arXiv subjects

Justin Kaidi

Publications and source records attributed to Justin Kaidi.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Higher central charges and topological boundaries in 2+1-dimensional TQFTs

A 2+1-dimensional topological quantum field theory (TQFT) may or may not admit topological (gapped) boundary conditions. A famous necessary, but not sufficient, condition for the existence of a topological boundary condition is that the chiral central charge $c_-$ has to vanish. In this paper, we consider conditions associated with "higher" central charges, which have been introduced recently in the math literature. In terms of these new obstructions, we identify necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a topological boundary in the case of bosonic, Abelian TQFTs, providing an alternative to the identification of a Lagrangian subgroup. Our proof relies on general aspects of gauging generalized global symmetries. For non-Abelian TQFTs, we give a geometric way of studying topological boundary conditions, and explain certain necessary conditions given again in terms of the higher central charges. Along the way, we find a curious duality in the partition functions of Abelian TQFTs, which begs for an explanation via the 3d-3d correspondence.

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arXiv2021

Holomorphic modular bootstrap revisited

In this work we revisit the "holomorphic modular bootstrap", i.e. the classification of rational conformal field theories via an analysis of the modular differential equations satisfied by their characters. By making use of the representation theory of ${\rm PSL}(2,\mathbb{Z}_n)$, we describe a method to classify allowed central charges and weights $(c,h_i)$ for theories with any number of characters $d$. This allows us to avoid various bottlenecks encountered previously in the literature, and leads to a classification of consistent characters up to $d=5$ whose modular differential equations are uniquely fixed in terms of $(c,h_i)$. In the process, we identify the full set of constraints on the allowed values of the Wronskian index for fixed $d\leq 5$.

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arXiv2021

A new rank-2 Argyres-Douglas theory

We provide evidence for the existence of a new strongly-coupled four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theory arising as a non-trivial IR fixed point on the Coulomb branch of the mass-deformed superconformal Lagrangian theory with gauge group $G_2$ and four fundamental hypermultiplets. Notably, our analysis proceeds by using various geometric constraints to bootstrap the data of the theory, and makes no explicit reference to the Seiberg-Witten curve. We conjecture a corresponding VOA and check that the vacuum character satisfies a linear modular differential equation of fourth order. We also propose an identification with existing class $\mathcal{S}$ constructions.

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arXiv2021

Modular graph functions and odd cuspidal functions -- Fourier and Poincaré series

Modular graph functions are $SL(2,{\mathbb Z})$-invariant functions associated with Feynman graphs of a two-dimensional conformal field theory on a torus of modulus $τ$. For one-loop graphs they reduce to real analytic Eisenstein series. We obtain the Fourier series, including the constant and non-constant Fourier modes, of all two-loop modular graph functions, as well as their Poincaré series with respect to $Γ_\infty \backslash PSL(2,{\mathbb Z})$. The Fourier and Poincaré series provide the tools to compute the Petersson inner product of two-loop modular graph functions using Rankin-Selberg-Zagier methods. Modular graph functions which are odd under $τ\to - \bar τ$ are cuspidal functions, with exponential decay near the cusp, and exist starting at two loops. Holomorphic subgraph reduction and the sieve algorithm, developed in earlier work, are used to give a lower bound on the dimension of the space $\mathfrak{A}_w$ of odd two-loop modular graph functions of weight $w$. For $w \leq 11$ the bound is saturated and we exhibit a basis for $\mathfrak{A}_w$.

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arXiv2021

Stable Vacua for Tachyonic Strings

In addition to the familiar string theories with spacetime supersymmetry, there exist a number of non-supersymmetric ten-dimensional superstrings. Nearly all of these theories have closed string tachyons, indicating a misidentification of the vacuum around which they are to be quantized. In this work, we identify (meta)stable vacua for all known tachyonic superstrings. These vacua are all lower-dimensional, with most of them being familiar two-dimensional string theories. However, there are also intriguing examples of solutions in dimensions 6, 8, and 9, with respective gauge groups $E_7 \times E_7$, $SU(16)$, and $E_8$. These special vacua have positive vacuum energy and no moduli.

