Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Seven-dimensional super Yang-Mills at negative coupling

  Joseph A. Minahan, Usman Naseer, Charles Thull

  SciPost Phys. 14, 028 (2023) · published 6 March 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We consider the partition function for Euclidean $SU(N)$ super Yang-Mills on a squashed seven-sphere. We show that the localization locus of the partition function has instanton membrane solutions wrapping the six ``fixed" three-spheres on the $\mathbb{S}^7$. The ADHM variables of these instantons are fields living on the membrane world volume. We compute their contribution by localizing the resulting three-dimensional supersymmetric field theory. In the round-sphere limit the individual instanton contributions are singular, but the singularities cancel when adding the contributions of all six three-spheres. The full partition function on the ${\mathbb S}^7$ is well-defined even when the square of the effective Yang-Mills coupling is negative. We show for an $SU(2)$ gauge theory in this regime that the bare negative tension of the instanton membranes is canceled off by contributions from the instanton partition function, indicating the existence of tensionless membranes. We provide evidence that this phase is distinct from the usual weakly coupled super Yang-Mills and, in fact, is gravitational.

• Dynamically restoring conformal invariance in (integrable) $\sigma$-models

  Rigers Aliaj, Konstantinos Sfetsos, Konstantinos Siampos

  SciPost Phys. 14, 043 (2023) · published 21 March 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Integrable $\lambda$-deformed $\sigma$-models are characterized by an underlying current algebra/coset model CFT deformed, at the infinitesimal level, by current/parafermion bilinears. We promote the deformation parameters to dynamical functions of time introduced as an extra coordinate. It is conceivable that by appropriately constraining them, the beta-functions vanish and consequently the $\sigma$-model stays conformal. Remarkably, we explicitly materialize this scenario in several cases having a single and even multiple deformation parameters. These generically obey a system of non-linear second-order ordinary differential equations. They are solved by the fixed points of the RG flow of the original $\sigma$-model. Moreover, by appropriately choosing initial conditions we may even interpolate between the RG fixed points as the time varies from the far past to the far future. Finally, we present an extension of our analysis to the Yang--Baxter deformed PCMs.

• The propagator matrix reloaded

  João F. Melo

  SciPost Phys. Core 6, 019 (2023) · published 24 March 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The standard way to perform calculations for quantum field theories involves the S-matrix and the assumption that the theory is free at past and future infinity. However, this assumption may not hold for field theories in non-trivial backgrounds such as curved spacetimes or finite temperature. In fact, even in the simple case of finite temperature Minkowski spacetime, there are a lot of misconceptions and confusion in the literature surrounding how to correctly take interactions into account when setting up the initial conditions. The objective of this work is to clear up these misconceptions and provide a clean and simple derivation of a formalism which includes interactions in the initial conditions and assesses whether or not it is legitimate to ignore them. The ultimate conclusion is that we cannot ignore them: quantum field theories at finite temperature are not free in the infinite past.

• Chiral gauge theories on $R^3 \times S^1$ and SUSY breaking

  Jun Seok Lee, John Terning

  SciPost Phys. 14, 081 (2023) · published 24 April 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study $SU(5)$ chiral gauge theories on $R^3\times S^1$. With an unequal number of fundamental and antifundmental matter representations we calculate nontrivial pre-ADS superpotentials generated by composite multi-monopoles. We also point out that the structure of the composite multi-monopoles can be determined simply from the affine Dynkin diagrams of the gauge group and its unbroken subgroup. For the case of one flavor, we find that the superpotential is independent of the composite meson. We show that dynamical 4D SUSY breaking in the simplest chiral $SU(5)$ gauge theory can be demonstrated directly via semi-classical effects on the circle.

• Spontaneous breaking of finite group symmetries at all temperatures

  Pedro Liendo, Junchen Rong, Haoyu Zhang

  SciPost Phys. 14, 168 (2023) · published 22 June 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study conformal field theories with finite group symmetries with spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) phases which persist at all temperatures. We work with two $\lambda \phi^4$ theories coupled through their mass terms. The two $\lambda \phi^4$ theories are chosen to preserve either the cubic symmetry group, or the tetrahedral symmetry group. A one-loop calculation in the $4-\epsilon$ expansion shows that there exist infinitely many fixed points that can host an all temperature SSB phase. An analysis of the renormalization group (RG) stability matrix of these fixed points, reveals that their spectrum contains at least three relevant operators. In other words, these fixed points are tetracritical points.

• Photon-ALP oscillations at CTA energies

  M. Kachelriess, J. Tjemsland

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 043 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Axions and axion-like-particles (ALPs) are well motivated beyond the standard model particles that can explain a variety of unsolved problems in physics, such as the strong CP problem and the nature of dark matter. These particles are characterised by their two-photon coupling, which leads to so-called photon-ALP oscillation as photons propagate through an external magnetic field. Such oscillations lead to characteristic signatures in the energy spectrum of high-energy photons from astrophysical sources, allowing us to probe the existence of ALPs and possibly dark matter. We review the signatures from ALPs in photon spectra and discuss a new method that can be used to directly search for the energy dependence of the oscillations. The focus is on photons at TeV-energies relevant for the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).

