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Christian Ferko

Publications and source records attributed to Christian Ferko.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Auxiliary Field Sigma Models and Yang-Baxter Deformations

We combine the Yang-Baxter (YB) and bi-Yang-Baxter (bi-YB) deformations with higher-spin auxiliary field deformations to construct multi-parameter families of integrable deformations of the principal chiral model on a Lie group $G$ with semi-simple Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$. In the YB case, our construction produces one integrable deformation for each pair $(\mathcal{R}, E)$, where $\mathcal{R}$ is an antisymmetric bilinear operator on $\mathfrak{g}$ obeying the modified classical Yang-Baxter equation and $E$ is a function of several variables. In the bi-YB case, the pair becomes a triplet $(\mathcal{R},\tilde{\mathcal{R}}, E)$, where $\tilde{\mathcal{R}}$ is another antisymmetric bilinear operator on $\mathfrak{g}$ and obeys the non-split inhomogeneous modified classical Yang-Baxter equation. We show that every model in these families is (weakly) classically integrable by exhibiting a Lax representation for their equations of motion.

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${T\overline{T}}$-like Flows of Yang-Mills Theories

We study ${T\overline{T}}$-like deformations of $d>2$ Yang-Mills theories. The standard ${T\overline{T}}$ flows lead to multi-trace Lagrangians, and the non-Abelian gauge structures make it challenging to find Lagrangians in a closed form. However, within the geometric approach to ${T\overline{T}}$, we obtain the closed-form solution to the metric flow and stress-energy tensor, and show that instanton solutions are undeformed. We also introduce new symmetrised single-trace ${T\overline{T}}$-like deformations, whose solutions in $d=4$ include the non-Abelian Born-Infeld Lagrangian proposed by Tseytlin in 1997.

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Auxiliary Field Deformations of (Semi-)Symmetric Space Sigma Models

We generalize the auxiliary field deformations of the principal chiral model (PCM) introduced in arXiv:2405.05899 and arXiv:2407.16338 to sigma models whose target manifolds are symmetric or semi-symmetric spaces, including a Wess-Zumino term in the latter case. This gives rise to a new infinite family of classically integrable $\mathbb{Z}_2$ and $\mathbb{Z}_4$ coset models of the form which are of interest in applications of integrability to worldsheet string theory and holography. We demonstrate that every theory in this infinite class admits a zero-curvature representation for its equations of motion by exhibiting a Lax connection.

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Integrable Higher-Spin Deformations of Sigma Models from Auxiliary Fields

We construct a new infinite family of integrable deformations of the principal chiral model (PCM) parameterized by an interaction function of several variables, which extends the formalism of arXiv:2405.05899, and includes deformations of the PCM by functions of both the stress tensor and higher-spin conserved currents. We show in detail that every model in this class admits a Lax representation for its equations of motion, and that the Poisson bracket of the Lax connection takes the Maillet form, establishing the existence of an infinite set of Poisson-commuting conserved charges. We argue that the non-Abelian T-dual of any model in this family is classically integrable, and that T-duality "commutes" with a general deformation in this class, in a sense which we make precise. Finally, we demonstrate that these higher-spin auxiliary field deformations can be extended to accommodate the addition of a Wess-Zumino term, and we exhibit the Lax connection in this case.

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T-Duality and $T \overline{T}$-like Deformations of Sigma Models

We initiate the study of the interplay between T-duality and classical stress tensor deformations in two-dimensional sigma models. We first show that a general Abelian T-duality commutes with the $T \overline{T}$ deformation, which can be engineered by a gravitational dressing. Then, by using an auxiliary field formulation of stress tensor deformations of the principal chiral model (PCM), we prove that non-Abelian T-duality and arbitrary $T \overline{T}$-like flows also commute for theories in this class. We argue that all such auxiliary field deformations of both the PCM and its T-dual are classically integrable.

