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arXiv · 2003.11345

Conformal anomaly of pseudo-scalar operators

Dmitry Chicherin·Emery Sokatchev
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Abstract

We study the conformal properties of pseudo-scalar (parity-odd) operators in four-dimensional field theory. Such operators include the topological term in a gauge theory and the Yukawa coupling. We show that a single operator of this type cannot be a conformal primary on its own. This is only possible for certain mixtures of pseudo-scalar operators like the chiral Lagrangian of ${\cal N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory. We examine the detailed mechanism of conformal symmetry breakdown and derive an anomalous conformal Ward identity. We explore a possible link between this conformal anomaly and the axial anomaly.

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Dmitry Chicherin, Emery Sokatchev. 2020-03-25. Conformal anomaly of pseudo-scalar operators. https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.11345

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