arXiv subjects

Matteo Beccaria

Publications and source records attributed to Matteo Beccaria.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Exact partition functions for the $Ω$-deformed $\mathcal N=2^{*}$ $SU(2)$ gauge theory

We study the low energy effective action of the $Ω$-deformed $\mathcal N =2^{*}$ $SU(2) $ gauge theory. It depends on the deformation parameters $ε_{1},ε_{2}$, the scalar field expectation value $a$, and the hypermultiplet mass $m$. We explore the plane $(\frac{m}{ε_{1}}, \frac{ε_{2}}{ε_{1}})$ looking for special features in the multi-instanton contributions to the prepotential, motivated by what happens in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit $ε_{2}\to 0$. We propose a simple condition on the structure of poles of the $k$-instanton prepotential and show that it is admissible at a finite set of points in the above plane. At these special points, the prepotential has poles at fixed positions independent on the instanton number. Besides and remarkably, both the instanton partition function and the full prepotential, including the perturbative contribution, may be given in closed form as functions of the scalar expectation value $a$ and the modular parameter $q$ appearing in special combinations of Eisenstein series and Dedekind $η$ function. As a byproduct, the modular anomaly equation can be tested at all orders at these points. We discuss these special features from the point of view of the AGT correspondence and provide explicit toroidal 1-blocks in non-trivial closed form. The full list of solutions with 1, 2, 3, and 4 poles is determined and described in details.

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arXiv2016

On the large $Ω$-deformations in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit of $\mathcal N=2^{*}$ SYM

We study the multi-instanton partition functions of the $Ω$-deformed $\mathcal N =2^{*}$ $SU(2) $ gauge theory in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili (NS) limit. They depend on the deformation parameters $ε_{1}$, the scalar field expectation value $a$, and the hypermultiplet mass $m$. At fixed instanton number $k$, they are rational functions of $ε_{1}, a, m$ and we look for possible regularities that admit a parametrical description in the number of instantons. In each instanton sector, the contribution to the deformed Nekrasov prepotential has poles for "large" deformation parameters. To clarify the properties of these singularities we exploit Bethe/gauge correspondence and examine the special ratios $m/ε_{1}$ at which the associated spectral problem is $n$-gap. At these special points we illustrate several structural simplifications occurring in the partition functions. After discussing various tools to compute the prepotential, we analyze the non-perturbative corrections up to $k=24$ instantons and present various closed expressions for the coefficients of the singular terms. Both the regular and singular parts of the prepotential are resummed over all instantons and compared successfully with the exact prediction from the spectral theory of the Lamé equation, showing that the pole singularities are an artifact of the instanton expansion. The analysis is fully worked out in the 1-gap case, but the final pole cancellation is proved for a generic ratio $m/ε_{1}$ relating it to the gap width of the Lamé equation.

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arXiv2016

On the cusp anomalous dimension in the ladder limit of $\mathcal N=4$ SYM

We analyze the cusp anomalous dimension in the (leading) ladder limit of $\mathcal N=4$ SYM and present new results for its higher-order perturbative expansion. We study two different limits with respect to the cusp angle $ϕ$. The first is the light-like regime where $x = e^{i\,ϕ}\to 0$. This limit is characterised by a non-trivial expansion of the cusp anomaly as a sum of powers of $\log x$, where the maximum exponent increases with the loop order. The coefficients of this expansion have remarkable transcendentality features and can be expressed by products of single zeta values. We show that the whole logarithmic expansion is fully captured by a solvable Woods-Saxon like one-dimensional potential. From the exact solution, we extract generating functions for the cusp anomaly as well as for the various specific transcendental structures appearing therein. The second limit that we discuss is the regime of small cusp angle. In this somewhat simpler case, we show how to organise the quantum mechanical perturbation theory in a novel efficient way by means of a suitable all-order Ansatz for the ground state of the associated Schrödinger problem. Our perturbative setup allows to systematically derive higher-order perturbative corrections in powers of the cusp angle as explicit non-perturbative functions of the effective coupling. This series approximation is compared with the numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation to show that we can achieve very good accuracy over the whole range of coupling and cusp angle. Our results have been obtained by relatively simple techniques. Nevertheless, they provide several non-trivial tests useful to check the application of Quantum Spectral Curve methods to the ladder approximation at non zero $ϕ$, in the two limits we studied.

