Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Local optimization on pure Gaussian state manifolds

  Bennet Windt, Alexander Jahn, Jens Eisert, Lucas Hackl

  SciPost Phys. 10, 066 (2021) · published 11 March 2021 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We exploit insights into the geometry of bosonic and fermionic Gaussian states to develop an efficient local optimization algorithm to extremize arbitrary functions on these families of states. The method is based on notions of gradient descent attuned to the local geometry which also allows for the implementation of local constraints. The natural group action of the symplectic and orthogonal group enables us to compute the geometric gradient efficiently. While our parametrization of states is based on covariance matrices and linear complex structures, we provide compact formulas to easily convert from and to other parametrization of Gaussian states, such as wave functions for pure Gaussian states, quasiprobability distributions and Bogoliubov transformations. We review applications ranging from approximating ground states to computing circuit complexity and the entanglement of purification that have both been employed in the context of holography. Finally, we use the presented methods to collect numerical and analytical evidence for the conjecture that Gaussian purifications are sufficient to compute the entanglement of purification of arbitrary mixed Gaussian states.

  9 citations

• A definition of primary operators in $J\bar T$-deformed CFTs

  Monica Guica

  SciPost Phys. 13, 045 (2022) · published 1 September 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  $J\bar T$-deformed CFTs provide an interesting example of non-local, yet UV-complete two-dimensional QFTs that are entirely solvable. They have been recently shown to possess an infinite set of symmetries, which are a continuous deformation of the Virasoro-Kac-Moody symmetries of the seed CFT. In this article, we put forth a definition of primary operators in $J\bar T$-deformed CFTs on a cylinder, which are singled out by having CFT-like momentum-space commutation relations with the symmetry generators in the decompatification limit. We show -- based on results we first derive for the case of $J^1 \wedge J^2$-deformed CFTs -- that all correlation functions of such operators in the $J\bar T$-deformed CFT can be computed exactly in terms of the correlation functions of the undeformed CFT and are crossing symmetric in the plane limit. In particular, two and three-point functions are simply given by the corresponding momentum-space correlator in the undeformed CFT, with all dimensions replaced by particular momentum-dependent conformal dimensions. Interestingly, scattering amplitudes off the near-horizon of extremal black holes are known to take a strikingly similar form.

  9 citations

• An introduction to higher-form symmetries

  Pedro R. S. Gomes

  SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 74 (2023) · published 11 September 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  These notes are intended to be a pedagogical introduction to higher-form symmetries, which are symmetries whose charged objects are extended operators supported on lines, surfaces, and etc. This subject has been one of the most popular and effervescent topics of theoretical physics in recent years. Gauge theories are central in the study of higher-form symmetries, with Wilson and 't Hooft operators corresponding to the charged objects. Along these notes, we discuss in detail some basic aspects, including Abelian Maxwell and Chern-Simons theories, and $SU(N)$ non-Abelian gauge theories. We also discuss spontaneous breaking of higher-form symmetries.

  9 citations

• Symmetry restoration and the gluon mass in the Landau gauge

  Urko Reinosa, Julien Serreau, Rodrigo Carmo Terin, Matthieu Tissier

  SciPost Phys. 10, 035 (2021) · published 16 February 2021 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We investigate the generation of a gluon screening mass in Yang-Mills theory in the Landau gauge. We propose a gauge-fixing procedure where the Gribov ambiguity is overcome by summing over all Gribov copies with some weight function. This can be formulated in terms of a local field theory involving constrained, nonlinear sigma model fields. We show that a phenomenon of radiative symmetry restoration occurs in this theory, similar to what happens in the standard nonlinear sigma model in two dimensions. This results in a nonzero gluon screening mass, as seen in lattice simulations.

  9 citations

• Connecting quasinormal modes and heat kernels in 1-loop determinants

  Cynthia Keeler, Victoria L. Martin, Andrew Svesko

  SciPost Phys. 8, 017 (2020) · published 3 February 2020 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We connect two different approaches for calculating functional determinants on quotients of hyperbolic spacetime: the heat kernel method and the quasinormal mode method. For the example of a rotating BTZ background, we show how the image sum in the heat kernel method builds up the logarithms in the quasinormal mode method, while the thermal sum in the quasinormal mode method builds up the integrand of the heat kernel. More formally, we demonstrate how the heat kernel and quasinormal mode methods are linked via the Selberg zeta function. We show that a 1-loop partition function computed using the heat kernel method may be cast as a Selberg zeta function whose zeros encode quasinormal modes. We discuss how our work may be used to predict quasinormal modes on more complicated spacetimes.

