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Valentina Forini

Publications and source records attributed to Valentina Forini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Bremsstrahlung function from Goldstone bosons in AdS$_2$

We study quantum field theory on the AdS$_2$ worldsheet of the fundamental string dual to the half-BPS Wilson line of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills. We consider a recently proposed gauge-fixed string fluctuation Lagrangian around the AdS$_2$ minimal surface, and focus on the nonlinearly realized $SO(6)/SO(5)$ symmetry. The boundary two-point function of the associated tilt operators, whose normalization coefficient is proportional the Bremsstrahlung function, can be related to the bulk two-point function of the broken-symmetry Noether current through the boundary operator expansion. We evaluate the one-loop diagrams contributing to the current correlator, discussing the role of dimensional regularization and recovering the known strong-coupling correction to the Bremsstrahlung function directly from AdS$_2$ worldsheet quantum field theory.

hep-th

Probing the dynamics of stringy flux tubes with large $R$-charge

We study the generalized cusp anomalous dimension, or quark-antiquark potential on the three-sphere, in the presence of a large $R$-charge $L$ and at strong coupling. Considering the insertion of a local scalar operator of charge $L$ on a cusped Wilson loop, we investigate the general solution of the dual string configuration for any value of cusp angles, paying particular attention to the different ranges of the physical parameters and obtaining a unified description that simultaneously captures the near BPS, the antiparallel lines and the large-$L$ regimes. We observe, in the limit of small separation between the lines, a non-analytic change in the behavior of the cusp anomaly at a critical value of $L$: one crosses from a region dominated by the familiar Coulomb-like singularity to a ``deconfined" situation describing the leading L\"uscher corrections at large $L$ of the generalized cusp anomalous dimension. We derive the equations for small fluctuations around the classical string solution, generalizing previous analysis of the uncharged case, and we study the behavior of the spectrum near the transition region. Finally, we speculate on the field theory origin of the transition and on its implications for the fusion of Wilson lines.

hep-th

Dispersion relation from Lorentzian inversion in 1d CFT

Starting from the Lorentzian inversion formula, we derive a dispersion relation which computes a four-point function in 1d CFTs as an integral over its double discontinuity. The crossing symmetric kernel of the integral is given explicitly for the case of identical operators with integer or half-integer scaling dimension. This derivation complements the one that uses analytic functionals. We use the dispersion relation to evaluate holographic correlators defined on the half-BPS Wilson line of planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills, reproducing results up to fourth order in an expansion at large t'Hooft coupling.

hep-th

An update on supersphere non linear sigma model on the lattice

We consider the discretized version of the sigma-model with supersphere target space $OSp(N+2m|2m)/OSp(N+2m-1|2m)$ and present a preliminary numerical study of bosonic and fermionic two-point functions for the cases $OSp(3|2)$ and $OSp(5|2)$. We observe consistency with the expectations of this supersymmetric setup and discuss the sign problem.

hep-lat

Supersphere non-linear sigma model on the lattice

Two-dimensional $O(N)$ non-linear sigma models are exactly solvable theories and have many applications, from statistical mechanics to their use as QCD toy models. We consider a supersymmetric extension, the non-linear sigma model on the supersphere~$S^{N+2m-1|2m}\equiv \frac{OSP(N+2m|2m)}{OSP(N+2m-1|2m)}$. We briefly describe its renormalization properties and lattice discretization, and present a strategy for numerical simulations together with some preliminary numerical results.

hep-lat

Holography on the lattice: the string worldsheet perspective

We review the study, on the lattice, of the Green-Schwarz gauge-fixed string action describing worldsheet fluctuations about the minimal surface holographically dual to the null cusp Wilson loop, useful to evaluate the cusp anomaly of N = 4 super Yang-Mills (sYM). We comment on discretization, numerical explorations and challenges for the non-perturbative study of this benchmark model of gauge-fixed worldsheet actions.

hep-lat

Lattice perturbation theory for the null cusp string

We reconsider the problem of discretising the worldsheet for the gauge-fixed Green-Schwarz superstring on a null cusp background, and present a setup which fully preserves its global $U(1)\times SU(4)$ symmetry. We discuss divergences by power counting on the lattice, and study renormalizability at one loop with the example of one-point functions and one bosonic correlator of the worldsheet excitations. In order to remove UV divergences at one loop, it is necessary to introduce two extra parameters in the action, which need to be either fine-tuned at tree level or renormalized at one-loop.