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arXiv2016

The ground state of long-range Schrodinger equations and static $q\bar{q}$ potential

Motivated by the recent results in arXiv:1601.05679 about the quark-antiquark potential in $\mathcal N=4$ SYM, we reconsider the problem of computing the asymptotic weak-coupling expansion of the ground state energy of a certain class of 1d Schrödinger operators $-\frac{d^{2}}{dx^{2}}+λ\,V(x)$ with long-range potential $V(x)$. In particular, we consider even potentials obeying $\int_{\mathbb R}dx\, V(x)<0$ with large $x$ asymptotics $V\sim -a/x^{2}-b/x^{3}+\cdots$. The associated Schrödinger operator is known to admit a bound state for $λ\to 0^{+}$, but the binding energy is rigorously non-analytic at $λ=0$. Its asymptotic expansion starts at order $\mathcal O(λ)$, but contains higher corrections $λ^{n}\,\log^{m}λ$ with all $0\le m\le n-1$ and standard Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory fails order by order in $λ$. We discuss various analytical tools to tame this problem and provide the general expansion of the binding energy at $\mathcal O(λ^{3})$ in terms of quadratures. The method is tested on a soluble potential that is fully under control, and on various non-soluble cases as well. A supersymmetric case, arising in the study of the quark-antiquark potential in $\mathcal N=6$ ABJ(M) theory, is also exploited to provide a further non-trivial consistency check. Our analytical results confirm at third order a remarkable exponentiation of the leading infrared logarithms, first noticed in $\mathcal N=4$ SYM where it may be proved by Renormalization Group arguments. We prove this interesting feature at all orders at the level of the Schrödinger equation for general potentials in the considered class.

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arXiv2015

Virasoro vacuum block at next-to-leading order in the heavy-light limit

We consider the semiclassical limit of the vacuum Virasoro block describing the diagonal 4-point correlation functions on the sphere. At large central charge c, after exponentiation, it depends on two fixed ratios h_H/c and h_L/c, where h_{H, L} are the conformal dimensions of the 4-point function operators. The semiclassical block may be expanded in powers of the light ratio h_L/c and the leading non-trivial (linear) order is known in closed form as a function of h_H/c. Recently, this contribution has been matched against AdS_3 gravity calculations where heavy operators build up a classical geometry corresponding to a BTZ black hole, while the light operators are described by a geodesic in this background. Here, we compute for the first time the next-to-leading quadratic correction O((h_L/c)^{2}), again in closed form for generic heavy operator ratio h_H/c. The result is a highly non-trivial extension of the leading order and may be relevant for further refined AdS_{3}/CFT_{2} tests. Applications to the two-interval Rényi entropy are also presented.

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arXiv2015

Supergravity one-loop corrections on AdS_7 and AdS_3, higher spins and AdS/CFT

As was shown earlier, one-loop correction in 10d supergravity on AdS_5 x S^5 corresponds to the contributions to the vacuum energy and boundary 4d conformal anomaly which are minus the values for one n=4 Maxwell supermultiplet, thus reproducing the subleading term in their N^2-1 coefficient in the dual SU(N) SYM theory. We perform similar one-loop computations in 11d supergravity on AdS_7 x S^4 and 10d supergravity on AdS_3 x S^3 x T^4. In the AdS_7 case we find that the corrections to the 6d conformal anomaly a-coefficient and the vacuum energy are again minus the ones for one (2,0) tensor multiplet, suggesting that the total a-anomaly coefficient for the dual (2,0) theory is 4 N^3 - 9/4 N - 7/4 and thus vanishes for N=1. In the AdS_3 case the one-loop correction to the vacuum energy or 2d central charge turns out to be equal to that of one free (4,4) scalar multiplet, i.e. is c=+6. This reproduces the subleading term in the central charge c= 6(Q_1 Q_5 +1) of the dual 2d CFT describing decoupling limit of D5-D1 system. We also present the expressions for the 6d anomaly a-coefficient and vacuum energy for a general-symmetry higher spin field in AdS_7 and consider their application to tests of vectorial AdS/CFT with the boundary conformal 6d theory represented by free scalars, spinors or rank 2 antisymmetric tensors.

