arXiv subjects

Thomas Quella

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas Quella.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Infinite Matrix Product States for long range SU(N) spin models

We construct 1D and 2D long-range SU(N) spin models as parent Hamiltonians associated with infinite matrix product states. The latter are constructed from correlators of primary fields in the SU(N) level 1 WZW model. Since the resulting groundstates are of Gutzwiller-Jastrow type, our models can be regarded as lattice discretizations of fractional quantum Hall systems. We then focus on two specific types of 1D spin chains with spins located on the unit circle, a uniform and an alternating arrangement. For an equidistant distribution of identical spins we establish an explicit connection to the SU(N) Haldane-Shastry model, thereby proving that the model is critical and described by a SU(N) level 1 WZW model. In contrast, while turning out to be critical as well, the alternating model can only be treated numerically. Our numerical results rely on a reformulation of the original problem in terms of loop models.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Topological and symmetry broken phases of Z_N parafermions in one dimension

We classify the gapped phases of Z_N parafermions in one dimension and construct a representative of each phase. Even in the absence of additional symmetries besides parafermionic parity, parafermions may be realized in a variety of phases, one for each divisor n of N. The phases can be characterized by spontaneous symmetry breaking, topology, or a mixture of the two. Purely topological phases arise if n is a unitary divisor, i.e. if n and N/n are co-prime. Our analysis is based on the explicit realization of all symmetry broken gapped phases in the dual Z_N-invariant quantum spin chains.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

From symmetry-protected topological order to Landau order

Focusing on the particular case of the discrete symmetry group Z_N x Z_N, we establish a mapping between symmetry protected topological phases and symmetry broken phases for one-dimensional spin systems. It is realized in terms of a non-local unitary transformation which preserves the locality of the Hamiltonian. We derive the image of the mapping for various phases involved, including those with a mixture of symmetry breaking and topological protection. Our analysis also applies to topological phases in spin systems with arbitrary continuous symmetries of unitary, orthogonal and symplectic type. This is achieved by identifying suitable subgroups Z_N x Z_N in all these groups, together with a bijection between the individual classes of projective representations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

On topological phases of spin chains

Symmetry protected topological phases of one-dimensional spin systems have been classified using group cohomology. In this paper, we revisit this problem for general spin chains which are invariant under a continuous on-site symmetry group G. We evaluate the relevant cohomology groups and find that the topological phases are in one-to-one correspondence with the elements of the fundamental group of G if G is compact, simple and connected and if no additional symmetries are imposed. For spin chains with symmetry PSU(N)=SU(N)/Z_N our analysis implies the existence of N distinct topological phases. For symmetry groups of orthogonal, symplectic or exceptional type we find up to four different phases. Our work suggests a natural generalization of Haldane's conjecture beyond SU(2).

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

A discriminating string order parameter for topological phases of gapped SU(N) spin chains

One-dimensional gapped spin chains with symmetry PSU(N) = SU(N)/Z_N are known to possess N different topological phases. In this paper, we introduce a non-local string order parameter which characterizes each of these N phases unambiguously. Numerics confirm that our order parameter allows to extract a quantized topological invariant from a given non-degenerate gapped ground state wave function. Discontinuous jumps in the discrete topological order that arise when varying physical couplings in the Hamiltonian may be used to detect quantum phase transitions between different topological phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Conformal superspace sigma-models

We review recent developments in the context of two-dimensional conformally invariant sigma-models. These quantum field theories play a prominent role in the covariant superstring quantization in flux backgrounds and in the analysis of disordered systems. We present supergroup WZW models as primary examples of logarithmic conformal field theories, whose structure is almost entirely determined by the underlying supergeometry. In particular, we discuss the harmonic analysis on supergroups and supercosets and point out the subtleties of Lie superalgebra representation theory that are responsible for the emergence of logarithmic representations. Furthermore, special types of marginal deformations of supergroup WZW models are studied which only exist if the Killing form is vanishing. We show how exact expressions for anomalous dimensions of boundary fields can be derived using quasi-abelian perturbation theory. Finally, the knowledge of the exact spectrum is used to motivate a duality between the OSP(4|2) symmetric Gross-Neveu model and the S(3|2) supersphere sigma-model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Non-chiral current algebras for deformed supergroup WZW models