hep-lat

A note on improved stochastic trace estimation for fermionic string fluctuations

We report on the use of a stochastic trace estimator algorithm, based on mutually unbiased bases, for evaluating the trace of a matrix differential operator appearing in the context of lattice simulations for the discretized superstring worldsheet. A study of the variance, in a setup which is slightly modified with respect to the original one, confirms advantages with respect to more traditional methods like the Gaussian estimator.

hep-lat

Mellin amplitudes for 1$d$ CFT

We define a Mellin amplitude for CFT$_1$ four-point functions. Its analytical properties are inferred from physical requirements on the correlator. We discuss the analytic continuation that is necessary for a fully nonperturbative definition of the Mellin transform. The resulting bounded, meromorphic function of a single complex variable is used to derive an infinite set of nonperturbative sum rules for CFT data of exchanged operators, which we test on known examples. We then consider the perturbative setup produced by quartic interactions with an arbitrary number of derivatives in a bulk AdS$_2$ field theory. With our formalism, we obtain a closed-form expression for the Mellin transform of tree-level contact interactions and for the first correction to the scaling dimension of "two-particle" operators exchanged in the generalized free field theory correlator.

hep-th

Analytic bootstrap and Witten diagrams for the ABJM Wilson line as defect CFT$_1$

We study local operator insertions on 1/2-BPS line defects in ABJM theory. Specifically, we consider a class of four-point correlators in the CFT$_1$ with SU$(1, 1|3)$ superconformal symmetry defined on the 1/2-BPS Wilson line. The relevant insertions belong to the short supermultiplet containing the displacement operator and correspond to fluctuations of the dual fundamental string in AdS$_4 \times \mathbb{C}\textrm{P}^3$ ending on the line at the boundary. We use superspace techniques to represent the displacement supermultiplet and we show that superconformal symmetry determines the four-point correlators of its components in terms of a single function of the one-dimensional cross-ratio. Such function is highly constrained by crossing and internal consistency, allowing us to use an analytical bootstrap approach to find the first subleading correction at strong coupling. Finally, we use AdS/CFT to compute the same four-point functions through tree-level AdS$_2$ Witten diagrams, producing a result that is perfectly consistent with the bootstrap solution.

hep-th

New linearization and reweighting for simulations of string sigma-model on the lattice

We study the discretized worldsheet of Type IIB strings in the Gubser-Klebanov-Polyakov background in a new setup, which eliminates a complex phase previously detected in the fermionic determinant. A sign ambiguity remains, which a study of the fermionic spectrum shows to be related to Yukawa-like terms, including those present in the original Lagrangian before the linearization standard in a lattice QFT approach. Monte Carlo simulations are performed in a large region of the parameter space, where the sign problem starts becoming severe and instabilities appear due to the zero eigenvalues of the fermionic operator. To face these problems, simulations are conducted using the absolute value of a fermionic Pfaffian obtained introducing a small twisted-mass term, acting as an infrared regulator, into the action. The sign of the Pfaffian and the low modes of the quadratic fermionic operator are then taken into account by a reweighting procedure of which we discuss the impact on the measurement of the observables. In this setup we study bosonic and fermionic correlators and observe a divergence in the latter, which we argue - also via a one-loop analysis in lattice perturbation theory - to originate from the U(1)-breaking of our Wilson-like discretization for the fermionic sector.

hep-th

Roadmap on Wilson loops in 3d Chern-Simons-matter theories

This is a compact review of recent results on supersymmetric Wilson loops in ABJ(M) and related theories. It aims to be a quick introduction to the state of the art in the field and a discussion of open problems. It is divided into short chapters devoted to different questions and techniques. Some new results, perspectives and speculations are also presented. We hope this might serve as a baseline for further studies of this topic.

hep-th

On regularizing the AdS superstring worldsheet

In this short review (to appear as a contribution to an edited volume) we discuss perturbative and non-perturbative approaches to the quantization of the Green-Schwarz string in AdS backgrounds with RR-fluxes, where the guiding thread is the use of genuine field theory methods, the search for a good regularization scheme associated to them and the generality of the analysis carried out. We touch upon various computational setups, both analytical and numerical, and on the role of their outcomes in understanding the detailed structure of the AdS/CFT correspondence.

