arXiv subjects

Miguel F. Paulos

Publications and source records attributed to Miguel F. Paulos.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

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.

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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.

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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.

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arXiv2016

Extremal bootstrapping: go with the flow

The extremal functional method determines approximate solutions to the constraints of crossing symmetry, which saturate bounds on the space of unitary CFTs. We show that such solutions are characterized by extremality conditions, which may be used to flow continuously along the boundaries of parameter space. Along the flow there is generically no further need for optimization, which dramatically reduces computational requirements, bringing calculations from the realm of computing clusters to laptops. Conceptually, extremality sheds light on possible ways to bootstrap without positivity, extending the method to non-unitary theories, and implies that theories saturating bounds, and especially those sitting at kinks, have unusually sparse spectra. We discuss several applications, including the first high-precision bootstrap of a non-unitary CFT.

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arXiv2015

Conformal Invariance in the Long-Range Ising Model

We consider the question of conformal invariance of the long-range Ising model at the critical point. The continuum description is given in terms of a nonlocal field theory, and the absence of a stress tensor invalidates all of the standard arguments for the enhancement of scale invariance to conformal invariance. We however show that several correlation functions, computed to second order in the epsilon expansion, are nontrivially consistent with conformal invariance. We proceed to give a proof of conformal invariance to all orders in the epsilon expansion, based on the description of the long-range Ising model as a defect theory in an auxiliary higher-dimensional space. A detailed review of conformal invariance in the d-dimensional short-range Ising model is also included and may be of independent interest.

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arXiv2015

Bootstrapping SCFTs with Four Supercharges

We study the constraints imposed by superconformal symmetry, crossing symmetry, and unitarity for theories with four supercharges in spacetime dimension $2\leq d\leq 4$. We show how superconformal algebras with four Poincaré supercharges can be treated in a formalism applicable to any, in principle continuous, value of $d$ and use this to construct the superconformal blocks for any $d\leq 4$. We then use numerical bootstrap techniques to derive upper bounds on the conformal dimension of the first unprotected operator appearing in the OPE of a chiral and an anti-chiral superconformal primary. We obtain an intriguing structure of three distinct kinks. We argue that one of the kinks smoothly interpolates between the $d=2$, $\mathcal N=(2,2)$ minimal model with central charge $c=1$ and the theory of a free chiral multiplet in $d=4$, passing through the critical Wess-Zumino model with cubic superpotential in intermediate dimensions.

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arXiv2015

Bootstrapping the Three-Dimensional Supersymmetric Ising Model

We implement the conformal bootstrap program for three-dimensional CFTs with $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry and find universal constraints on the spectrum of operator dimensions in these theories. By studying the bounds on the dimension of the first scalar appearing in the OPE of a chiral and an anti-chiral primary, we find a kink at the expected location of the critical three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ Wess-Zumino model, which can be thought of as a supersymmetric analog of the critical Ising model. Focusing on this kink, we determine, to high accuracy, the low-lying spectrum of operator dimensions of the theory.

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arXiv2015

(No) Bootstrap for the Fractal Ising Model

We consider the conformal bootstrap for spacetime dimension $1<d<2$. We determine bounds on operator dimensions and compare our results with various theoretical and numerical models, in particular with resummed $ε$-expansion and Monte Carlo simulations of the Ising model on fractal lattices. The bounds clearly rule out that these models correspond to unitary conformal field theories. We also clarify the $d\to 1$ limit of the conformal bootstrap, showing that bounds can be - and indeed are - discontinuous in this limit. This discontinuity implies that for small $ε=d-1$ the expected critical exponents for the Ising model are disallowed, and in particular those of the $d-1$ expansion. Altogether these results strongly suggest that the Ising model universality class cannot be described by a unitary CFT below $d=2$. We argue this also from a bootstrap perspective, by showing that the $2\leq d<4$ Ising "kink" splits into two features which grow apart below $d=2$.

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arXiv2014

JuliBootS: a hands-on guide to the conformal bootstrap

We introduce {\tt JuliBootS}, a package for numerical conformal bootstrap computations coded in {\tt Julia}. The centre-piece of {\tt JuliBootS} is an implementation of Dantzig's simplex method capable of handling arbitrary precision linear programming problems with continuous search spaces. Current supported features include conformal dimension bounds, OPE bounds, and bootstrap with or without global symmetries. The code is trivially parallelizable on one or multiple machines. We exemplify usage extensively with several real-world applications. In passing we give a pedagogical introduction to the numerical bootstrap methods.

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arXiv2014

Cluster Polylogarithms for Scattering Amplitudes

Motivated by the cluster structure of two-loop scattering amplitudes in N=4 Yang-Mills theory we define "cluster polylogarithm functions". We find that all such functions of weight 4 are made up of a single simple building block associated to the A_2 cluster algebra. Adding the requirement of locality on generalized Stasheff polytopes, we find that these A_2 building blocks arrange themselves to form a unique function associated to the A_3 cluster algebra. This A_3 function manifests all of the cluster algebraic structure of the two-loop n-particle MHV amplitudes for all n, and we use it to provide an explicit representation for the most complicated part of the n=7 amplitude as an example.

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arXiv2014

Universal Bounds on the Time Evolution of Entanglement Entropy

Using relative entropy, we derive bounds on the time rate of change of geometric entanglement entropy for any relativistic quantum field theory in any dimension. The bounds apply to both mixed and pure states, and may be extended to curved space. We illustrate the bounds in a few examples and comment on potential applications and future extensions.