We study deformed WZW models on supergroups with vanishing Killing form. The deformation is generated by the isotropic current-current perturbation which is exactly marginal under these assumptions. It breaks half of the global isometries of the original supergroup. The current corresponding to the remaining symmetry is conserved but its components are neither holomorphic nor anti-holomorphic. We obtain the exact two- and three-point functions of this current and a four-point function in the first two leading orders of a 1/k expansion but to all orders in the deformation parameter. We further study the operator product algebra of the currents, the equal time commutators and the quantum equations of motion. The form of the equations of motion suggests the existence of non-local charges which generate a Yangian. Possible applications to string theory on Anti-de Sitter spaces and to condensed matter problems are briefly discussed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Generalised permutation branes

We propose a new class of non-factorising D-branes in the product group GxG where the fluxes and metrics on the two factors do not necessarily coincide. They generalise the maximally symmetric permutation branes which are known to exist when the fluxes agree, but break the symmetry down to the diagonal current algebra in the generic case. Evidence for the existence of these branes comes from a Lagrangian description for the open string world-sheet and from effective Dirac-Born-Infeld theory. We state the geometry, gauge fields and, in the case of SU(2)xSU(2), tensions and partial results on the open string spectrum. In the latter case the generalised permutation branes provide a natural and complete explanation for the charges predicted by K-theory including their torsion.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

The Sigma Model on Complex Projective Superspaces

The sigma model on complex projective superspaces CP^{S-1|S} gives rise to a continuous family of interacting 2D conformal field theories which are parametrized by the curvature radius R and the theta angle θ. Our main goal is to determine the spectrum of the model, non-perturbatively as a function of both parameters. We succeed to do so for all open boundary conditions preserving the full global symmetry of the model. In string theory parlor, these correspond to volume filling branes that are equipped with a monopole line bundle and connection. The paper consists of two parts. In the first part, we approach the problem within the continuum formulation. Combining combinatorial arguments with perturbative studies and some simple free field calculations, we determine a closed formula for the partition function of the theory. This is then tested numerically in the second part. There we propose a spin chain regularization of the CP^{S-1|S} model with open boundary conditions and use it to determine the spectrum at the conformal fixed point. The numerical results are in remarkable agreement with the continuum analysis.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Principal Chiral Model on Superspheres

We investigate the spectrum of the principal chiral model (PCM) on odd-dimensional superspheres as a function of the curvature radius R. For volume-filling branes on S^{3|2}, we compute the exact boundary spectrum as a function of R. The extension to higher dimensional superspheres is discussed, but not carried out in detail. Our results provide very convincing evidence in favor of the strong-weak coupling duality between supersphere PCMs and OSP(2S+2|2S) Gross-Neveu models that was recently conjectured by Candu and Saleur in arXiv:0801.0444.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

The diagonal cosets of the Heisenberg group

In this paper we study the diagonal cosets of the non-compact H4 WZW model. Generalising earlier work by Antoniadis and Obers, we provide an exact world-sheet description for several families of non-maximally symmetric gravitational plane waves with background NS fluxes. We show that the sigma-models that correspond to an asymmetric action of the gauge group smoothly interpolate between singular and non-singular plane waves. We also analyse the representations of the coset chiral algebra and derive the spectrum of all the models.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Boundary Spectra in Superspace Sigma-Models

In this note we compute exact boundary spectra for D-instantons in sigma-models on the supergroup PSL(2|2). Our results are obtained through an explicit summation of the perturbative expansion for conformal dimensions to all orders in the curvature radius. The analysis exploits several remarkable properties of the perturbation series that arises from rescalings of the metric on PSL(2|2) relative to a fixed Wess-Zumino term. According to Berkovits, Vafa and Witten, the models are relevant in the context of string theory on AdS3 with non-vanishing RR-flux. The note concludes with a number of comments on various possible generalizations to other supergroups and higher dimensional supercoset theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

