Using conformal field theory, we derive several new crossing formulas at the two-dimensional percolation point. High-precision simulation confirms these results. Integrating them gives a unified derivation of Cardy's formula for the horizontal crossing probability $Π_h(r)$, Watts' formula for the horizontal-vertical crossing probability $Π_{hv}(r)$, and Cardy's formula for the expected number of clusters crossing horizontally $\mathcal{N}_h(r)$. The main step in our approach implies the identification of the derivative of one primary operator with another. We present operator identities that support this idea and suggest the presence of additional symmetry in $c=0$ conformal field theories.
We consider two-dimensional percolation in the scaling limit close to criticality and use integrable field theory to obtain universal predictions for the probability that at least one cluster crosses between opposite sides of a rectangle of sides much larger than the correlation length and for the mean number of such crossing clusters.
We consider the three new crossing probabilities for percolation recently found via conformal field theory by Simmons, Kleban and Ziff. We prove that all three of them (i) may be simply expressed in terms of Cardy's and Watts' crossing probabilities, (ii) are (weakly holomorphic) second-order modular forms of weight 0 (and a single particular type) on the congruence group $Γ(2)$, and (iii) under some technical assumptions (similar to those used by Kleban and Zagier, are completely determined by their transformation laws. The only physical input in (iii) is Cardy's crossing formula, which sugge…
Crossing probabilities for critical 2-D percolation on large but finite lattices have been derived via boundary conformal field theory. These predictions agree very well with numerical results. However, their derivation is heuristic and there is evidence of additional symmetries in the problem. This contribution gives a preliminary examination some unusual modular behavior of these quantities. In particular, the derivatives of the "horizontal" and "horizontal-vertical" crossing probabilities transform as a vector modular form, one component of which is an ordinary modular form and the other th…
The conformal bootstrap is applied to percolation and dilute self-avoiding polymers, two theories with Virasoro central charge $c=0$ in two dimensions. In both cases we propose a spectrum of operators motivated by Virasoro symmetry which is devoid of a stress energy tensor as an approximate means of enforcing $c=0$. Percolation is treated in $2\leq D \leq 6$ dimensions, and the self-avoiding walk in $2 \leq D \leq 4$.
2D Percolation path exponents $x^{\cal P}_{\ell}$ describe probabilities for traversals of annuli by $\ell$ non-overlapping paths, each on either occupied or vacant clusters, with at least one of each type. We relate the probabilities rigorously to amplitudes of $O(N=1)$ models whose exponents, believed to be exact, yield $x^{\cal P}_{\ell}=({\ell}^2-1)/12$. This extends to half-integers the Saleur--Duplantier exponents for $k=\ell/2$ clusters, yields the exact fractal dimension of the external cluster perimeter, $D_{EP}=2-x^{\cal P}_3=4/3$, and also explains the absence of narrow gate fjords,…
In a recent article, one of the authors used $c=0$ logarithmic conformal field theory to predict crossing-probability formulas for percolation clusters inside a hexagon with free boundary conditions. In this article, we verify these predictions with high-precision computer simulations. Our simulations generate percolation-cluster perimeters with hull walks on a triangular lattice inside a hexagon. Each sample comprises two hull walks, and the order in which these walks strike the bottom and upper left/right sides of the hexagon determines the crossing configuration of the percolation sample. W…
We study four-point functions of critical percolation in two dimensions, and more generally of the Potts model. We propose an exact ansatz for the spectrum: an infinite, discrete and non-diagonal combination of representations of the Virasoro algebra. Based on this ansatz, we compute four-point functions using a numerical conformal bootstrap approach. The results agree with Monte-Carlo computations of connectivities of random clusters.
