arXiv subjects

Joao Penedones

Publications and source records attributed to Joao Penedones.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

A structural test for the conformal invariance of the critical 3d Ising model

How can a renormalization group fixed point be scale invariant without being conformal? Polchinski (1988) showed that this may happen if the theory contains a virial current -- a non-conserved vector operator of dimension exactly $(d-1)$, whose divergence expresses the trace of the stress tensor. We point out that this scenario can be probed via lattice Monte Carlo simulations, using the critical 3d Ising model as an example. Our results put a lower bound $Δ_V>5.0$ on the scaling dimension of the lowest virial current candidate $V$, well above 2 expected for the true virial current. This implies that the critical 3d Ising model has no virial current, providing a structural explanation for the conformal invariance of the model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

S-matrix Bootstrap for Effective Field Theories: Massless Pions

We use the numerical S-matrix bootstrap method to obtain bounds on the two leading Wilson coefficients of the chiral lagrangian controlling the low-energy dynamics of massless pions thus providing a proof of concept that the numerical S-matrix bootstrap can be used to derive non-perturbative bounds on EFTs in more than two spacetime dimensions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Nonperturbative Mellin Amplitudes: Existence, Properties, Applications

We argue that nonperturbative CFT correlation functions admit a Mellin amplitude representation. Perturbative Mellin representation readily follows. We discuss the main properties of nonperturbative CFT Mellin amplitudes: subtractions, analyticity, unitarity, Polyakov conditions and polynomial boundedness at infinity. Mellin amplitudes are particularly simple for large N CFTs and 2D rational CFTs. We discuss these examples to illustrate our general discussion. We consider subtracted dispersion relations for Mellin amplitudes and use them to derive bootstrap bounds on CFTs. We combine crossing, dispersion relations and Polyakov conditions to write down a set of extremal functionals that act on the OPE data. We check these functionals using the known 3d Ising model OPE data and other known bootstrap constraints. We then apply them to holographic theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

A Scattering Amplitude in Conformal Field Theory

We define form factors and scattering amplitudes in Conformal Field Theory as the coefficient of the singularity of the Fourier transform of time-ordered correlation functions, as $p^2 \to 0$. In particular, we study a form factor $F(s,t,u)$ obtained from a four-point function of identical scalar primary operators. We show that $F$ is crossing symmetric, analytic and it has a partial wave expansion. We illustrate our findings in the 3d Ising model, perturbative fixed points and holographic CFTs.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Colliders and conformal interfaces

We set up a scattering experiment of matter against an impurity which separates two generic one-dimensional critical quantum systems. We compute the flux of reflected and transmitted energy, thus defining a precise measure of the transparency of the interface between the related two-dimensional conformal field theories. If the largest symmetry algebra is Virasoro, we find that the reflection and transmission coefficients are independent of the details of the initial state, and are fixed in terms of the central charges and of the two-point function of the displacement operator. The situation is more elaborate when extended symmetries are present. Positivity of the total energy flux at infinity imposes bounds on the coefficient of the two-point function of the displacement operator, which controls the free-energy cost of a small deformation of the interface. Finally, we study out-of-equilibrium steady states of a critical system connecting two reservoirs at different temperatures. In the absence of extended symmetries, our result implies that the energy flux across an impurity is proportional to the difference of the squared temperatures and controlled by the reflection coefficient.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

The S-matrix Bootstrap IV: Multiple Amplitudes

We explore the space of consistent three-particle couplings in $\mathbb Z_2$-symmetric two-dimensional QFTs using two first-principles approaches. Our first approach relies solely on unitarity, analyticity and crossing symmetry of the two-to-two scattering amplitudes and extends the techniques of [arXiv:1607.06110] to a multi-amplitude setup. Our second approach is based on placing QFTs in AdS to get upper bounds on couplings with the numerical conformal bootstrap, and is a multi-correlator version of [arXiv:1607.06109]. The space of allowed couplings that we carve out is rich in features, some of which we can link to amplitudes in integrable theories with a $\mathbb Z_2$ symmetry, e.g., the three-state Potts and tricritical Ising field theories. Along a specific line our maximal coupling agrees with that of a new exact S-matrix that corresponds to an elliptic deformation of the supersymmetric Sine-Gordon model which preserves unitarity and solves the Yang-Baxter equation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Bootstrapping QCD: the Lake, the Peninsula and the Kink

