arXiv subjects

Sylvain Lacroix

Publications and source records attributed to Sylvain Lacroix.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On the Integrable Structure of the SU(2) Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten Model

This paper is devoted to the quantum integrable structure of Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten models, formed by an infinite number of commuting Integrals of Motion (IMs) in their current algebra. Focusing for simplicity on the SU(2) case, we obtain the first four commuting higher-spin local IMs, starting from a general SU(2)-invariant ansatz and imposing their commutativity. We further show evidence of their commutativity with quantum non-local IMs, which were already built in the literature as Kondo defects. We then investigate the diagonalization of these local operators on $\widehat{\mathfrak{su}(2)}_k$ Verma modules: we explicitly find the first few eigenvectors and further discuss the affine Bethe ansatz and ODE/IQFT conjectures, which predict the full eigenstates and spectrum of the integrable structure. Our results show a perfect match between the direct diagonalization and these overarching conjectures. We conclude by discussing several outlooks, including multi-current generalisations, massive deformations and a general long-term program towards the first principle quantisation of 2-dimensional integrable sigma-models.

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arXiv2025

Finite $N$ precursors of the free cumulants

We study $\mathrm{U}(N)$ invariant polynomials on the space of $N\times N$ matrices first introduced by Capitaine and Casalis, that are precursors of free cumulants in various respects. First, they are polynomials of deterministic matrices, that are not yet evaluated over some probability law, contrary to what is usually meant by cumulants. Secondly, they converge towards the algebraic expression of free cumulants in terms of moments as $N\to \infty$, with $1/N^2$ corrections expressed in terms of monotone Hurwitz numbers. Their most crucial property is their additivity with respect to averaging over sums of $\mathrm{U}(N)$ conjugacy orbits, providing a finite $N$ version of the well-known additivity of free cumulants in free probability. Finally, they extend several properties of free cumulants at finite $N$, including a Wick rule for their average over a Gaussian weight and their appearance in various matrix integrals. Building on the additivity property of these precursors, we also define and compute a coproduct describing the behaviour of general invariant polynomials with respect to the addition of $\mathrm{U}(N)$ conjugacy orbits, as well as their expectation values on sums of $\mathrm{U}(N)$-invariant random matrices. In our construction, a central role is played by the so-called HCIZ integral, both for the definition of the precursors and for the derivation of their properties.

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arXiv2025

1-loop renormalisability of integrable sigma-models from 4d Chern-Simons theory

Large families of integrable 2d sigma-models have been constructed at the classical level, partly motivated by the utility of integrability on the string worldsheet. It is natural to ask whether these theories are renormalisable at the quantum level, and whether they define quantum integrable field theories. By considering examples, a folk theorem has emerged: the classically integrable sigma-models always turn out to be renormalisable, at least at 1-loop order. We prove this theorem for a large class of models engineered on surface defects in the 4d Chern-Simons theory by Costello and Yamazaki. We derive the flow of the 'twist 1-form' (a 4d coupling constant that distinguishes different 2d models), proving earlier conjectures and extending previous results. Our approach is general, using the 'universal' form of 2d integrable models' UV divergences in terms of their Lax connection and reinterpreting the result in the language of 4d Chern-Simons. These results apply equally to rational, trigonometric and elliptic models.

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arXiv2024

The Magic Renormalisability of Affine Gaudin Models

We study the renormalisation of a large class of integrable $σ$-models obtained in the framework of affine Gaudin models. They are characterised by a simple Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ and a rational twist function $φ(z)$ with simple zeros, a double pole at infinity but otherwise no further restrictions on the pole structure. The crucial tool used in our analysis is the interpretation of these integrable theories as $\mathcal{E}$-models, which are $σ$-models studied in the context of Poisson-Lie T-duality and which are known to be at least one- and two-loop renormalisable. The moduli space of $\mathcal{E}$-models still contains many non-integrable theories. We identify the submanifold formed by affine Gaudin models and relate its tangent space to curious matrices and semi-magic squares. In particular, these results provide a criteria for the stability of these integrable models under the RG-flow. At one loop, we show that this criteria is satisfied and derive a very simple expression for the RG-flow of the twist function, proving a conjecture made earlier in the literature.

