Abelian algebra. We construct the SU(2) and SU(2)⊗U(1) Yang-Mills theories having as starting point the U(1) Maxwell electromagnetic theory.     

Analytic approximations to Hamiltonian lattice field theories (II). The weak-coupling behavior of U(1) theories

It is shown that at weak coupling physical quantities in hamiltonian U(1) lattive gauge (or global symmetric) theories of arbitrary dimension are provided as expectation values in a d ? 1 dimensional lagrangian Z(2) gauge (or spin) theory with calculable long-range interactions.Confinement and the existence of a magnetic mass gap are equivalent to the existence of infinite-range plaquette-plaquette (or link-link) correlations in the spin field. The existence of infinite range correlations is simply related to the dimension of the lattice and the transformation property of the order parameter. As expected, only the d = 2+1 U(1) gauge theory confines electric charges at all non-vanishing coupling.