We consider the S-matrix bootstrap of four dimensional scattering amplitudes with $O(3)$ symmetry and no bound-states. We explore the allowed space of scattering lengths which parametrize the interaction strength at threshold of the various scattering channels. Next we consider an application of this formalism to pion physics. A signature of pions is that they are derivatively coupled leading to (chiral) zeros in their scattering amplitudes. In this work we explore the multi-dimensional space of chiral zeros positions, scattering length values and resonance mass values. Interestingly, we encounter lakes, peninsulas and kinks depending on which sections of this intricate multi-dimensional space we consider. We discuss the remarkable location where QCD seems to lie in these plots, based on various experimental and theoretical expectations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Conformal Regge theory

We generalize Regge theory to correlation functions in conformal field theories. This is done by exploring the analogy between Mellin amplitudes in AdS/CFT and S-matrix elements. In the process, we develop the conformal partial wave expansion in Mellin space, elucidating the analytic structure of the partial amplitudes. We apply the new formalism to the case of four point correlation functions between protected scalar operators in N=4 Super Yang Mills, in cases where the Regge limit is controlled by the leading twist operators associated to the pomeron-graviton Regge trajectory. At weak coupling, we are able to predict to arbitrary high order in the 't Hooft coupling the behaviour near J=1 of the OPE coefficients C_{OOJ} between the external scalars and the spin J leading twist operators. At strong coupling, we use recent results for the anomalous dimension of the leading twist operators to improve current knowledge of the AdS graviton Regge trajectory - in particular, determining the next and next to next leading order corrections to the intercept. Finally, by taking the flat space limit and considering the Virasoro-Shapiro S-matrix element, we compute the strong coupling limit of the OPE coefficient C_{LLJ} between two Lagrangians and the leading twist operators of spin J.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

The S-matrix Bootstrap III: Higher Dimensional Amplitudes

We consider constraints on the S-matrix of any gapped, Lorentz invariant quantum field theory in 3+1 dimensions due to crossing symmetry, analyticity and unitarity. We extremize cubic couplings, quartic couplings and scattering lengths relevant for the elastic scattering amplitude of two identical scalar particles. In the cases where our results can be compared with the older S-matrix literature they are in excellent agreement. We also extremize a cubic coupling in 2+1 dimensions which we can directly compare to a universal bound for a QFT in AdS. This paper generalizes our previous 1+1 dimensional results of arXiv:1607.06109 and arXiv:1607.06110.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

The S-matrix Bootstrap I: QFT in AdS

We propose a strategy to study massive Quantum Field Theory (QFT) using conformal bootstrap methods. The idea is to consider QFT in hyperbolic space and study correlation functions of its boundary operators. We show that these are solutions of the crossing equations in one lower dimension. By sending the curvature radius of the background hyperbolic space to infinity we expect to recover flat-space physics. We explain that this regime corresponds to large scaling dimensions of the boundary operators, and discuss how to obtain the flat-space scattering amplitudes from the corresponding limit of the boundary correlators. We implement this strategy to obtain universal bounds on the strength of cubic couplings in 2D flat-space QFTs using 1D conformal bootstrap techniques. Our numerical results match precisely the analytic bounds obtained in our companion paper using S-matrix bootstrap techniques.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

The S-matrix Bootstrap II: Two Dimensional Amplitudes

We consider constraints on the S-matrix of any gapped, Lorentz invariant quantum field theory in 1 + 1 dimensions due to crossing symmetry and unitarity. In this way we establish rigorous bounds on the cubic couplings of a given theory with a fixed mass spectrum. In special cases we identify interesting integrable theories saturating these bounds. Our analytic bounds match precisely with numerical bounds obtained in a companion paper where we consider massive QFT in an AdS box and study boundary correlators using the technology of the conformal bootstrap.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Charting the space of 3D CFTs with a continuous global symmetry

We study correlation functions of a conserved spin-1 current $J_μ$ in three dimensional Conformal Field Theories (CFTs). We investigate the constraints imposed by permutation symmetry and current conservation on the form of three point functions $\langle J_μJ_ν\mathcal O_{Δ,\ell}\rangle $ and the four point function $\langle J_μJ_νJ_ρJ_σ\rangle $ and identify the minimal set of independent crossing symmetry conditions. We obtain a recurrence relation for conformal blocks for generic spin-1 operators in three dimensions. In the process, we improve several technical points, facilitating the use of recurrence relations. By applying the machinery of the numerical conformal bootstrap we obtain universal bounds on the dimensions of certain light operators as well as the central charge. Highlights of our results include numerical evidence for the conformal collider bound and new constraints on the parameters of the critical $O(2)$ model. The results obtained in this work apply to any unitary, parity-preserving three dimensional CFT.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Polarised Black Holes in ABJM