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arXiv2014

Cluster Algebras and the Positive Grassmannian

Plabic graphs are intimately connected to the positroid stratification of the positive Grassmannian. The duals to these graphs are quivers, and it is possible to associate to them cluster algebras. For the top-cell graph of $Gr_{+}(k,n)$, this cluster algebra is the homogeneous coordinate ring of the corresponding positroid variety. We prove that the same statement holds for plabic graphs describing lower dimensional cells. In this way we obtain a map from the positroid strata onto cluster subalgebras of $Gr_{+}(k,n)$. We explore some of the consequences of this map for tree-level scattering amplitudes in $\mathcal N=4$ super Yang-Mills theory.

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arXiv2014

Solving the 3d Ising Model with the Conformal Bootstrap II. c-Minimization and Precise Critical Exponents

We use the conformal bootstrap to perform a precision study of the operator spectrum of the critical 3d Ising model. We conjecture that the 3d Ising spectrum minimizes the central charge c in the space of unitary solutions to crossing symmetry. Because extremal solutions to crossing symmetry are uniquely determined, we are able to precisely reconstruct the first several Z2-even operator dimensions and their OPE coefficients. We observe that a sharp transition in the operator spectrum occurs at the 3d Ising dimension Delta_sigma=0.518154(15), and find strong numerical evidence that operators decouple from the spectrum as one approaches the 3d Ising point. We compare this behavior to the analogous situation in 2d, where the disappearance of operators can be understood in terms of degenerate Virasoro representations.

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arXiv2013

Bootstrapping the 3d Ising twist defect

Recent numerical results point to the existence of a conformally invariant twist defect in the critical 3d Ising model. In this note we show that this fact is supported by both epsilon expansion and conformal bootstrap calculations. We find that our results are in good agreement with the numerical data. We also make new predictions for operator dimensions and OPE coefficients from the bootstrap approach. In the process we derive universal bounds on one-dimensional conformal field theories and conformal line defects.

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arXiv2013

Loops, Polytopes and Splines

We uncover an unexpected connection between the physics of loop integrals and the mathematics of spline functions. One loop integrands are Laplace transforms of splines. This clarifies the geometry of the associated loop integrals, since a $n$-node spline has support on an $n$-vertex polyhedral cone. One-loop integrals are integrals of splines on a hyperbolic slice of the cone, yielding polytopes in $AdS$ space. Splines thus give a geometrical counterpart to the rational function identities at the level of the integrand. Spline technology also allows for a clear, simple, algebraic decomposition of higher point loop integrals in lower dimensional kinematics in terms of lower point integrals - e.g. an hexagon integral in 2d kinematics can be written as a sum of scalar boxes. Higher loops can also be understood directly in terms of splines - they map onto spline convolutions, leading to an intriguing representation in terms of hyperbolic simplices integrated over other hyperbolic simplices. We finish with speculations on the interpretation of one-loop integrals as partition functions, inspired by the use of splines in counting points in polytopes.

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arXiv2013

Star Integrals, Convolutions and Simplices

We explore single and multi-loop conformal integrals, such as the ones appearing in dual conformal theories in flat space. Using Mellin amplitudes, a large class of higher loop integrals can be written as simple integro-differential operators on star integrals: one-loop $n$-gon integrals in $n$ dimensions. These are known to be given by volumes of hyperbolic simplices. We explicitly compute the five-dimensional pentagon integral in full generality using Schläfli's formula. Then, as a first step to understanding higher loops, we use spline technology to construct explicitly the $6d$ hexagon and $8d$ octagon integrals in two-dimensional kinematics. The fully massive hexagon and octagon integrals are then related to the double box and triple box integrals respectively. We comment on the classes of functions needed to express these integrals in general kinematics, involving elliptic functions and beyond.

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arXiv2012

Bootstrapping Conformal Field Theories with the Extremal Functional Method

The existence of a positive linear functional acting on the space of (differences between) conformal blocks has been shown to rule out regions in the parameter space of conformal field theories (CFTs). We argue that at the boundary of the allowed region the extremal functional contains, in principle, enough information to determine the dimensions and OPE coefficients of an infinite number of operators appearing in the correlator under analysis. Based on this idea we develop the Extremal Functional Method (EFM), a numerical procedure for deriving the spectrum and OPE coefficients of CFTs lying on the boundary (of solution space). We test the EFM by using it to rederive the low lying spectrum and OPE coefficients of the 2d Ising model based solely on the dimension of a single scalar quasi-primary -- no Virasoro algebra required. Our work serves as a benchmark for applications to more interesting, less known CFTs in the near future.

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arXiv2012

Solving the 3D Ising Model with the Conformal Bootstrap

We study the constraints of crossing symmetry and unitarity in general 3D Conformal Field Theories. In doing so we derive new results for conformal blocks appearing in four-point functions of scalars and present an efficient method for their computation in arbitrary space-time dimension. Comparing the resulting bounds on operator dimensions and OPE coefficients in 3D to known results, we find that the 3D Ising model lies at a corner point on the boundary of the allowed parameter space. We also derive general upper bounds on the dimensions of higher spin operators, relevant in the context of theories with weakly broken higher spin symmetries.

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