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arXiv2024

An elliptic integrable deformation of the Principal Chiral Model

We introduce a new elliptic integrable $σ$-model in the form of a two-parameter deformation of the Principal Chiral Model on the group $\text{SL}_{\mathbb{R}}(N)$, generalising a construction of Cherednik for $N=2$ (up to reality conditions). We exhibit the Lax connection and $\mathcal{R}$-matrix of this theory, which depend meromorphically on a spectral parameter valued in the torus. Furthermore, we explain the origin of this model from an equivariant semi-holomorphic 4-dimensional Chern-Simons theory on the torus. This approach opens the way for the construction of a large class of elliptic integrable $σ$-models, with the deformed Principal Chiral Model as the simplest example.

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arXiv2024

Geometry of the spectral parameter and renormalisation of integrable $σ$-models

In the past few years, the unifying frameworks of 4-dimensional Chern-Simons theory and affine Gaudin models have allowed for the systematic construction of a large family of integrable $σ$-models. These models depend on the data of a Riemann surface $C$ (here of genus 0 or 1) and of a meromorphic 1-form $ω$ on $C$, which encodes the geometry of their spectral parameter and the analytic structure of their Lax connection. The main subject of this paper is the renormalisation of these theories and in particular two conjectures describing their 1-loop RG-flow in terms of the 1-form $ω$. These conjectures were put forward in [2010.07879] and [2106.09781] and were proven in a variety of cases. After extending the proposal of [2010.07879] to the elliptic setup (with $C$ of genus 1), we establish the equivalence of these two conjectures and discuss some of their applications. Moreover, we check their veracity on an explicit example, namely an integrable elliptic deformation of the Principal Chiral Model on $\text{SL}_N(\mathbb{R})$.

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arXiv2023

Lectures on classical Affine Gaudin models

These lecture notes present an introduction to classical Affine Gaudin models, which provide a general framework for the systematic construction and study of a large class of integrable two-dimensional field theories. A key role is played by Kac-Moody currents, which are fields satisfying a particular Poisson bracket. After reviewing this notion, we discuss in detail the construction of Affine Gaudin models in the language of Hamiltonian field theories. Special emphasis is placed on their symmetries and conserved quantities, including the construction of infinite families of local and non-local Poisson-commuting charges in terms of Kac-Moody currents. Moreover, we study explicit examples of affine Gaudin models, making the link with the realm of integrable sigma-models. Finally, we mention briefly various perspectives concerning these theories, including the question of their quantisation. Minimal prerequisites on classical Hamiltonian field theories and integrability are required to follow the presentation and a brief reminder of these notions is given at the beginning of the notes. Moreover, various exercises are included throughout the document. These notes were prepared for the Young Researchers Integrability School and Workshop held in Durham from 17 to 21 July 2023.

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arXiv2023

On a class of conformal $\mathcal{E}$-models and their chiral Poisson algebras

In this paper, we study conformal points among the class of $\mathcal{E}$-models. The latter are $σ$-models formulated in terms of a current Poisson algebra, whose Lie-theoretic definition allows for a purely algebraic description of their dynamics and their 1-loop RG-flow. We use these results to formulate a simple algebraic condition on the defining data of such a model which ensures its 1-loop conformal invariance and the decoupling of its observables into two chiral Poisson algebras, describing the classical left- and right-moving fields of the theory. In the case of so-called non-degenerate $\mathcal{E}$-models, these chiral sectors form two current algebras and the model takes the form of a WZW theory once realised as a $σ$-model. The case of degenerate $\mathcal{E}$-models, in which a subalgebra of the current algebra is gauged, is more involved: the conformal condition yields a wider class of theories, which includes gauged WZW models but also other examples, seemingly different, which however sometimes turn out to be related to gauged WZW models based on other Lie algebras. For this class, we build non-local chiral fields of parafermionic-type as well as higher-spin local ones, forming classical $\mathcal{W}$-algebras. In particular, we find an explicit and efficient algorithm to build these local chiral fields. These results (and their potential generalisations discussed at the end of the paper) open the way for the quantisation of a large class of conformal $\mathcal{E}$-models using the standard operator formalism of two-dimensional CFT.