Using a recently developed method to simulate percolation on large clusters of distributed machines [N. R. Moloney and G. Pruessner, Phys. Rev. E 67, 037701 (2003)], we have numerically calculated crossing, spanning and wrapping probabilities in two-dimensional site and bond percolation with exceptional accuracy. Our results are fully consistent with predictions from Conformal Field Theory. We present many new results that await theoretical explanation, particularly for wrapping clusters on a cylinder. We therefore provide possibly the most up-to-date reference for theoreticians working on cro…
We consider critical percolation on the triangular lattice in a bounded simply connected domain with boundary conditions that force an interface between two prescribed boundary points. We say the interface forms a "near-loop" when it comes within one lattice spacing of itself. We define a new curve by erasing these near-loops as we traverse the interface. Our Monte Carlo simulations of this model lead us to conclude that the scaling limit of this loop-erased percolation interface is conformally invariant and has fractal dimension 4/3. However, it is not SLE_8/3. We also consider the process in…
Shape-dependent universal crossing probabilities are studied, via Monte Carlo simulations, for bond and site directed percolation on the square lattice in the diagonal direction, at the percolation threshold. Since the system is strongly anisotropic, the shape-dependence enters through the effective aspect ratio r_eff=cL^z/t, where c is a non-universal constant and z the anisotropy exponent. A particular attention is paid to the influence of the initial state on the universal behaviour of the crossing probability. Using anisotropic finite-size scaling and generalizing a simple argument given b…
We present evidence for a deep connection between the zero-temperature coarsening of the two-dimensional kinetic Ising model (KIM) and critical continuum percolation. In addition to reaching the ground state, the KIM can also fall into a variety of topologically distinct metastable stripe states. The probability to reach a stripe state that winds a times horizontally and b times vertically on a square lattice with periodic boundary conditions equals the corresponding exactly-solved critical percolation crossing probability P_{a,b} for a spanning path with winding numbers a and b.
By use of conformal field theory, we discover several exact factorizations of higher-order density correlation functions in critical two-dimensional percolation. Our formulas are valid in the upper half-plane, or any conformally equivalent region. We find excellent agreement of our results with high-precision computer simulations. There are indications that our formulas hold more generally.
We consider the fractal dimensions d_k of the k-connected part of percolation clusters in two dimensions, generalizing the cluster (k=1) and backbone (k=2) dimensions. The codimensions X_k = 2-d_k describe the asymptotic decay of the probabilities P(r,R) ~ (r/R)^{X_k} that an annulus of radii r<<1 and R>>1 is traversed by k disjoint paths, all living on the percolation clusters. Using a transfer matrix approach, we obtain numerical results for X_k, k<=6. They are well fitted by the Ansatz X_k = 1/12 k^2 + 1/48 k + (1-k)C, with C = 0.0181+-0.0006.
The aim of the paper is to present numerical results supporting the presence of conformal invariance in three dimensional statistical mechanics models at criticality and to elucidate the geometric aspects of universality. As a case study we study three dimensional percolation at criticality in bounded domains. Both on discrete and continuous models of critical percolation, we test by numerical experiments the invariance of quantities in finite domains under conformal transformations focusing on crossing probabilities. Our results show clear evidence of the onset of conformal invariance in fini…
We conjecture an exact form for an universal ratio of four-point cluster connectivities in the critical two-dimensional $Q$-color Potts model. We also provide analogous results for the limit $Q\rightarrow 1$ that corresponds to percolation where the observable has a logarithmic singularity. Our conjectures are tested against Monte Carlo simulations showing excellent agreement for $Q=1,2,3$.
When a two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet is quenched from above the critical temperature to zero temperature, the system eventually converges to either a ground state (all spins aligned) or an infinitely long-lived metastable stripe state. By applying results from percolation theory, we analytically determine the probability to reach the stripe state as a function of the aspect ratio and the form of the boundary conditions. These predictions agree with simulation results. Our approach generally applies to coarsening dynamics of non-conserved scalar fields in two dimensions.
We consider the sub-sector of the $c=0$ logarithmic conformal field theory (LCFT) generated by the boundary condition changing (bcc) operator in two dimensional critical percolation. This operator is the zero weight Kac operator $ϕ_{1,2}$, identified with the growing hull of the SLE$_6$ process. We identify percolation configurations with the significant operators in the theory. We consider operators from the first four bcc operator fusions: the identity and bcc operator; the stress tensor and its logarithmic partner; the derivative of the bcc operator and its logarithmic partner; and the pre-…
Over the years, problems like percolation and self-avoiding walks have provided important testing grounds for our understanding of the nature of the critical state. I describe some very recent ideas, as well as some older ones, which cast light both on these problems themselves and on the quantum field theories to which they correspond. These ideas come from conformal field theory, Coulomb gas mappings, and stochastic Loewner evolution.
We present study of finite-size scaling and universality of crossing probabilities for the $q$-state Potts model. Crossing probabilities of the Potts model are similar ones in percolation problem. We numerically investigated scaling of $π_{s}$ - the probability of a system to percolate only in one direction for two-dimensional site percolation, the Ising model, and the q-state Potts model for $q=3,4,5,6,8,10$. We found the thermal scaling index $y= \frac{1}ν$ for $q<4$. In contrast, $y \ne \frac{1}ν$ for $q=4$.
