Modular invariance in N=2 superconformal field theories

The modular invariance properties of two-dimensional N=2 superconformal field theories are studied. It is shown that the character formulae of the central charge c<3 unitary highest weight representation for the untwisted algebras can be written in terms of the string functions and the theta functions of the affine su(2) Kac-Moody algebra. Deriving the modular transformation of the characters we construct the modular invariant partition functions on a torus. The character relation corresponding to the coset space construction of the unitary discrete series in the N=2 algebra is also obtained.     

Conformal invariance,current algebra and modular invariance

A large class of conformally invariant models in two dimensions is realised by constraining free fermion theories. The Fock spaces of the constrained theories are described, using the representation theory of affine Kac-Moody algebras. The results are extended to superconformally invariant theories. Projections of the models, producing consistent two-dimensional field theories, are discussed.     

Weyl fields,quantum integrability and conformal invariant field theories

We show that some Weyl field theories arise as a quantum “linear” problem associated to some Kac-Moody algebras. We relate this quantum “linear” problem to the conformal invariant field theories studied by Dashen and Frishman and to the WZW field theory.     

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.     

c-Theorem for disordered systems

We find an analog of Zamolodchikov's c-theorem for disordered two-dimensional non-interacting systems in their supersymmetric field theory representation. We show that the energy momentum tensor of such field theories must be a part of a supermultiplet, and that a new parameter b can be introduced with the help of that multiplet. b flows along the renormalization group trajectories much like the central charge for unitary two-dimensional field theories. While it has not been established if this flow is irreversible, that is, if b always flows down to lower values, it does so for all the cases worked out so far. b gives a new way to label different conformal field theories for disordered systems whose central charge is always 0. b turns out to be related to the central extension of a certain algebra, a generalization of the Virasoro algebra, which we show may be present at the critical points of these theories. b is also related to the finite size corrections of the physical free energy of disordered systems. We discuss possible applications by computing b for two-dimensional Dirac fermions with random gauge potential, in other words, for U(1∣1) Kac-Moody algebra.     

The A-D-E classification of minimal andA 1 (1) conformal invariant theories

We present a detailed and complete proof of our earlier conjecture on the classification of minimal conformal invariant theories. This is based on an exhaustive construction of all modular invariant sesquilinear forms, with positive integral coefficients, in the characters of the Virasoro or of theA ₁ ⁽¹⁾ Kac-Moody algebras, which describe the corresponding partition functions on a torus. A remarkable correspondence emerges with simply laced Lie algebras.     

A construction of thec<1 modular invariant partition functions

Decomposition theorems for certain representations of Kac-Moody algebras which are needed for the construction of modular invariant unitary conformal models are proved. It is shown that allc<1 modular invariant models can then be recovered from gauged free fermionic models, including the exceptional cases.This work was supported in part by the Director, Office of Energy Research, Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics, Division of High Energy Physics of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC03-76SF00098 and in part by the National Science Foundation under grant PHY85-15857Supported by the Swiss National Science FoundationSupported in part by the American-Israeli Binational Science Foundation and the Israeli Academy of Sciences     

Quantum group symmetries and non-local currents in 2D QFT

We construct and study the implications of some new non-local conserved currents that exist is a wide variety of massive integrable quantum field theories in 2 dimensions, including the sine-Gordon theory and its generalization to affine Toda theory. These non-local currents provide a non-perturbative formulation of the theories. The symmetry algebras correspond to the quantum affine Kac-Moody algebras. TheS-matrices are completely characterized by these symmetries. FormalS-matrices for the imaginary-coupling affine Toda theories are thereby derived. The application of theseS-matrices to perturbed coset conformal field theory is studied. Non-local charges generating the finite dimensional Quantum Group in the Liouville theory are briefly presented. The formalism based on non-local charges we describe provides an algernative to the quantum inverse scattering method for solving integrable quantum field theories in 2d.     

A new approach to spontaneously broken conformal symmetry

In this paper we present a new method for constructing theories of gravitation which exhibit spontaneously broken conformal symmetry. It does not require introducing nongeometric terms (i.e., auxiliary gauge fields or potential terms for the conformal field) into the Lagrangian. It is based on a theory which initially is locally both Lorentz invariant and Weyl gauge invariant inD dimensions. It is shown that, if the field Lagrangian contains terms quadratic in curvature in addition to the Ricci scalar, then the field equations allow both the dilation field and some connection components to have nonvanishing vacuum values. Both Lorentz and Weyl symmetries are thereby broken simultaneously.     

Spontaneous symmetry breaking of affine field theory

It is possible to construct non-Abelian field theories by gauging Kac-Moody algebras. Here we discuss the spontaneous symmetry breaking of such theories via the Higgs mechanism. If the Higgs particle lies in the Cartan subalgebra of the Kac-Moody algebra, the previously massless vectors acquire a mass spectrum that is linear in the Kac-Moody index and has additional fine structure depending on the associated Lie algebra.     