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arXiv2015

Higher Spin Lifshitz Theories and the KdV-Hierarchy

In this paper three dimensional higher spin theories in the Chern-Simons formulation with gauge algebra $sl(N,R)$ are investigated which have Lifshitz symmetry with scaling exponent $z$. We show that an explicit map exists for all $z$ and $N$ relating the Lifshitz Chern-Simons theory to the $(n,m)$ element of the KdV hierarchy. Furthermore we show that the map and hence the conserved charges are independent of $z$. We derive these result from the Drinfeld-Sokolov formalism of integrable systems.

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arXiv2014

Partition function of free conformal higher spin theory

We compute the canonical partition function Z of non-interacting conformal higher spin (CHS) theory viewed as a collection of free spin s CFT's in R^d. We discuss in detail the 4-dimensional case (where s=1 is the standard Maxwell vector, s=2 is the Weyl graviton, etc.), but also present a generalization for all even dimensions d. Z may be found by counting the numbers of conformal operators and their descendants (modulo gauge identities and equations of motion) weighted by scaling dimensions. This conformal operator counting method requires a careful analysis of the structure of characters of relevant (conserved current, shadow field and conformal Killing tensor) representations of the conformal algebra so(d,2). There is also a close relation to massless higher spin partition functions with alternative boundary conditions in AdS_{d+1}. The same partition function Z may also be computed from the CHS path integral on a curved S^1 x S^{d-1} background. This allows us to determine a simple factorized form of the CHS kinetic operator on this conformally flat background. Summing the individual conformal spin contributions Z_s over all spins we obtain the total partition function of the CHS theory. We also find the corresponding Casimir energy and show that it vanishes if one uses the same regularization prescription that implies the cancellation of the total conformal anomaly a-coefficient. This happens to be true in all even dimensions d >= 2.

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arXiv2014

On the one-loop curvature function in the $sl(2)$ sector of $\mathcal N=4$ SYM

We consider twist $J$ operators with spin $S$ in the $sl(2)$ sector of $\mathcal N=4$ SYM. The small spin expansion of their anomalous dimension defines the so-called slope functions. Much is known about the linear term, but the study of the quadratic correction, the curvature function, started only very recently. At any fixed $J$, the curvature function can be extracted at all loops from the $\mathbf{P}μ$-system formulation of the Thermodynamical Bethe Ansatz. Here, we work at the one-loop level and follow a different approach. We present a systematic double expansion of the Bethe Ansatz equations at large $J$ and small winding number. We succeed in fully resumming this expansion and obtain a closed explicit simple formula for the one-loop curvature function. The formula is parametric in $J$ and can be evaluated with minor effort for any fixed $J$. The result is an explicit series in odd-index $ζ$ values. Our approach provides a complete reconciliation between the $\mathbf{P}μ$-system predictions and the large $J$ approach.

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arXiv2014

Semiclassical folded string in AdS4 X CP3

We consider type IIA superstring theory on the background AdS4 x CP3, and the classical solution describing a folded string spinning in AdS4 with angular momentum in CP3. In the 't Hooft limit, it is the gravity dual of twist operators in the ABJM superconformal theory. We quantize the classical solution by algebraic curve methods and determine the first semiclassical correction to the energy. We provide an integral representation for this quantity valid for all values of the charges. We analyze its properties in the special regimes associated with a short or long string providing various accurate analytical expansions. Finally, we investigate various properties of the so-called slope, the leading term of the energy for short strings, collecting information that could be useful in attempts to generalize the exact results recently proposed for the folded string in AdS5 x S5.