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Flows in the Space of Interacting Chiral Boson Theories

We study interacting theories of $N$ left-moving and $\overline{N}$ right-moving Floreanini-Jackiw bosons in two dimensions. A parameterized family of such theories is shown to enjoy (non-manifest) Lorentz invariance if and only if its Lagrangian obeys a flow equation driven by a function of the energy-momentum tensor. We discuss the canonical quantization of such theories along classical stress tensor flows, focusing on the case of the root-$T \overline{T}$ deformation, where we obtain perturbative results for the deformed spectrum in a certain large-momentum limit. In the special case $N = \overline{N}$, we consider the quantum effective action for the root-$T \overline{T}$-deformed theory by expanding around a general classical background, and we find that the one-loop contribution vanishes for backgrounds with constant scalar gradients. Our analysis can also be interpreted via dual $U(1)$ Chern-Simons theories in three dimensions, which might be used to describe deformations of charged $\mathrm{AdS}_3$ black holes or quantum Hall systems.

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Interacting Chiral Form Field Theories and $T\overline T$-like Flows in Six and Higher Dimensions

In this paper we initiate the study of six-dimensional non-linear chiral two-form gauge theories as deformations of free chiral two-form gauge theories driven by stress-tensor $T\overline T$-like flows. To lay the background for this study, we elaborate on the relationship between different Lagrangian formulations of duality-invariant p-form theories and corresponding $T\overline T$-like flows in various dimensions. To this end we propose a new formulation which (i) is a generalization of the four-dimensional construction by Ivanov, Nurmagambetov and Zupnik (INZ) and (ii) turns into the PST formulation upon integrating out an auxiliary self-dual field. We elucidate space-time covariant properties of the PST formulation by clarifying and making use of its relation to the INZ-type formulation and to a so-called ``clone" construction.

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$T \overline{T}$-Like Flows and $3d$ Nonlinear Supersymmetry

We show that the $3d$ Born-Infeld theory can be generated via an irrelevant deformation of the free Maxwell theory. The deforming operator is constructed from the energy-momentum tensor and includes a novel non-analytic contribution that resembles root-$T \overline{T}$. We find that a similar operator deforms a free scalar into the scalar sector of the Dirac-Born-Infeld action, which describes transverse fluctuations of a D-brane, in any dimension. We also analyse trace flow equations and obtain flows for subtracted models driven by a relevant operator. In $3d$, the irrelevant deformation can be made manifestly supersymmetric by presenting the flow equation in $\mathcal{N} = 1$ superspace, where the deforming operator is built from supercurrents. We demonstrate that two supersymmetric presentations of the D2-brane effective action, the Maxwell-Goldstone multiplet and the tensor-Goldstone multiplet, satisfy superspace flow equations driven by this supercurrent combination. To do this, we derive expressions for the supercurrents in general classes of vector and tensor/scalar models by directly solving the superspace conservation equations and also by coupling to $\mathcal{N} = 1$ supergravity. As both of these multiplets exhibit a second, spontaneously broken supersymmetry, this analysis provides further evidence for a connection between current-squared deformations and nonlinearly realized symmetries.

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Duality-Invariant Non-linear Electrodynamics and Stress Tensor Flows

Given a model for self-dual non-linear electrodynamics in four spacetime dimensions, any deformation of this theory which is constructed from the duality-invariant energy-momentum tensor preserves duality invariance. In this work we present new proofs of this known result, and also establish a previously unknown converse: any parameterized family of duality-invariant Lagrangians, all constructed from an Abelian field strength $F_{μν}$ but not its derivatives, is related by a generalized stress tensor flow, in a sense which we make precise. We establish this and other properties of stress tensor deformations of theories of non-linear electrodynamics using both a conventional Lagrangian representation and using two auxiliary field formulations. We analyze these flows in several examples of duality-invariant models including the Born-Infeld and ModMax theories, and we derive a new auxiliary field representation for the two-parameter family of ModMax-Born-Infeld theories. These results suggest that the space of duality-invariant theories may be characterized as a subspace of theories of electrodynamics with the property that all tangent vectors to this subspace are operators constructed from the stress tensor.

