In this paper we generalize the construction of generally covariant quantum theories given in the work of Brunetti, Fredenhagen and Verch to encompass the conformal covariant case. After introducing the abstract framework, we discuss the massless conformally coupled Klein Gordon field theory, showing that its quantization corresponds to a functor between two certain categories. At the abstract level, the ordinary fields, could be thought as natural transformations in the sense of category theory. We show that, the Wick monomials without derivatives (Wick powers), can be interpreted as fields in this generalized sense, provided a non trivial choice of the renormalization constants is given. A careful analysis shows that the transformation law of Wick powers is characterized by a weight, and it turns out that the sum of fields with different weights breaks the conformal covariance. At this point there is a difference between the previously given picture due to the presence of a bigger group of covariance. It is furthermore shown that the construction does not depend upon the scale mu appearing in the Hadamard parametrix, used to regularize the fields. Finally, we briefly discuss some further examples of more involved fields.
We prove that semiclassical gravity in conformally static, globally hyperbolic spacetimes with a massless, conformally coupled Klein-Gordon field is well posed, when viewed as a coupled theory for the dynamical conformal factor of the metric and the Klein-Gordon theory. Namely, it admits unique and stable solutions whenever constrained fourth-order initial data for the conformal factor and suitably defined Hadamard initial data for the Klein-Gordon state are provided on a spacelike Cauchy surface. As no spacetime symmetries are imposed on the conformal factor, the present result implies that, …
Conformal Higher Spin Gravity is a higher spin extension of Weyl gravity and is a family of local higher spin theories, which was put forward by Segal and Tseytlin. We propose a manifestly covariant and coordinate-independent action for these theories. The result is based on an interplay between higher spin symmetries and deformation quantization: a locally equivalent but manifestly background-independent reformulation, known as the parent system, of the off-shell multiplet of conformal higher spin fields (Fradkin-Tseytlin fields) can be interpreted in terms of Fedosov deformation quantization…
A new class of conformal invariants for a given spacetime $M$ is introduced exploiting the conformal geometry of any light ray $Γ$. Each congruence of light rays passing through a given point $p$ defines the sky $S(p)$ of such point. The new conformal invariants are defined on the bundle of skies of the spacetime $M$, being called sky invariants accordingly. The natural conformal covariant derivative defined on a light ray and its associated covariant calculus allows us show the existence of a natural conformal invariant differential of arc that, together with the restriction of the curvature …
Gauging or extending bulk and boundary conformal field theories: Application to bulk and domain wall problem in topological matter and their descriptions by (mock) modular covariant
Given an (irreducible) Mobius covariant net $\mathcal A$, we prove a Bisognano-Wichmann theorem for its categorical extension $\mathscr E^{\textrm{d}}$ associated to the braided $C^*$-tensor category $\textrm{Rep}^{\textrm{d}}(\mathcal A)$ of dualizable (more precisely "dualized") Mobius covariant $\mathcal A$-modules. As a closely related result, we prove a (modified) Bisognano-Wichmann theorem for any (possibly) non-local extension of $\mathcal A$ obtained by a $C^*$-Frobenius algebra $Q$ in $\textrm{Rep}^{\textrm{d}}(\mathcal A)$. As an application, we discuss the relation between the domai…