A local logarithmic conformal field theory

The local logarithmic conformal field theory corresponding to the triplet algebra at c = -2 is constructed. The constraints of locality and duality are explored in detail, and a consistent set of amplitudes is found. The spectrum of the corresponding theory is determined, and it is found to be modular invariant. This provides the first construction of a non-chiral rational logarithmic conformal field theory, establishing that such models can indeed define bona fide conformal field theories.     

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.     

Free fermions and WZW theories on nonsimple groups

We consider conformally and Kac-Moody invariant theories based on the groupsG=G(N)×G(Ñ) whereG(N) is any of the classical groups. For the valuesk=Ñ, \(\tilde k = N\) of the Kac-Moody central charges, the monodromy problem involved in the computation of the four point function for primary fields in the defining representation ofG possesses two distinct solutions. As a consequence, the WZW theory onG (with an additionalU(1) factor ifG(N)=SU (N)) cannot be equivalent to a theory of free fermions.     

A new view of the virasoro algebra

It is shown that the local quantum field theory of the chiral energy-momentum tensor with central chargec = 1 coincides with the gauge invariant subtheory of the chiral SU(2) current algebra at level 1, where the gauge group is the global SU(2) symmetry. At higher level, the same scheme gives rise toW-algebra extensions of the Virasoro algebra.     

Kac-Moody current algebras of D = 2 massless gauge theories,their representations and applications

We give a classification of the Kac-Moody current algebras of all the possible massless fermion-gauge theories in two dimensions. It is shown that only Kac-Moody algebras based on A_N, B_N, C_N, and D_N in the Cartan classification with all possible central charge occur. The representation of local fermion fields and simply laced Kac-Moody algebras with minimal central charge in terms of free boson fields on a compactified space is discussed in detail, where stress is laid on the role played by the boundary conditions on the various collective modes. Fractional solitons and the possible soliton representation of certain nonsimply laced algebras is also analysed. We briefly discuss the relationship between the massless bound state sector of these two-dimensioned gauge theories and the critically coupled two-dimensional nonlinear sigma model, which share the same current algebra. Finally we briefly discuss the relevance of Sp(n) Kac-Moody algebras to the physics of monopole-fermion systems.     

Conformally invariant Yang-Mills theory realizing the Virasoro-Kac-Moody algebra

We will discuss a conformally invariant Yang-Mills theory in two dimensions, which realizes the Virasoro-Kac-Moody algebra as the BRST symmetry. The theory will have the Virasoro anomaly with the central charge −26, but no anomaly for the Kac-Moody algebra.     

On the Uniqueness of Diffeomorphism Symmetry in Conformal Field Theory

A Möbius covariant net of von Neumann algebras on S¹ is diffeomorphism covariant if its Möbius symmetry extends to diffeomorphism symmetry. We prove that in case the net is either a Virasoro net or any at least 4-regular net such an extension is unique: the local algebras together with the Möbius symmetry (equivalently: the local algebras together with the vacuum vector) completely determine it. We draw the two following conclusions for such theories. (1) The value of the central charge c is an invariant and hence the Virasoro nets for different values of c are not isomorphic as Möbius covariant nets. (2) A vacuum preserving internal symmetry always commutes with the diffeomorphism symmetries. We further use our result to give a large class of new examples of nets (even strongly additive ones), which are not diffeomorphism covariant; i.e. which do not admit an extension of the symmetry to Diff⁺(S¹).Supported in part by the Italian MIUR and GNAMPA-INDAM.     

W-Algebras,new rational models and completeness of thec=1 classification

Two series ofW with two generators are constructed from chiral vertex operators of a free field representation. Ifc=1–24k, there exists aW(2, 3k) algebra for k ₊/2 and aW(2, 8k) algebra for k ₊/4. All possible lowest-weight representations, their characters and fusion rules are calculated proving that these theories are rational. It is shown, that these non-unitary theories complete the classification of all rational theories with effective central chargec _eff=1. The results are generalized to the case of extended supersymmetric conformal algebras.     

Complete classification of simple current modular invariants for RCFT's with a center (Z p ) k

Simple currents have been used previously to construct various examples of modular invariant partition functions for given rational conformal field theories. In this paper we present for a large class of such theories (namely those with a center that decomposes into factors Z _p ,p prime) thecomplete set of modular invariants that can be obtained with simple currents. In addition to the fusion rule automorphisms classified previously forany center, this includes all possible left-right combinations of all possible extensions of the chiral algebra that can be obtained with simple currents, for all possible current-current monodromies. Formulas for the number of invariants of each kind are derived. Although the number of invariants in each of these subsets depends on the current-current monodromies, the total number of invariants depends rather surprisingly only onp and the number ofZ _p factors.