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Quantization of the ModMax Oscillator

We quantize the ModMax oscillator, which is the dimensional reduction of the Modified Maxwell theory to one spacetime dimension. We show that the propagator of the ModMax oscillator satisfies a differential equation related to the Laplace equation in cylindrical coordinates, and we obtain expressions for the classical and quantum partition functions of the theory. To do this, we develop general results for deformations of quantum mechanical theories by functions of conserved charges. We show that canonical quantization and path integral quantization of such deformed theories are equivalent only if one uses the phase space path integral; this gives a precise quantum analogue of the statement that classical deformations of the Lagrangian are equivalent to those of the Hamiltonian.

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Stress Tensor Flows, Birefringence in Non-Linear Electrodynamics, and Supersymmetry

We identify the unique stress tensor deformation which preserves zero-birefringence conditions in non-linear electrodynamics, which is a $4d$ version of the ${T\overline{T}}$ operator. We study the flows driven by this operator in the three Lagrangian theories without birefringence -- Born-Infeld, Plebanski, and reverse Born-Infeld -- all of which admit ModMax-like generalizations using a root-${T\overline{T}}$-like flow that we analyse in our paper. We demonstrate one way of making this root-${T\overline{T}}$-like flow manifestly supersymmetric by writing the deforming operator in $\mathcal{N} = 1$ superspace and exhibit two examples of superspace flows. We present scalar analogues in $d = 2$ with similar properties as these theories of electrodynamics in $d = 4$. Surprisingly, the Plebanski-type theories are fixed points of the classical ${T\overline{T}}$-like flows, while the Born-Infeld-type examples satisfy new flow equations driven by relevant operators constructed from the stress tensor. Finally, we prove that any theory obtained from a classical stress-tensor-squared deformation of a conformal field theory gives rise to a related ``subtracted'' theory for which the stress-tensor-squared operator is a constant.

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ModMax Oscillators and Root-$T \overline{T}$-Like Flows in Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics

We construct a deformation of any $(0+1)$-dimensional theory of $N$ bosons with $SO(N)$ symmetry which is driven by a function of conserved quantities that resembles the root-$T \overline{T}$ operator of $2d$ quantum field theories. In the special case of $N=2$ bosons and a harmonic oscillator potential, the solution to the flow equation is the ModMax oscillator of arXiv:2209.06296. We argue that the deforming operator is related, in a particular special regime, to the dimensional reduction of the $2d$ root-$T \overline{T}$ operator on a spatial circle. It follows that the ModMax oscillator is a dimensional reduction of the $4d$ ModMax theory to quantum mechanics, justifying the name. We then show how to construct a manifestly supersymmetric extension of this root-$T \overline{T}$-like operator for any $(0+1)$-dimensional theory with $SO(N)$ symmetry and $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry by defining a flow equation directly in superspace.

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Root-$T \overline{T}$ Deformed Boundary Conditions in Holography

We develop the holographic dictionary for pure $\mathrm{AdS}_3$ gravity where the Lagrangian of the dual $2d$ conformal field theory has been deformed by an arbitrary function of the energy-momentum tensor. In addition to the $T \overline{T}$ deformation, examples of such functions include a class of marginal stress tensor deformations which are special because they leave the generating functional of connected correlators unchanged up to a redefinition of the source and expectation value. Within this marginal class, we identify the unique deformation that commutes with the $T \overline{T}$ flow, which is the root-$T \overline{T}$ operator, and write down the modified boundary conditions corresponding to this root-$T \overline{T}$ deformation. We also identify the unique marginal stress tensor flow for the cylinder spectrum of the dual CFT which commutes with the inviscid Burgers' flow driven by $T \overline{T}$, and we propose this unique flow as a candidate root-$T \overline{T}$ deformation of the energy levels. We study BTZ black holes in $\mathrm{AdS}_3$ subject to root-$T \overline{T}$ deformed boundary conditions, and find that their masses flow in a way which is identical to that of our candidate root-$T \overline{T}$ energy flow equation, which offers evidence that this flow is the correct one. Finally, we also obtain the root-$T \overline{T}$ deformed boundary conditions for the gauge field in the Chern-Simons formulation of $\mathrm{AdS}_3$ gravity.

