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

by Monica Guica

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Submission summary

Authors (as registered SciPost users): Monica Guica
Submission information
Preprint Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.14736v2  (pdf)
Date accepted: 2022-05-31
Date submitted: 2022-02-14 06:18
Submitted by: Guica, Monica
Submitted to: SciPost Physics
Ontological classification
Academic field: Physics
Specialties:
  • High-Energy Physics - Theory
Approach: Theoretical

Abstract

$J\bar T$-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.

Published as SciPost Phys. 13, 045 (2022)


Reports on this Submission

Report #2 by Anonymous (Referee 1) on 2022-5-10 (Invited Report)

  • Cite as: Anonymous, Report on arXiv:2112.14736v2, delivered 2022-05-10, doi: 10.21468/SciPost.Report.5059

Strengths

1) The author proposes a definition for the notion of primary operators in the JJbar and JTbar deformed CFTs
2) The author computes some correlation functions of these operators and draws comparisons with the existing literature
3) The article is well structured, clear in its scope, and exhausting in its arguments and derivations

Weaknesses

1) The reader can be easily confused by both the length of certain formulae and the notation which can be somewhat obscure in places

Report

I believe this work satisfies the acceptance criteria of this journal and support its publication.

  • validity: high
  • significance: high
  • originality: high
  • clarity: good
  • formatting: good
  • grammar: good

Report #1 by Anonymous (Referee 2) on 2022-3-9 (Invited Report)

  • Cite as: Anonymous, Report on arXiv:2112.14736v2, delivered 2022-03-09, doi: 10.21468/SciPost.Report.4650

Strengths

1) New definition of operators in the $J{\bar T}$-deformed CFTs, which satisfy nice properties under the symmetry algebra
2) Computation of correlators of these operators on the plane
3) Clearly written with a detailed review of the well-understood $J{\bar J}$-deformation that motivates the construction

Weaknesses

1) The definition of the operators does not follow from any first principles, though it satisfies many nice properties
2) The computations are done in a mixed formalism which starts from the cylinder but does the computations only in the infinite radius limit, it would be nicer to either compute precisely on the cylinder or to phrase everything directly on the plane

Report

The paper suggests a definition of operators in $J{\bar T}$-deformed theories that transform nicely under the symmetry algebra of these theories (that was analyzed in detail in previous works by the author), and computes their correlation functions on the plane, with relatively simple results expressed as a shift in the conformal dimensions of the operators. The paper starts from an analysis of $J{\bar J}$-deformed theories, which are standard CFTs where the operators and correlators are well-understood, but which can also be analyzed in a language that can be generalized for $J{\bar T}$ deformations. The paper is clearly written and the results are nice and reasonable, in particular the advantages and disadvantages of the construction are described very clearly. I am happy to recommend the publication of this interesting paper in SciPost Physics.

Requested changes

None

  • validity: high
  • significance: good
  • originality: high
  • clarity: top
  • formatting: excellent
  • grammar: excellent

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