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arXiv2014

On the next-to-leading holographic entanglement entropy in $AdS_{3}/CFT_{2}$

We reconsider the one-loop correction to the holographic entanglement entropy in $AdS_{3}/CFT_{2}$ by analysing the contributions due to a bulk higher spin $s$ current or a scalar field with scaling dimension $Δ$. We consider the two-interval case and work perturbatively in their small cross ratio $x$. We provide various results for the entanglement entropy due to the so-called CDW elements of the associated Schottky uniformization group. In particular, in the higher spin current case, we obtain a closed formula for all the contributions of the form $\mathcal O(x^{2s+p})$ up to $\mathcal O(x^{4s})$, where 2-CDW elements are relevant. In the scalar field case, we calculate the similar contributions for generic values of $Δ$. The terms up to $\mathcal O(x^{2Δ+5})$ are compared with an explicit CFT calculation with full agreement. The analysis exploits various simplifications which are valid in the strict entanglement limit of the Rényi entropy. This allows to identify in a clean way the relevant operators that provide the gravity result. The 2-CDW contributions are also analysed and a closed formula for the leading $\mathcal O(x^{4s})$ coefficient is presented as a function of the generic spin $s$. As a specific application, we combine the CDW and 2-CDW calculations and present the complete $\mathcal O(x^{4s+2})$ entanglement entropy for a spin $s=2,3,4$ higher spin current.

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arXiv2014

Analysis of higher spin black holes with spin-4 chemical potential

We consider the $AdS_{3}/CFT_{2}$ duality between certain coset WZW theories at large central charge and Vasiliev 3D higher spin gravity with a single complex field. On the gravity side, we discuss a higher spin black hole solution with chemical potential coupled to the spin-4 charge. We compute the perturbative expansion of the higher spin charges and of the partition function at high order in the chemical potential. The result is obtained with its exact dependence on the parameter $λ$ characterising the symmetry algebra $\mbox{hs}[λ]$. The cases of $λ=0,1$ are successfully compared with a CFT calculation. The special point $λ=\infty$, the Bergshoeff-Blencowe-Stelle limit, is also solved in terms of the exact generating function for the partition function. The thermodynamics of both the spin-4 and the usual spin-3 black holes is studied in order to discuss the $λ$ dependence of the BTZ critical temperature $T_{\rm BTZ}(λ)$. In the spin-3 case, it is shown that $T_{\rm BTZ}(λ)$ converges for large $λ$ to the critical point of the $λ=\infty$ known partition function previously found by the authors. In the spin-4 black hole, the picture is qualitatively similar and $T_{\rm BTZ}(\infty)$ is accurately determined by various numerical methods.

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arXiv2013

Resummation of scalar correlator in higher spin black hole background

We consider the proposal that predicts holographic duality between certain 2D minimal models at large central charge and Vasiliev 3D higher spin gravity with a single complex field. We compute the scalar correlator in the background of a higher spin black hole at order $\mathcal O(α^{5})$ in the chemical potential $α$ associated with the spin-3 charge. The calculation is performed at generic values of the symmetry algebra $\mbox{hs}[λ]$ parameter $λ$ and for the scalar in three different representations. We then study the perturbative data in the large $λ$ limit and discover remarkable regularities. This leads to formulate a closed formula for the resummation of the leading and subleading terms that scale like $\mathcal O(α^{n}λ^{2n})$ and $\mathcal O(α^{n}\,λ^{2n-1})$ respectively.