• SUSY-QCD corrections to squark annihilation into gluons and light quarks

  Luca Paolo Wiggering

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 047 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We calculate the full one-loop SUSY-QCD corrections to stop annihilation into gluons and light quarks including the Sommerfeld enhancement effect and discuss their impact on the neutralino relic density in the MSSM.

• Nonlinear sigma model description of deconfined quantum criticality in arbitrary dimensions

  Da-Chuan Lu

  SciPost Phys. Core 6, 047 (2023) · published 6 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  In this paper, we propose using the nonlinear sigma model (NLSM) with the Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) term as a general description of deconfined quantum critical points that separate two spontaneously symmetry-breaking (SSB) phases in arbitrary dimensions. In particular, we discuss the suitable choice of the target space of the NLSM, which is in general the homogeneous space G/K, where $G$ is the UV symmetry and $K$ is generated by ${\mathfrak k}={\mathfrak h}_1\cap {\mathfrak h}_2$, and ${\mathfrak h}_i$ is the Lie algebra of the unbroken symmetry in each SSB phase. With this specific target space, the symmetry defects in both SSB phases are on equal footing, and their intertwinement is captured by the WZW term. The DQCP transition is then tuned by proliferating the symmetry defects. By coupling the $G/K$ NLSM with the WZW term to the background gauge field, the 't Hooft anomaly of this theory can be determined. The bulk symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phase that cancels the anomaly is described by the relative Chern-Simons term in odd spacetime dimensions or mixed $\theta$ term in even dimensions. We construct and discuss a series of models with Grassmannian symmetry defects in 3+1d. We also provide the fermionic model that reproduces the $G/K$ NLSM with the WZW term.

• Anomaly of $(2+1)$-dimensional symmetry-enriched topological order from $(3+1)$-dimensional topological quantum field theory

  Weicheng Ye, Liujun Zou

  SciPost Phys. 15, 004 (2023) · published 10 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Symmetry acting on a (2+1)$D$ topological order can be anomalous in the sense that they possess an obstruction to being realized as a purely (2+1)$D$ on-site symmetry. In this paper, we develop a (3+1)$D$ topological quantum field theory to calculate the anomaly indicators of a (2+1)$D$ topological order with a general symmetry group $G$, which may be discrete or continuous, Abelian or non-Abelian, contain anti-unitary elements or not, and permute anyons or not. These anomaly indicators are partition functions of the (3+1)$D$ topological quantum field theory on a specific manifold equipped with some $G$-bundle, and they are expressed using the data characterizing the topological order and the symmetry actions. Our framework is applied to derive the anomaly indicators for various symmetry groups, including $\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_2$, $\mathbb{Z}_2^T\times\mathbb{Z}_2^T$, $SO(N)$, $O(N)^T$, $SO(N)\times \mathbb{Z}_2^T$, etc, where $\mathbb{Z}_2$ and $\mathbb{Z}_2^T$ denote a unitary and anti-unitary order-2 group, respectively, and $O(N)^T$ denotes a symmetry group $O(N)$ such that elements in $O(N)$ with determinant $-1$ are anti-unitary. In particular, we demonstrate that some anomaly of $O(N)^T$ and $SO(N)\times \mathbb{Z}_2^T$ exhibit symmetry-enforced gaplessness, i.e., they cannot be realized by any symmetry-enriched topological order. As a byproduct, for $SO(N)$ symmetric topological orders, we derive their $SO(N)$ Hall conductance.

• Multi-entropy at low Renyi index in 2d CFTs

  Jonathan Harper, Tadashi Takayanagi, Takashi Tsuda

  SciPost Phys. 16, 125 (2024) · published 13 May 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  For a static time slice of AdS$_3$ we describe a particular class of minimal surfaces which form trivalent networks of geodesics. Through geometric arguments we provide evidence that these surfaces describe a measure of multipartite entanglement. By relating these surfaces to Ryu-Takayanagi surfaces it can be shown that this multipartite contribution is related to the angles of intersection of the bulk geodesics. A proposed boundary dual [Phys. Rev. D 106, 126001 (2022), J. High Energy Phys. 08, 202 (2023), J. High Energy Phys. 05, 008 (2023)], the multi-entropy, generalizes replica trick calculations involving twist operators by considering monodromies with finite group symmetry beyond the cyclic group used for the computation of entanglement entropy. We make progress by providing explicit calculations of Renyi multi-entropy in two dimensional CFTs and geometric descriptions of the replica surfaces for several cases with low genus. We also explore aspects of the free fermion and free scalar CFTs. For the free fermion CFT we examine subtleties in the definition of the twist operators used for the calculation of Renyi multi-entropy. In particular the standard bosonization procedure used for the calculation of the usual entanglement entropy fails and a different treatment is required.