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arXiv2022

Integrable sigma models at RG fixed points: quantisation as affine Gaudin models

The goal of this paper is to make first steps towards the quantisation of integrable non-linear sigma models using the formalism of affine Gaudin models, by approaching these theories through their conformal limits. We focus mostly on the example of the Klimčík model, which is a two-parameter deformation of the Principal Chiral Model on a Lie group $G$. We show that the UV fixed point of this theory is described classically by two decoupled chiral affine Gaudin models, encoding its left- and right-moving degrees of freedom, and give a detailed analysis of the chiral and integrable structures of these models. Their quantisation is then explored within the framework of Feigin and Frenkel. We study the quantum local integrals of motion using the formalism of quantised affine Gaudin models and show agreement of the first two integrals with known results in the literature for $G={\rm SU}(2)$. Evidence is given for the existence of a monodromy matrix satisfying the Yang-Baxter algebra for this model, thus paving the way for the quantisation of the non-local integrals of motion. We conclude with various perspectives, including on generalisations of this program to a larger class of integrable sigma models and applications of the ODE/IQFT correspondence to the description of their quantum spectrum.

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arXiv2022

4-dimensional Chern-Simons theory and integrable field theories

These lecture notes concern the semi-holomorphic 4d Chern-Simons theory and its applications to classical integrable field theories in 2d and in particular integrable sigma-models. After introducing the main properties of the Chern-Simons theory in 3d, we will define its 4d analogue and explain how it is naturally related to the Lax formalism of integrable 2d theories. Moreover, we will explain how varying the boundary conditions imposed on this 4d theory allows to recover various occurences of integrable sigma-models through this construction, in particular illustrating this on two simple examples: the Principal Chiral Model and its Yang-Baxter deformation. These notes were written for the lectures delivered at the school "Integrability, Dualities and Deformations", that ran from 23 to 27 August 2021 in Santiago de Compostela and virtually.

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arXiv2021

Gaudin Models and Multipoint Conformal Blocks III: Comb channel coordinates and OPE factorisation

We continue the exploration of multipoint scalar comb channel blocks for conformal field theories in 3D and 4D. The central goal here is to construct novel comb channel cross ratios that are well adapted to perform projections onto all intermediate primary fields. More concretely, our new set of cross ratios includes three for each intermediate mixed symmetry tensor exchange. These variables are designed such that the associated power series expansion coincides with the sum over descendants. The leading term of this expansion is argued to factorise into a product of lower point blocks. We establish this remarkable factorisation property by studying the limiting behaviour of the Gaudin Hamiltonians that are used to characterise multipoint conformal blocks. For six points we can map the eigenvalue equations for the limiting Gaudin differential operators to Casimir equations of spinning four-point blocks.

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arXiv2021

Gaudin Models and Multipoint Conformal Blocks II: Comb channel vertices in 3D and 4D

It was recently shown that multi-point conformal blocks in higher dimensional conformal field theory can be considered as joint eigenfunctions for a system of commuting differential operators. The latter arise as Hamiltonians of a Gaudin integrable system. In this work we address the reduced fourth order differential operators that measure the choice of 3-point tensor structures for all vertices of 3- and 4-dimensional comb channel conformal blocks. These vertices come associated with a single cross ratio. Remarkably, we identify the vertex operators as Hamiltonians of a crystallographic elliptic Calogero-Moser-Sutherland model that was discovered originally by Etingof, Felder, Ma and Veselov. Our construction is based on a further development of the embedding space formalism for mixed-symmetry tensor fields. The results thereby also apply to comb channel vertices of 5- and 6-point functions in arbitrary dimension.