  9 citations

• On the flow of states under $T\overline{T}$

  Jorrit Kruthoff, Onkar Parrikar

  SciPost Phys. 9, 078 (2020) · published 20 November 2020 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study the $T\overline{T}$ deformation of two dimensional quantum field theories from a Hamiltonian point of view, focusing on aspects of the theory in Lorentzian signature. Our starting point is a simple rewriting of the spatial integral of the $T\overline{T}$ operator, which directly implies the deformed energy spectrum of the theory. Using this rewriting, we then derive flow equations for various quantities in the deformed theory, such as energy eigenstates, operators, and correlation functions. On the plane, we find that the deformation merely has the effect of implementing successive canonical/Bogoliubov transformations along the flow. This leads us to define a class of non-local, 'dressed' operators (including a dressed stress tensor) which satisfy the same commutation relations as in the undeformed theory. This further implies that on the plane, the deformed theory retains its symmetry algebra, including conformal symmetry, if the original theory is a CFT. On the cylinder the $T\overline{T}$ deformation is much more non-trivial, but even so, correlation functions of certain dressed operators are integral transforms of the original ones. Finally, we propose a tensor network interpretation of our results in the context of AdS/CFT.

  9 citations

• On 2d CFTs that interpolate between minimal models

  Sylvain Ribault

  SciPost Phys. 6, 075 (2019) · published 25 June 2019 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We investigate exactly solvable two-dimensional conformal field theories that exist at generic values of the central charge, and that interpolate between A-series or D-series minimal models. When the central charge becomes rational, correlation functions of these CFTs may tend to correlation functions of minimal models, or diverge, or have finite limits which can be logarithmic. These results are based on analytic relations between four-point structure constants and residues of conformal blocks.

  9 citations

• Effective fractonic behavior in a two-dimensional exactly solvable spin liquid

  Guilherme Delfino, Weslei Bernardino Fontana, Pedro R. S. Gomes, Claudio Chamon

  SciPost Phys. 14, 002 (2023) · published 12 January 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  In this work we propose a $\mathbb{Z}_N$ clock model which is exactly solvable on the lattice. We find exotic properties for the low-energy physics, such as UV/IR mixing and excitations with restricted mobility, that resemble fractonic physics from higher dimensional models. We then study the continuum descriptions for the lattice system in two distinct regimes and find two qualitative distinct field theories for each one of them. A characteristic time scale that grows exponentially fast with $N^2$ (and diverges rapidly as function of system parameters) separates these two regimes. For times below this scale, the system is described by an effective fractonic Chern-Simons-like action, where higher-form symmetries prevent quasiparticles from hopping. In this regime, the system behaves effectively as a fracton as isolated particles, in practice, never leave their original position. Beyond the large characteristic time scale, the excitations are mobile and the effective field theory is given by a pure mutual Chern-Simons action. In this regime, the UV/IR properties of the system is captured by a peculiar realization of the translation group.

  9 citations

• Four-derivative couplings and BPS dyons in heterotic CHL orbifolds

  Guillaume Bossard, Charles Cosnier-Horeau, Boris Pioline

  SciPost Phys. 3, 008 (2017) · published 31 July 2017 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Three-dimensional string models with half-maximal supersymmetry are believed to be invariant under a large U-duality group which unifies the S and T dualities in four dimensions. We propose an exact, U-duality invariant formula for four-derivative scalar couplings of the form $F(\Phi) (\nabla\Phi)^4$ in a class of string vacua known as CHL $\mathbb{Z}_N$ heterotic orbifolds with $N$ prime, generalizing our previous work which dealt with the case of heterotic string on $T^6$. We derive the Ward identities that $F(\Phi)$ must satisfy, and check that our formula obeys them. We analyze the weak coupling expansion of $F(\Phi)$, and show that it reproduces the correct tree-level and one-loop contributions, plus an infinite series of non-perturbative contributions. Similarly, the large radius expansion reproduces the exact $F^4$ coupling in four dimensions, including both supersymmetric invariants, plus infinite series of instanton corrections from half-BPS dyons winding around the large circle, and from Taub-NUT instantons. The summation measure for dyonic instantons agrees with the helicity supertrace for half-BPS dyons in 4 dimensions in all charge sectors. In the process we clarify several subtleties about CHL models in $D=4$ and $D=3$, in particular we obtain the exact helicity supertraces for 1/2-BPS dyonic states in all duality orbits.

  9 citations

• Anisotropic scaling of the two-dimensional Ising model I: the torus

  Hendrik Hobrecht, Alfred Hucht

  SciPost Phys. 7, 026 (2019) · published 2 September 2019 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We present detailed calculations for the partition function and the free energy of the finite two-dimensional square lattice Ising model with periodic and antiperiodic boundary conditions, variable aspect ratio, and anisotropic couplings, as well as for the corresponding universal free energy finite-size scaling functions. Therefore, we review the dimer mapping, as well as the interplay between its topology and the different types of boundary conditions. As a central result, we show how both the finite system as well as the scaling form decay into contributions for the bulk, a characteristic finite-size part, and - if present - the surface tension, which emerges due to at least one antiperiodic boundary in the system. For the scaling limit we extend the proper finite-size scaling theory to the anisotropic case and show how this anisotropy can be absorbed into suitable scaling variables.

  9 citations