We numerically construct asymptotically $AdS_4$ solutions to Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory. These have a dipolar electrostatic potential turned on at the conformal boundary $S^2\times \mathbb{R}_t$. We find two classes of geometries: $AdS$ soliton solutions that encode the full backreaction of the electric field on the $AdS$ geometry without a horizon, and neutral black holes that are "polarised" by the dipolar potential. For a certain range of the electric field $\mathcal{E}$, we find two distinct branches of the $AdS$ soliton that exist for the same value of $\mathcal{E}$. For the black hole, we find either two or four branches depending on the value of the electric field and horizon temperature. These branches meet at critical values of the electric field and impose a maximum value of $\mathcal{E}$ that should be reflected in the dual field theory. For both the soliton and black hole geometries, we study boundary data such as the stress tensor. For the black hole, we also consider horizon observables such as the entropy. At finite temperature, we consider the Gibbs free energy for both phases and determine the phase transition between them. We find that the $AdS$ soliton dominates at low temperature for an electric field up to the maximum value. Using the gauge/gravity duality, we propose that these solutions are dual to deformed ABJM theory and compute the corresponding weak coupling phase diagram.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Generalized projection retrieval of dispersion scans for ultrashort pulse characterization

We present a retrieval algorithm based on generalized projections for ultrashort pulse characterization using dispersion scan (d-scan). The new algorithm is tested on several simulated cases and in two different experimental cases in the few-cycle regime. The proposed algorithm is much faster and leads to a drastic reduction of retrieval times, but performs less robust in the retrieval of noisy d-scan traces compared to the standard algorithm.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

TASI lectures on AdS/CFT

We introduce the AdS/CFT correspondence as a natural extension of QFT in a fixed AdS background. We start by reviewing some general concepts of CFT, including the embedding space formalism. We then consider QFT in a fixed AdS background and show that one can define boundary operators that enjoy very similar properties as in a CFT, except for the lack of a stress tensor. Including a dynamical metric in AdS generates a boundary stress tensor and completes the CFT axioms. We also discuss some applications of the bulk geometric intuition to strongly coupled QFT. Finally, we end with a review of the main properties of Mellin amplitudes for CFT correlation functions and their uses in the context of AdS/CFT.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Conformal symmetry of the critical 3D Ising model inside a sphere

We perform Monte-Carlo simulations of the three-dimensional Ising model at the critical temperature and zero magnetic field. We simulate the system in a ball with free boundary conditions on the two dimensional spherical boundary. Our results for one and two point functions in this geometry are consistent with the predictions from the conjectured conformal symmetry of the critical Ising model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Spinning Conformal Correlators

We develop the embedding formalism for conformal field theories, aimed at doing computations with symmetric traceless operators of arbitrary spin. We use an index-free notation where tensors are encoded by polynomials in auxiliary polarization vectors. The efficiency of the formalism is demonstrated by computing the tensor structures allowed in n-point conformal correlation functions of tensors operators. Constraints due to tensor conservation also take a simple form in this formalism. Finally, we obtain a perfect match between the number of independent tensor structures of conformal correlators in d dimensions and the number of independent structures in scattering amplitudes of spinning particles in (d+1)-dimensional Minkowski space.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Thermodynamics of the BMN matrix model at strong coupling

We construct the black hole geometry dual to the deconfined phase of the BMN matrix model at strong 't Hooft coupling. We approach this solution from the limit of large temperature where it is approximately that of the non-extremal D0-brane geometry with a spherical $S^8$ horizon. This geometry preserves the $SO(9)$ symmetry of the matrix model trivial vacuum. As the temperature decreases the horizon becomes deformed and breaks the $SO(9)$ to the $SO(6)\times SO(3)$ symmetry of the matrix model. When the black hole free energy crosses zero the system undergoes a phase transition to the confined phase described by a Lin-Maldacena geometry. We determine this critical temperature, whose computation is also within reach of Monte Carlo simulations of the matrix model.

hep-th↗