We examine crossing probabilities and free energies for conformally invariant critical 2-D systems in rectangular geometries, derived via conformal field theory and Stochastic Löwner Evolution methods. These quantities are shown to exhibit interesting modular behavior, although the physical meaning of modular transformations in this context is not clear. We show that in many cases these functions are completely characterized by very simple transformation properties. In particular, Cardy's function for the percolation crossing probability (including the conformal dimension 1/3), follows from a …
We investigate kinetically constrained models of glassy transitions, and determine which model characteristics are crucial in allowing a rigorous proof that such models have discontinuous transitions with faster than power law diverging length and time scales. The models we investigate have constraints similar to that of the knights model, introduced by Toninelli, Biroli, and Fisher (TBF), but differing neighbor relations. We find that such knights-like models, otherwise known as models of jamming percolation, need a ``No Parallel Crossing'' rule for the TBF proof of a glassy transition to be …
Scale-invariant universal crossing probabilities are studied for critical anisotropic systems in two dimensions. For weakly anisotropic standard percolation in a rectangular-shaped system, Cardy's exact formula is generalized using a length-rescaling procedure. For strongly anisotropic systems in 1+1 dimensions, exact results are obtained for the random walk with absorbing boundary conditions, which can be considered as a linearized mean-field approximation for directed percolation. The bond and site directed percolation problem is itself studied numerically via Monte Carlo simulations on the …
The fractal structure and scaling properties of a 2d slice of the 3d Ising model is studied using Monte Carlo techniques. The percolation transition of geometric spin (GS) clusters is found to occur at the Curie point, reflecting the critical behavior of the 3d model. The fractal dimension and the winding angle statistics of the perimeter and external perimeter of the geometric spin clusters at the critical point suggest that, if conformally invariant in the scaling limit, they can be described by the theory of Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE_κ) with diffusivity of κ=5 and 16/5, respectively, p…
We construct a crossing symmetric basis for conformal four-point functions in momentum space by requiring consistent factorization. Just as scattering amplitudes factorize when the intermediate particle is on-shell, non-analytic parts of conformal correlators enjoy a similar factorization in momentum space. Based on this property, Polyakov, in his pioneering 1974 work, introduced a basis for conformal correlators which manifestly satisfies the crossing symmetry. He then initiated the bootstrap program by requiring its consistency with the operator product expansion. This approach is complement…
Using the planar Temperley-Lieb algebra, critical bond percolation on the square lattice is incorporated as ${\cal LM}(2,3)$ in the family of Yang-Baxter integrable logarithmic minimal models ${\cal LM}(p,p')$. We consider this model in the presence of boundaries and with periodic boundary conditions. Inspired by Kuniba, Sakai and Suzuki, we rewrite the recently obtained infinite $Y$-system of functional equations. We obtain nonlinear integral equations in the form of a closed finite set of TBA equations described by a $D_3$ Dynkin diagram. Following the methods of Klümper and Pearce, we solve…
Our previous work [1] constructed, in three-dimensional momentum space, a manifestly crossing symmetric basis for scalar conformal four-point functions, based on the factorization property proposed by Polyakov. This work extends this construction to general dimensional conformal field theory. To facilitate the treatment of symmetric traceless tensors, we exploit techniques of spherical harmonics in general dimensions.
We consider the density of two-dimensional critical percolation clusters, constrained to touch one or both boundaries, in infinite strips, half-infinite strips, and squares, as well as several related quantities for the infinite strip. Our theoretical results follow from conformal field theory, and are compared with high-precision numerical simulation. For example, we show that the density of clusters touching both boundaries of an infinite strip of unit width (i.e. crossing clusters) is proportional to $(\sin πy)^{-5/48}\{[\cos(πy/2)]^{1/3} +[\sin (πy/2)]^{1/3}-1\}$. We also determine numeric…
We prove Cardy's formula for rectangular crossing probabilities in dependent site percolation models that arise from a deterministic cellular automaton with a random initial state. The cellular automaton corresponds to the zero-temperature case of Domany's stochastic Ising ferromagnet on the hexagonal lattice H (with alternating updates of two sublattices); it may also be realized on the triangular lattice T with flips when a site disagrees with six, five and sometimes four of its six neighbors.