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arXiv2020

Discreteness and Integrality in Conformal Field Theory

Various observables in compact CFTs are required to obey positivity, discreteness, and integrality. Positivity forms the crux of the conformal bootstrap, but understanding of the abstract implications of discreteness and integrality for the space of CFTs is lacking. We systematically study these constraints in two-dimensional, non-holomorphic CFTs, making use of two main mathematical results. First, we prove a theorem constraining the behavior near the cusp of integral, vector-valued modular functions. Second, we explicitly construct non-factorizable, non-holomorphic cuspidal functions satisfying discreteness and integrality, and prove the non-existence of such functions once positivity is added. Application of these results yields several bootstrap-type bounds on OPE data of both rational and irrational CFTs, including some powerful bounds for theories with conformal manifolds, as well as insights into questions of spectral determinacy. We prove that in rational CFT, the spectrum of operator twists $t\geq {c \over 12}$ is uniquely determined by its complement. Likewise, we argue that in generic CFTs, the spectrum of operator dimensions $Δ> {c-1\over 12}$ is uniquely determined by its complement, absent fine-tuning in a sense we articulate. Finally, we discuss implications for black hole physics and the (non-)uniqueness of a possible ensemble interpretation of AdS$_3$ gravity.

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arXiv2020

Topological Superconductors on Superstring Worldsheets

We point out that different choices of Gliozzi-Scherk-Olive (GSO) projections in superstring theory can be conveniently understood by the inclusion of fermionic invertible phases, or equivalently topological superconductors, on the worldsheet. This allows us to find that the unoriented Type $\rm 0$ string theory with $Ω^2=(-1)^{\sf f}$ admits different GSO projections parameterized by $n$ mod 8, depending on the number of Kitaev chains on the worldsheet. The presence of $n$ boundary Majorana fermions then leads to the classification of D-branes by $KO^n(X)\oplus KO^{-n}(X)$ in these theories, which we also confirm by the study of the D-brane boundary states. Finally, we show that there is no essentially new GSO projection for the Type $\rm I$ worldsheet theory by studying the relevant bordism group, which classifies corresponding invertible phases. This paper provides the details for the results announced in the letter \cite{Kaidi:2019pzj}.

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arXiv2019

GSO projections via SPT phases

We point out that the choice of phases in GSO projections can be accounted for by a choice of fermionic SPT phases on the worldsheet of the string. This point of view not only easily explains why there are essentially two type II theories, but also predicts that there are unoriented type 0 theories labeled by n mod 8, and that there is an essentially unique choice of the type I worldsheet theory. We also discuss the relationship between this point of view and the K-theoretic classification of D-branes.

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arXiv2019

Exotic Branes from del Pezzo Surfaces

We revisit a correspondence between toroidal compactifications of M-theory and del Pezzo surfaces, in which rational curves on the del Pezzo are related to ${1\over 2}$-BPS branes of the corresponding compactification. We argue that curves of higher genus correspond to non-geometric backgrounds of the M-theory compactifications, which are related to exotic branes. In particular, the number of "special directions" of the exotic brane is equal to the genus of the corresponding curve. We also point out a relation between addition of curves in the del Pezzo and the brane polarization effect.

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arXiv2019

Global half-BPS $AdS_2\times S^6$ solutions in Type IIB

We investigate half-BPS Type IIB supergravity solutions with spacetime geometry $AdS_2\times S^6$ warped over a Riemann surface $Σ$. The general local solution was obtained in earlier work in terms of two holomorphic functions $\mathcal A_\pm$ on $Σ$. In the first part of this paper we seek global solutions corresponding to the near-horizon behavior of $(p,q)$-string junctions. We identify the type of singularity in $\mathcal A_\pm$ needed at the boundary of $Σ$ to match the solutions locally onto the classic $(p,q)$-string solution. We construct solutions with multiple $(p,q)$-strings, but the existence of geodesically complete solutions remains unsettled. In a second part we construct multi-parameter families of non-compact globally regular and geodesically complete solutions with asymptotic regions and an $AdS_2$ throat which caps off smoothly.

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arXiv2019

Holomorphic subgraph reduction of higher-point modular graph forms

Modular graph forms are a class of modular covariant functions which appear in the genus-one contribution to the low-energy expansion of closed string scattering amplitudes. Modular graph forms with holomorphic subgraphs enjoy the simplifying property that they may be reduced to sums of products of modular graph forms of strictly lower loop order. In the particular case of dihedral modular graph forms, a closed form expression for this holomorphic subgraph reduction was obtained previously by D'Hoker and Green. In the current work, we extend these results to trihedral modular graph forms. Doing so involves the identification of a modular covariant regularization scheme for certain conditionally convergent sums over discrete momenta, with some elements of the sum being excluded. The appropriate regularization scheme is identified for any number of exclusions, which in principle allows one to perform holomorphic subgraph reduction of higher-point modular graph forms with arbitrary holomorphic subgraphs.