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arXiv2021

Gaudin Models and Multipoint Conformal Blocks: General Theory

The construction of conformal blocks for the analysis of multipoint correlation functions with $N > 4$ local field insertions is an important open problem in higher dimensional conformal field theory. This is the first in a series of papers in which we address this challenge, following and extending our short announcement in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 021602]. According to Dolan and Osborn, conformal blocks can be determined from the set of differential eigenvalue equations that they satisfy. We construct a complete set of commuting differential operators that characterize multipoint conformal blocks for any number $N$ of points in any dimension and for any choice of OPE channel through the relation with Gaudin integrable models we uncovered in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 021602]. For 5-point conformal blocks, there exist five such operators which are worked out smoothly in the dimension $d$.

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arXiv2021

Integrable $\mathcal{E}$-Models, 4d Chern-Simons Theory and Affine Gaudin Models. I. Lagrangian Aspects

We construct the actions of a very broad family of 2d integrable $σ$-models. Our starting point is a universal 2d action obtained in [arXiv:2008.01829] using the framework of Costello and Yamazaki based on 4d Chern-Simons theory. This 2d action depends on a pair of 2d fields $h$ and $\mathcal{L}$, with $\mathcal{L}$ depending rationally on an auxiliary complex parameter, which are tied together by a constraint. When the latter can be solved for $\mathcal{L}$ in terms of $h$ this produces a 2d integrable field theory for the 2d field $h$ whose Lax connection is given by $\mathcal{L}(h)$. We construct a general class of solutions to this constraint and show that the resulting 2d integrable field theories can all naturally be described as $\mathcal{E}$-models.

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arXiv2021

New integrable coset sigma models

By using the general framework of affine Gaudin models, we construct a new class of integrable sigma models. They are defined on a coset of the direct product of $N$ copies of a Lie group over some diagonal subgroup and they depend on $3N-2$ free parameters. For $N=1$ the corresponding model coincides with the well-known symmetric space sigma model. Starting from the Hamiltonian formulation, we derive the Lagrangian for the $N=2$ case and show that it admits a remarkably simple form in terms of the classical $\mathcal{R}$-matrix underlying the integrability of these models. We conjecture that a similar form of the Lagrangian holds for arbitrary $N$. Specifying our general construction to the case of $SU(2)$ and $N=2$, and eliminating one of the parameters, we find a new three-parametric integrable model with the manifold $T^{1,1}$ as its target space. We further comment on the connection of our results with those existing in the literature.

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arXiv2021

RG flows of integrable $σ$-models and the twist function

In the study of integrable non-linear $σ$-models which are assemblies and/or deformations of principal chiral models and/or WZW models, a rational function called the twist function plays a central role. For a large class of such models, we show that they are one-loop renormalizable, and that the renormalization group flow equations can be written directly in terms of the twist function in a remarkably simple way. The resulting equation appears to have a universal character when the integrable model is characterized by a twist function.

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arXiv2021

From Gaudin Integrable Models to $d$-dimensional Multipoint Conformal Blocks

In this work we initiate an integrability-based approach to multipoint conformal blocks for higher dimensional conformal field theories. Our main observation is that conformal blocks for $N$-point functions may be considered as eigenfunctions of integrable Gaudin Hamiltonians. This provides us with a complete set of differential equations that can be used to evaluate multipoint blocks.

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arXiv2020

A unifying 2d action for integrable $σ$-models from 4d Chern-Simons theory

In the approach recently proposed by K. Costello and M. Yamazaki, which is based on a four-dimensional variant of Chern-Simons theory, we derive a simple and unifying two-dimensional form for the action of many integrable $σ$-models which are known to admit descriptions as affine Gaudin models. This includes both the Yang-Baxter deformation and the $λ$-deformation of the principal chiral model. We also give an interpretation of Poisson-Lie $T$-duality in this setting and derive the action of the $\mathsf{E}$-model.

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