Remarks on conformal invariance

The existence of unitary representations for the special Conformal Group, is investigated for free fields in any dimension, and the connection between the correct transformation properties of the fields and weak conformal invariance pointed out.Partially supported by the Brazilian National Research Council, and K.F.A. Jülich, Germany.On leave of absence from University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld (Germany).     

Constraints on conformal invariant QED

Previous constraints on the parameters of a conformal invariant model of quantum electrodynamics are reviewed and extended. It is shown that the Schwinger-Dyson equation for the electron propagator is solved by the conformal covariant ansatz for the vertex function. This yields additional constraints on the model. One of these implies that at least one of the coefficients of the leading terms in the C = ?1, J = 1 part of the Wilson expansion for the product $\text{ψ(x)}\text{ψ}\text{(y)}$ of electron fields must have an esential singularity in the coupling constant if Z₃ is finite.     

Logarithmic conformal field theory through nilpotent conformal dimensions

We study logarithmic conformal field theories (LCFTs) through the introduction of nilpotent conformal weights. Using this device, we derive the properties of LCFTs such as the transformation laws, singular vectors and the structure of correlation functions. We discuss the emergence of an extra energy momentum tensor, which is the logarithmic partner of the energy momentum tensor.     

A note on conformal field equations

Conformal geometry is more fundamental than a Riemannian one. Whereas Riemannian geometry determines lengths and angles, a conformal one determines only angles and ratios of length. Equivalently, conformal geometry of space-time determines light cones, or causal structure. No length scale isa priori distinguished. It can be distinguished onlya posteriori, given a particular solution of matter field equations. Einstein's field equations of gravitation can be thought of as describing interaction of causal structure with a matter described by a real scalar massless field of weight 1/4. Electromagnetic field equations need precisely a conformal structure. One can also write down field equations for a spin-1/2 Dirac massless field, given information about light cones only. The energy-momentum tensor density is obtained by vierbeim variations.Supported by the Humboldt Foundation.     

Lagrangians for conformal gauge gravity and conformal simple supergravity

The connection, curvature, and Lagrangian for a conformal gauge gravity are obtained. A set of generators of the conformal simple supergroup is given, the commutation and anticommutation relations for the superalgebra are calculated, and a Lagrangian of the simple supergravity is established.     

Commuting conformal and dual conformal symmetries in the Regge limit

In this paper we continue our study of the dual SL(2,C)$\mathit{SL}(2,C)$ symmetry of the BFKL equation, analogous to the dual conformal symmetry of N=4$N=4$ super-Yang–Mills. We find that the ordinary and dual SL(2,C)$\mathit{SL}(2,C)$ symmetries do not generate a Yangian, in contrast to the ordinary and dual conformal symmetries in the four-dimensional gauge theory. The algebraic structure is still reminiscent of that of N=4$N=4$ SYM, however, and one can extract a generator from the dual SL(2,C)$\mathit{SL}(2,C)$ close to the bi-local form associated with Yangian algebras. We also discuss the issue of whether the dual SL(2,C)$\mathit{SL}(2,C)$ symmetry, which in its original form is broken by IR effects, is broken in a controlled way, similar to the way the dual conformal symmetry of N=4$N=4$ satisfies an anomalous Ward identity. At least for the lowest orders it seems possible to recover the dual SL(2,C)$\mathit{SL}(2,C)$ by deforming its representation, keeping open the possibility that it is an exact symmetry of BFKL. Independently of a possible relation to N=4$N=4$ scattering amplitudes, this opens an avenue for explaining the integrability of BFKL in terms of two finite-dimensional subalgebras.     

Quantum conformal superspace

For a compact connected orientablen-manifoldM, n 3, we study the structure ofclassical superspace ,quantum superspace ,classical conformal superspace , andquantum conformal superspace . The study of the structure of these spaces is motivated by questions involving reduction of the usual canonical Hamiltonian formulation of general relativity to a non-degenerate Hamiltonian formulation, and to questions involving the quantization of the gravitational field. We show that if the degree of symmetry ofM is zero, thenS,S ₀,C, andC ₀ areilh orbifolds. The case of most importance for general relativity is dimensionn=3. In this case, assuming that the extended Poincaré conjecture is true, we show that quantum superspaceS ₀ and quantum conformal superspaceC ₀ are in factilh-manifolds. If, moreover,M is a Haken manifold, then quantum superspace and quantum conformal superspace arecontractible ilh-manifolds. In this case, there are no Gribov ambiguities for the configuration spacesS ₀ andC ₀. Our results are applicable to questions involving the problem of thereduction of Einstein's vacuum equations and to problems involving quantization of the gravitational field. For the problem of reduction, one searches for a way to reduce the canonical Hamiltonian formulation together with its constraint equations to an unconstrained Hamiltonian system on a reduced phase space. For the problem of quantum gravity, the spaceC ₀ will play a natural role in any quantization procedure based on the use of conformal methods and the reduced Hamiltonian formulation.     