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arXiv2018

M-theory curves from warped AdS$_6$ in Type IIB

We establish a close relation between recently constructed AdS$_6$ solutions in Type IIB supergravity, which describe the near-horizon limit of $(p,q)$ 5-brane junctions, and the curves wrapped by M5-branes in the M-theory realization of the 5-brane junctions. This provides a geometric interpretation of various objects appearing in the construction of the Type IIB solutions and a physical interpretation of the regularity conditions. Conversely, the Type IIB solutions provide explicit solutions to the equations defining the M-theory curves associated with $(p,q)$ 5-brane junctions.

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arXiv2018

Mass deformations of 5d SCFTs via holography

Using six-dimensional Euclidean $F(4)$ gauged supergravity we construct a holographic renormalization group flow for a CFT on $S^5$. Numerical solutions to the BPS equations are obtained and the free energy of the theory on $S^5$ is determined holographically by calculation of the renormalized on-shell supergravity action. In the process, we deal with subtle issues such as holographic renormalization and addition of finite counterterms. We then propose a candidate field theory dual to these solutions. This tentative dual is a supersymmetry-preserving deformation of the strongly-coupled non-Lagrangian SCFT derived from the D4-D8 system in string theory. In the IR, this theory is a mass deformation of a $USp(2N)$ gauge theory. A localization calculation of the free energy is performed for this IR theory, which for reasonably small values of the deformation parameter is found to match with the free energy calculated holographically.

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arXiv2017

(p,q)-strings probing five-brane webs

In recent work, globally well-defined Type IIB supergravity solutions with geometry $AdS_6 \times S^2$ warped over a Riemann surface $Σ$ were constructed and conjectured to describe the near-horizon geometry of $(p,q)$ five-brane webs in the conformal limit. In the present paper, we offer more evidence for this interpretation of the supergravity solutions in terms of five-brane webs. In particular, we explore the behavior of probe $(p,q)$-strings in certain families of these $AdS_6 \times S^2\times Σ$ backgrounds and compare this behavior to that predicted by microscopic, brane web considerations. In the microscopic picture, we argue that the embedding of a probe string may give rise to the formation of string junctions involving open strings anchored on the branes of the web. We then identify a quantity on the supergravity side that is conjectured to be equivalent to the total junction tension in a class of backgrounds corresponding to brane webs with four semi-infinite external five-branes. In the process, we will show that for general brane web backgrounds, the minimal energy probe string embeddings do not coincide with the embeddings preserving half of the background supersymmetries.

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arXiv2017

Janus solutions in six-dimensional gauged supergravity

Motivated by an analysis of the sub-superalgebras of the five-dimensional superconformal algebra $F(4)$, we search for the holographic duals to co-dimension one superconformal defects in 5d CFTs which have $SO(4,2) \oplus U(1)$ bosonic symmetry. In particular, we look for domain wall solutions to six-dimensional $F(4)$ gauged supergravity coupled to a single vector multiplet. It is found that supersymmetric domain wall solutions do not exist unless there is a non-trivial profile for one of the vector multiplet scalars which is charged under the gauged $SU(2)$ R-symmetry. This non-trivial profile breaks the $SU(2)$ to $U(1)$, thus matching expectations from the superalgebra analysis. A consistent set of BPS equations is then obtained and solved numerically. While the numerical solutions are generically singular and thought to be dual to boundary CFTs, it is found that for certain fine-tuned choices of parameters regular Janus solutions may be obtained.

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arXiv2017

Hierarchy of Modular Graph Identities

The low energy expansion of Type II superstring amplitudes at genus one is organized in terms of modular graph functions associated with Feynman graphs of a conformal scalar field on the torus. In earlier work, surprising identities between two-loop graphs at all weights, and between higher-loop graphs of weights four and five were constructed. In the present paper, these results are generalized in two complementary directions. First, all identities at weight six and all dihedral identities at weight seven are obtained and proven. Whenever the Laurent polynomial at the cusp is available, the form of these identities confirms the pattern by which the vanishing of the Laurent polynomial governs the full modular identity. Second, the family of modular graph functions is extended to include all graphs with derivative couplings and worldsheet fermions. These extended families of modular graph functions are shown to obey a hierarchy of inhomogeneous Laplace eigenvalue equations. The eigenvalues for the extended family of dihedral modular graph functions are calculated analytically for the simplest infinite sub-families and obtained by Maple for successively more complicated sub-families. The spectrum is shown to consist solely of eigenvalues $s(s-1)$ for positive integers $s$ bounded by the weight, with multiplicities which exhibit rich representation-theoretic patterns.

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