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arXiv2013

On the partition functions of higher spin black holes

We reconsider black hole solutions of D = 3 higher-spin gravity in the $hs[λ]\oplus hs[λ]$ Chern-Simons formulation. A suitable generalisation of the BTZ black hole has a spin-3 chemical potential $α$, and non-zero values of all the conserved charges associated with the asymptotic $\mathcal W_\infty[λ]$ symmetry. We extend the available perturbative expansion of the partition function to order $\mathcal O(α^{18})$ for generic values of the $λ$ parameter. The result matches the CFT prediction at $λ=0$ and at $λ=1$ where we provide the exact all-order expansion of the partition function. The perturbative series is then analysed in the interesting non-trivial limit $λ\to\infty$ and we derive the exact analytical expressions of the partition function and the spin-4 charge in closed form as functions of $α$. Also, the first subleading correction at large $λ$ is shown to be simply related to the leading contribution.

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arXiv2013

On a discrete symmetry of the Bremsstrahlung function in N=4 SYM

We consider the quark anti-quark potential on the three sphere in planar N=4 SYM and the associated vacuum potential in the near BPS limit with L units of R-charge. The associated Bremsstrahlung function B_L has been recently computed analytically by means of the Thermodynamical Bethe Ansatz. We discuss it at strong coupling by computing it at large but finite L. We provide strong support to a special symmetry of the Bremsstrahlung function under the formal discrete Z_2 symmetry L -> -1-L. In this context, it is the counterpart of the reciprocity invariance discovered in the past in the spectrum of various gauge invariant composite operators. The Z_2 symmetry has remarkable consequences in the scaling limit where L is taken to be large with fixed ratio to the 't Hooft coupling. This limit organizes in inverse powers of the coupling and resembles the semiclassical expansion of the dual string theory which is indeed known to capture the leading classical term. We show that the various higher-order contributions to the Bremsstrahlung function obey several constraints and, in particular, the next-to-leading term, formally associated with the string one-loop correction, is completely determined by the classical contribution. The large L limit at strong coupling is also discussed.

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arXiv2013

N=1 extension of minimal model holography

The CFT dual of the higher spin theory with minimal N = 1 spectrum is determined. Unlike previous examples of minimal model holography, there is no free parameter beyond the central charge, and the CFT can be described in terms of a non-diagonal modular invariant of the bosonic theory at the special value of the 't Hooft parameter lambda=1/2. As evidence in favour of the duality we show that the symmetry algebras as well as the partition functions agree between the two descriptions.

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arXiv2013

Quantum corrections to short folded superstring in AdS_3 x S^3 x M^4

We consider integrable superstring theory on AdS_3 x S^3 x M^4 where M^4=T^4 or M^4=S^3 x S^1 with generic ratio of the radii of the two 3-spheres. We compute the one-loop energy of a short folded string spinning in AdS_3 and rotating in S^3. The computation is performed by world-sheet small spin perturbation theory as well as by quantizing the classical algebraic curve characterizing the finite-gap equations. The two methods give equal results up to regularization contributions that are under control. One important byproduct of the calculation is the part of the energy which is due to the dressing phase in the Bethe Ansatz. Remarkably, this contribution E_1^{dressing} turns out to be independent on the radii ratio. In the M^4=T^4 limit, we discuss how E_1^{dressing} relates to a recent proposal for the dressing phase tested in the su(2) sector. We point out some difficulties suggesting that quantization of the AdS_3 classical finite-gap equations could be subtler than the easier AdS_5 x S^5 case.

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arXiv2012

Semiclassical energy of the $AdS_4 \times \mathbb{CP}^3$ folded string

We consider the classical solution describing a folded type IIA string in the background $AdS_4 \times \mathbb{CP}^3$. The string is spinning in $AdS$ and has angular momentum in $\mathbb{CP}^3$. In the 't Hooft limit, this is the gravity dual of twist operators in the ABJM superconformal theory. We quantize the classical solution by algebraic curve methods and determine the first semiclassical correction to the energy. An integral representation is given, valid for all values of the charges. We analyze its properties in the special regimes associated with a short or long string. Finally, we investigate various properties of the leading term of the energy for short strings (the so-called slope).

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