The abelian cosets of the Heisenberg group

In this paper we study the abelian cosets of the H(4) WZW model. They coincide or are related to several interesting three-dimensional backgrounds such as the Melvin model, the conical point-particle space-times and the null orbifold. We perform a detailed CFT analysis of all the models and compute the coset characters as well as some typical three-point couplings of coset primaries.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Branes in the GL(1|1) WZNW-Model

We initiate a systematic study of boundary conditions in conformal field theories with target space supersymmetry. The WZNW model on GL(1|1) is used as a prototypical example for which we find the complete set of maximally symmetric branes. This includes a unique brane of maximal super-dimension 2|2, a 2-parameter family of branes with super-dimension 0|2 and an infinite set of fully localized branes possessing a single modulus. Members of the latter family can only exist along certain lines on the bosonic base, much like fractional branes at orbifold singularities. Our results establish that all essential algebraic features of Cardy-type boundary theories carry over to the non-rational logarithmic WZNW model on GL(1|1).

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Free fermion resolution of supergroup WZNW models

Extending our earlier work on PSL(2|2), we explain how to reduce the solution of WZNW models on general type I supergroups to those defined on the bosonic subgroup. The new analysis covers in particular the supergroups GL(M|N) along with several close relatives such as PSL(N|N), certain Poincare supergroups and the series OSP(2|2N). This remarkable progress relies on the use of a special Feigin-Fuchs type representation. In preparation for the field theory analysis, we shall exploit a minisuperspace analogue of a free fermion construction to deduce the spectrum of the Laplacian on type I supergroups. The latter is shown to be non-diagonalizable. After lifting these results to the full WZNW model, we address various issues of the field theory, including its modular invariance and the computation of correlation functions. In agreement with previous findings, supergroup WZNW models allow to study chiral and non-chiral aspects of logarithmic conformal field theory within a geometric framework. We shall briefly indicate how insights from WZNW models carry over to non-geometric examples, such as e.g. the W(p) triplet models.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Reflection and Transmission for Conformal Defects

We consider conformal defects joining two conformal field theories along a line. We define two new quantities associated to such defects in terms of expectation values of the stress tensors and we propose them as measures of the reflectivity and transmissivity of the defect. Their properties are investigated and they are computed in a number of examples. We obtain a complete answer for all defects in the Ising model and between certain pairs of minimal models. In the case of two conformal field theories with an enhanced symmetry we restrict ourselves to non-trivial defects that can be obtained by a coset construction.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Representation theory of sl(2|1)

In this note we present a complete analysis of finite dimensional representations of the Lie superalgebra sl(2|1). This includes, in particular, the decomposition of all tensor products into their indecomposable building blocks. Our derivation makes use of a close relation with the representation theory of gl(1|1) for which analogous results are described and derived.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

The WZNW model on PSU(1,1|2)

According to the work of Berkovits, Vafa and Witten (hep-th/9902098), the non-linear sigma model on the supergroup PSU(1,1|2) is the essential building block for string theory on AdS(3)xS(3)xT(4). Models associated with a non-vanishing value of the RR flux can be obtained through a psu(1,1|2) invariant marginal deformation of the WZNW model on PSU(1,1|2). We take this as a motivation to present a manifestly psu(1,1|2) covariant construction of the model at the Wess-Zumino point, corresponding to a purely NSNS background 3-form flux. At this point the model possesses an enhanced psu(1,1|2) current algebra symmetry whose representation theory, including explicit character formulas, is developed systematically in the first part of the paper. The space of vertex operators and a free fermion representation for their correlation functions is our main subject in the second part. Contrary to a widespread claim, bosonic and fermionic fields are necessarily coupled to each other. The interaction changes the supersymmetry transformations, with drastic consequences for the multiplets of localized normalizable states in the model. It is only this fact which allows us to decompose the full state space into multiplets of the global supersymmetry. We analyze these decompositions systematically as a preparation for a forthcoming study of the RR deformation.

hep-th↗