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Holography and Irrelevant Operators

We explore the holographic proposal involving spacetimes with linear dilaton asymptotics in three dimensions from a gravity perspective. The holographic dual shares some properties with a symmetric product conformal field theory deformed by a single-trace analogue of the $T \overline{T}$ deformation. We present solutions of ten-dimensional supergravity which interpolate from BTZ black holes in the interior to either a linear dilaton spacetime near infinity, or to flat space. This allows a precise identification of field theory parameters with gravity parameters. The solutions manifestly exhibit the square root structure that is characteristic of $T \overline{T}$-deformed conformal field theories. We compute the mass of the spacetimes using the covariant phase space formalism and find agreement with the square root formula for the case of black holes without spin. We also discuss whether closed string tachyons might play a role when the deformation parameter becomes too large and the vacuum becomes unstable.

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On the Classical Integrability of Root-$T \overline{T}$ Flows

The Root-$T \overline{T}$ flow was recently introduced as a universal and classically marginal deformation of any two-dimensional translation-invariant field theory. The flow commutes with the (irrelevant) $T \overline{T}$ flow and it can be integrated explicitly for a large class of actions, leading to non-analytic Lagrangians reminiscent of the four-dimensional Modified-Maxwell theory (ModMax). It is not a priori obvious whether the Root-$T \overline{T}$ flow preserves integrability, like it is the case for the $T \overline{T}$ flow. In this paper we demonstrate that this is the case for a large class of classical models by explicitly constructing a deformed Lax connection. We discuss the principal chiral model and the non-linear sigma models on symmetric and semi-symmetric spaces, without or with Wess-Zumino term. We also construct Lax connections for the two-parameter families of theories deformed by both Root-$T \overline{T}$ and $T \overline{T}$ for all of these models.

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Sequential Flows by Irrelevant Operators

We explore whether one can $T \overline{T}$ deform a collection of theories that are already $T \overline{T}$-deformed. This allows us to define classes of irrelevant deformations that know about subsystems. In some basic cases, we explore the spectrum that results from this procedure and we provide numerical evidence in favor of modular invariance. We also study the flow of the classical Lagrangian for free bosons and free fermions under successive deformations. Some of the models found by sequentially flowing are likely to have interesting holographic interpretations.

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Root-$T \overline{T}$ Deformations in Two-Dimensional Quantum Field Theories

In this letter we introduce a one-parameter deformation of two-dimensional quantum field theories generated by a non-analytic operator which we call Root-$T \overline{T}$. For a conformal field theory, the operator coincides with the square-root of the $T \overline{T}$ operator. More generally, the operator is defined so that classically it is marginal and generates a flow which commutes with the $T \overline{T}$-flow. Intriguingly, the Root-$T \overline{T}$ flow is closely related to the ModMax theory recently constructed by Bandos, Lechner, Sorokin and Townsend.

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$T\bar{T}$ in JT Gravity and BF Gauge Theory

JT gravity has a first-order formulation as a two-dimensional BF theory, which can be viewed as the dimensional reduction of the Chern-Simons description of $3d$ gravity. We consider $T\bar{T}$-type deformations of the $(0+1)$-dimensional dual to this $2d$ BF theory and interpret the deformation as a modification of the BF theory boundary conditions. The fundamental observables in this deformed BF theory, and in its $3d$ Chern-Simons lift, are Wilson lines and loops. In the $3d$ Chern-Simons setting, we study modifications to correlators involving boundary-anchored Wilson lines which are induced by a $T\bar{T}$ deformation on the $2d$ boundary; results are presented at both the classical level (using modified boundary conditions) and the quantum-mechanical level (using conformal perturbation theory). Finally, we calculate the analogous deformed Wilson line correlators in $2d$ BF theory below the Hagedorn temperature where the principal series dominates over the discrete series.

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