We postulate the existence of a natural Poissonian marking of the double (touching) points of SLE(6) and hence of the related continuum nonsimple loop process that describes macroscopic cluster boundaries in 2D critical percolation. We explain how these marked loops should yield continuum versions of near-critical percolation, dynamical percolation, minimal spanning trees and related plane filling curves, and invasion percolation. We show that this yields for some of the continuum objects a conformal covariance property that generalizes the conformal invariance of critical systems. It is an op…
In this article, we generalize known formulas for crossing probabilities. Prior crossing results date back to J. Cardy's prediction of a formula for the probability that a percolation cluster in two dimensions connects the left and right sides of a rectangle at the percolation critical point in the continuum limit. Here, we predict a new formula for crossing probabilities of a continuum limit loop-gas model on a planar lattice inside a $2N$-sided polygon. In this model, boundary loops exit and then re-enter the polygon through its vertices, with exactly one loop passing once through each verte…
We discuss the structure of 2D conformal field theories (CFT) at central charge c=0 describing critical disordered systems, polymers and percolation. We construct a novel extension of the c=0 Virasoro algebra, characterized by a number b measuring the effective number of massless degrees of freedom, and by a logarithmic partner of the stress tensor. It is argued to be present at a generic random critical point, lacking super Kac-Moody, or other higher symmetries, and is a tool to describe and classify such theories. Interestingly, this algebra is not only consistent with, but indeed naturally …
The presence of random fields is well known to destroy ferromagnetic order in Ising systems in two dimensions. When the system is placed in a sufficiently strong external field, however, the size of clusters of like spins diverges. There is evidence that this percolation transition is in the universality class of standard site percolation. It has been claimed that, for small disorder, a similar percolation phenomenon also occurs in zero external field. Using exact algorithms, we study ground states of large samples and find little evidence for a transition at zero external field. Nevertheless,…
Using methods of conformal field theory, we conjecture an exact form for the probability that n distinct clusters span a large rectangle or open cylinder of aspect ratio k, in the limit when k is large.
The coupling of the $c=-2$, $c=\frac{1}{2}$ and $c=0$ conformal field theories are numerically considered in this paper. As the prototypes of the couplings, $(c_1=-2)\oplus (c_2=0)$ and $(c_1=-2)\oplus (c_2=\frac{1}{2})$, we consider the BTW model on the 2D square critical site-percolation and the BTW model on Ising-correlated percolation lattices respectively. Some geometrical techniques are used to characterize the presumable conformal symmetry of the resultant systems. Using the Schramm-Loewrner evolution (SLE), we find that the algebra of the central charges of the coupled models is closed…
We study conformal twist field four-point functions on a $\mathbb Z_N$ orbifold. We examine in detail the case $N=3$ and analyze theories obtained by replicated $N$-times a minimal model with central charge $c<1$. A fastly convergent expansion of the twist field correlation function in terms of sphere conformal blocks with central charge $Nc$ is obtained by exploiting covering map techniques. We discuss extensive applications of the formalism to the entanglement of two disjoint intervals in CFT, in particular we propose a conformal block expansion for the partially transposed reduced density m…
The scaling of the tails of the probability of a system to percolate only in the horizontal direction $π_{hs}$ was investigated numerically for correlated site-bond percolation model for $q=1,2,3,4$.We have to demonstrate that the tails of the crossing probability far from the critical point have shape $π_{hs}(p) \simeq D \exp(c L[p-p_{c}]^ν)$ where $ν$ is the correlation length index, $p=1-\exp(-β)$ is the probability of a bond to be closed. At criticality we observe crossover to another scaling $π_{hs}(p) \simeq A \exp (-b {L [p-p_{c}]^ν}^{z})$. Here $z$ is a scaling index describing the cen…
We study the number of clusters in two-dimensional (2d) critical percolation, N_Gamma, which intersect a given subset of bonds, Gamma. In the simplest case, when Gamma is a simple closed curve, N_Gamma is related to the entanglement entropy of the critical diluted quantum Ising model, in which Gamma represents the boundary between the subsystem and the environment. Due to corners in Gamma there are universal logarithmic corrections to N_Gamma, which are calculated in the continuum limit through conformal invariance, making use of the Cardy-Peschel formula. The exact formulas are confirmed by l…
Logarithmic conformal field theories have a vast range of applications, from critical percolation to systems with quenched disorder. In this paper we thoroughly examine the structure of these theories based on their symmetry properties. Our analysis is model-independent and holds for any spacetime dimension. Our results include a determination of the general form of correlation functions and conformal block decompositions, clearing the path for future bootstrap applications. Several examples are discussed in detail, including logarithmic generalized free fields, holographic models, self-avoidi…