Extended conformal symmetries

We discuss various aspects of two-dimensional extended conformal symmetries, better known under the name “W-symmetries”. In particular, we discuss the gauging of W - symmetries and the construction of the so-called “W-gravity” theories.     

Metric-torsional conformal gravity

When in general geometric backgrounds the metric is accompanied by torsion, the metric conformal properties should correspondingly be followed by analogous torsional conformal properties; however a combined metric torsional conformal structure has never been found which provides a curvature that is both containing metric-torsional degree of freedom and conformally invariant: in this Letter we construct such a metric-torsional conformal curvature. We proceed by building the most general action, then deriving the most general system of field equations; we check their consistency by showing that both conservation laws and trace condition are verified. Final considerations and comments are outlined.     

Doubled conformal compactification

We use Weyl transformations between the Minkowski spacetime and dS/AdS spacetime to show that one cannot well define the electrodynamics globally on the ordinary conformal compactification of the Minkowski spacetime (or dS/AdS spacetime), where the electromagnetic field has a sign factor (and thus is discountinuous) at the light cone. This problem is intuitively and clearly shown by the Penrose diagrams, from which one may find the remedy without too much difficulty. We use the Minkowski and dS spacetimes together to cover the compactified space, which in fact leads to the doubled conformal compactification. On this doubled conformal compactification, we obtain the globally well-defined electrodynamics.     

Towards conformal cosmology

Approximate de Sitter symmetry of inflating Universe is responsible for the approximate flatness of the power spectrum of scalar perturbations. However, this is not the only option. Another symmetry that can explain nearly scale-invariant power spectrum is conformal invariance. We give a short review of models based on conformal symmetry that lead to the scale-invariant spectrum of the scalar perturbations. We discuss also potentially observable features of these models.     

Anisotropic conformal infinity

We generalize Penrose’s notion of conformal infinity of spacetime, to situations with anisotropic scaling. This is relevant not only for Lifshitz-type anisotropic gravity models, but also in standard general relativity and string theory, for spacetimes exhibiting a natural asymptotic anisotropy. Examples include the Lifshitz and Schrödinger spaces (proposed as AdS/CFT duals of nonrelativistic field theories), warped AdS ₃, and the near-horizon extreme Kerr geometry. The anisotropic conformal boundary appears crucial for resolving puzzles of holographic renormalization in such spacetimes.     

Remarks on the quantization of conformal fields

The quantization of a general (b, c) system in two dimensions is formulated in terms of an infinite hierarchy of modules for the Virasoro algebra that interpolate between the space of classical conformal fields of weight j and the Dirac sea of semi-infinite forms. This provides a natural framework in which to study the relation between algebraic geometry and representations of the Virasoro algebra with central charge c_j=−2(6j²−6j+1). The importance of the construction is discussed in the context of string theory.     

Two-dimensional conformal invariant theories on a torus

The study of unitary conformal invariant theories on a torus reveals two important properties: the partition function and correlation functions may be expressed in terms of free (gaussian) field modes, and the modular invariance dictates the operator content of the theory: for a generic value of the central charge c = 1−/m(m + 1), there exist at least two distinct models depending whether m = 0,3 mod or m = 1,2 mod 4. The case of non-unitary c < 1 theories is also briefly discussed.     

Constraints on representations of conformal field theories

We consider conformal field theories with generalized blocks which satisfy Ising-type algebras. By requiring the correct analytic properties of the correlators, we find constraints on the central charge and conformal dimensions of the fields.     

Capacities as conformal quasi-invariants on pseudo-riemannian manifolds

A class of capacities is introduced on pseudo-riemannian manifolds. They arise as a natural counterpart of the well-known plane quasiconformal capacities and their higher dimensional analogues which have been studied extensively in the recent years by F.W. Gehring, R. Kühnau and others. The capacities in question are shown to be either conformal invariants or conformal quasi-invariants, and, in the latter case, exact bounds are established. We thus arrive at the notion of quasiconformal mappings of pseudo-riemannian manifolds, which correspond to the inhomogeneous media. These mappings are studied briefly and the physical interpretation of some of the capacities in question is also given.     

Reflections on Parity

The selective synthesis and manipulation of chiral molecules is a major part of stereochemistry. Interactions involving components with handedness also occur in nuclear and particle physics. Both fields employ phenomenologies based on group theoretical classifications and symmetry constraints such as the conservation or violation of parity. Smale's discovery of a sphere eversion—homotopic to a central inversion—evades the parity dichotomy by allowing states of opposite chirality to be connected by smooth maps. This transformation demonstrates that parity changes can, in principle, result from the action of sufficiently complex processes, and do not necessarily have to be interpreted as violations of a symmetry.