hep-th

Strings on the lattice and AdS/CFT

We present a new auxiliary field representation for the four-fermi term of the gauge-fixed Green-Schwarz superstring action which describes fluctuations around the null-cusp background in $AdS_5\times S^5$. We sketch the main features of the fermionic operator spectrum, identifying the region of parameter space where the sign ambiguity is absent. Measurements for the observables in the setup here described are presented and discussed in a forthcoming publication.

hep-lat

Green-Schwarz superstring on the lattice

We consider possible discretizations for a gauge-fixed Green-Schwarz action of Type IIB superstring. We use them for measuring the action, from which we extract the cusp anomalous dimension of planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM as derived from AdS/CFT, as well as the mass of the two $AdS$ excitations transverse to the relevant null cusp classical string solution. We perform lattice simulations employing a Rational Hybrid Monte Carlo (RHMC) algorithm and two Wilson-like fermion discretizations, one of which preserves the global $SO(6)$ symmetry of the model. We compare our results with the expected behavior at various values of $g=\frac{\sqrtλ}{4π}$. For both the observables, we find a good agreement for large $g$, which is the perturbative regime of the sigma-model. For smaller values of $g$, the expectation value of the action exhibits a deviation compatible with the presence of quadratic divergences. After their non-perturbative subtraction the continuum limit can be taken, and suggests a qualitative agreement with the non-perturbative expectation from AdS/CFT. Furthermore, we detect a phase in the fermion determinant, whose origin we explain, that for very small $g$ leads to a sign problem not treatable via standard reweigthing. The continuum extrapolations of the observables in the two different discretizations agree within errors, which is strongly suggesting that they lead to the same continuum limit. Part of the results discussed here were presented earlier in arXiv:1601.04670.

hep-th

Lattice and string worldsheet in AdS/CFT: a numerical study

We consider a possible discretization for the gauge-fixed Green-Schwarz (two-dimensional) sigma-model action for the Type IIB superstring and use it for measuring the cusp anomalous dimension of planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM as derived from string theory. We perform lattice simulations employing a Rational Hybrid Monte Carlo (RHMC) algorithm and a Wilson-like fermion discretization. In this preliminary study, we compare our results with the expected behavior for very large values of $g=\frac{\sqrtλ}{4π}$, which is the perturbative regime of the sigma-model, and find a qualitative agreement at finite lattice spacing. For smaller $g$ the continuum limit is obstructed by a divergence. We also detect a phase in the fermion determinant, whose origin we explain, which for small $g$ leads to a sign problem not treatable via standard reweigthing. Results presented here are discussed thoroughly in~\cite{toappear}.

hep-lat

Two-loop cusp anomaly in ABJM at strong coupling

We compute the null cusp anomalous dimension of ABJM theory at strong coupling up to two-loop order. This is done by evaluating corrections to the corresponding superstring partition function, weighted by the $AdS_4\times \mathbb{CP}^3$ action in AdS light-cone gauge. We compare our result, where we use an anomalous shift in the $AdS_4$ radius, with the cusp anomaly of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM, and extract the two-loop contribution to the non-trivial integrable coupling $h(λ)$ of ABJM theory. It coincides with the strong coupling expansion of the exact expression for $ h(λ)$ recently conjectured by Gromov and Sizov. Our work provides thus a non-trivial perturbative check for the latter, as well as evidence for two-loop UV-finiteness and quantum integrability of the Type IIA $AdS_4\times \mathbb{CP}^3$ superstring in this gauge.

hep-th

Two-dimensional S-matrices from unitarity cuts

Using unitarity methods, we compute, for several massive two-dimensional models, the cut-constructible part of the one-loop 2->2 scattering S-matrices from the tree-level amplitudes. We apply our method to various integrable theories, finding evidence that for supersymmetric models the one-loop S-matrix is cut-constructible, while for models without supersymmetry (but with integrability) the missing rational terms are proportional to the tree-level S-matrix and therefore can be interpreted as a shift in the coupling. Finally, applying our procedure to the world-sheet theory for the light-cone gauge-fixed AdS_5 x S^5 superstring we reproduce, at one-loop in the near-BMN expansion, the S-matrix known from integrability techniques.

hep-th