Form factor axioms are derived in two dimensional integrable defect theories for matrix elements of operators localized both in the bulk and on the defect. The form factors of bulk operators are expressed in terms of the bulk form factors and the transmission factor. The structure of the form factors of defect operators is established in general, and explicitly calculated in particular, for the free boson and for some operator of the Lee-Yang model. Fusion method is also presented to generate boundary form factor solutions for a fused boundary from the known unfused ones.
This is the second part of two papers where we study the effect of integrable line defects on bipartite entanglement entropy in integrable field theories. In this paper, we consider non-topological line defects in Ising field theory. We derive an infinite series expression for the entanglement entropy and show that both the UV and IR limits of the bulk entanglement entropy are modified by the line defect. In the UV limit, we give an infinite series expression for the coefficient in front of the logarithmic divergence and the exact defect $g$-function. By tuning the defect to be purely transmis…
In this paper and a companion one, we study the effect of integrable line defects on entanglement entropy in massive integrable field theories in 1+1 dimensions. The current paper focuses on topological defects that are purely transmissive. Using the form factor bootstrap method, we show that topological defects do not affect the the entanglement entropy in the UV limit and modify slightly the leading exponential correction in the IR. This conclusion holds for both unitary and non-unitary field theories. In contrast, non-topological defects affect the entanglement entropy more significantly bo…
Some aspects of integrable field theories possessing purely transmitting defects are described. The main example is the sine-Gordon model and several striking features of a classical field theory containing one or more defects are pointed out. Similar features appearing in the associated quantum field theory are also reviewed briefly.
We analyze the defect scaling Lee-Yang model from the perturbed defect conformal field theory (DCFT) point of view. First the defect Lee-Yang model is solved by calculating its structure constants from the sewing relations. Integrable defect perturbations are identified in conformal defect perturbation theory. Then pure defect flows connecting integrable conformal defects are described. We develop a defect truncated conformal space approach (DTCSA) to analyze the one parameter family of integrable massive perturbations in finite volume numerically. Fusing the integrable defect to an integrable…
Within the quantum sine-Gordon model a transmission matrix describing the scattering of a soliton with a fused pair of integrable defects is proposed. The result is consistent with the classical picture of scattering and highlights the differences between two defects located at separated points and two defects fused at the same point. Moreover, the analysis reveals how, for certain choices of parameters, both the soliton-soliton and the lightest-breather-soliton S-matrices of the sine-Gordon model are embedded within the transmission matrix, supporting an interpretation in which defects may be…
The structure of integrable field theories in the presence of defects is discussed in terms of boundary functions under the Lagrangian formalism. Explicit examples of bosonic and fermionic theories are considered. In particular, the boundary functions for the super sinh-Gordon model is constructed and shown to generate the Backlund transformations for its soliton solutions.
Integrable defects in two-dimensional integrable models are purely transmitting thus topological. By fusing them to integrable boundaries new integrable boundary conditions can be generated, and, from the comparison of the two solved boundary theories, explicit solutions of defect models can be extracted. This idea is used to determine the transmission factors and defect energies of topological defects in sinh-Gordon and Lee-Yang models. The transmission factors are checked in Lagrangian perturbation theory in the sinh-Gordon case, while the defect energies are checked against defect thermodyn…
We demonstrate that the one-loop dilatation generator for the scalar sector of a certain perturbation of N=4 Super Yang-Mills with fundamentals is the Hamiltonian of an integrable spin chain with open boundary conditions. The theory is a supersymmetric defect conformal field theory (dCFT) with the fundamentals in hypermultiplets confined to a codimension one defect. We obtain a K-matrix satisfying a suitably generalized form of the boundary Yang-Baxter equation, study the Bethe ansatz equations and demonstrate how Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions arise in field theory, and match to ex…
We developed the theory of finite volume form factors in the presence of integrable defects. These finite volume form factors are expressed in terms of the infinite volume form factors and the finite volume density of states and incorporate all polynomial corrections in the inverse of the volume. We tested our results, in the defect Lee-Yang model, against numerical data obtained by truncated conformal space approach (TCSA), which we improved by renormalization group methods adopted to the defect case. To perform these checks we determined the infinite volume defect form factors in the Lee-Yan…
Some ideas and remarks are presented concerning a possible Lagrangian approach to the study of internal boundary conditions relating integrable fields at the junction of two domains. The main example given in the article concerns single real scalar fields in each domain and it is found that these may be free, of Liouville type, or of sinh-Gordon type.
An alternative Lagrangian definition of an integrable defect is provided and analyzed. The new approach is sufficiently broad to allow a description of defects within the Tzitzeica model, which was not possible in previous approaches, and may be generalizable. New, two-parameter, sine-Gordon defects are also described, which have characteristics resembling a pair of 'fused' defects of a previously considered type. The relationship between these defects and Backlund transformations is described and a Hamiltonian description of integrable defects is proposed.
In this paper we constructed integrable defects in complex sine-Gordon theory. Soliton and particle interactions with the defect are analysed. Defects are used to dress Dirichlet boundaries to create a wider class of integrable boundary conditions to ones previously studied. Properties of these new boundaries including soliton and particle reflections with the boundaries are presented.
We explore two distinct methods to introduce integrable defects in a family of integrable sigma-models known as Yang-Baxter models. The first method invokes a modified monodromy matrix encoding an integrable defect separating two integrable systems. As an example we construct integrable defects in the ultralocal version of the $S^2$ Yang-Baxter model or 2d Fateev sausage model. The second method is based on the so-called "frozen" Bäcklund transformations. Lifting the construction to the Drinfel'd double, we show how defect matrices can be constructed for inhomogeneous Yang-Baxter models. We pr…
We study a two-dimensional bosonic field theory with a random defect line. The theory has a background field coupled to the field variables at the defect line, which renders the model non-integrable. However, as the background field is random, and the disorder is implemented through the replica trick, the model becomes integrable, allowing us to use the form-factor method to compute the exact correlation functions of the quenched model.
A procedure is described to associate fibre bundles over the circle to two- dimensional theories with defects which have their field equations and defects described by a zero curvature condition.
We describe a general way of constructing integrable defect theories as perturbations of conformal field theory by local defect operators. The method relies on folding the system onto a boundary field theory of twice the central charge. The classification of integrable defect theories obtained in this way parallels that of integrable bulk theories which are a perturbation of the tensor product of two conformal field theories. These include local defect perturbations of all $c<1$ minimal models, as well as of the coset theories based on SO(2n), obtained in this way. We discuss in detail the for…
ABJM theory in the presence of a half-BPS domain wall is dual to the D2-D4 probe brane system with nonzero worldvolume flux. The ABJM domain wall was recently shown to be integrable to lowest order in perturbation theory and bond dimension. In the present paper we show that the string theory dual of this system is integrable, namely that the string boundary conditions on the probe D4-brane preserve the integrability of the Green-Schwarz sigma model. Our result suggests that the ABJM domain wall is integrable to all loop orders and for any value of the bond dimension.
Defects are ubiquitous in nature, for example dislocations, shocks, bores, or impurities of various kinds, and their descriptions are an important part of any physical theory. However, one might ask the question: what types of defect are allowed and what are their properties if it is required to maintain integrability within an integrable field theory in two-dimensional space-time? This talk addresses a collection of ideas and questions including examples of integrable defects and the curiously special roles played by energy-momentum conservation and Backlund transformations, solitons scatteri…
The purpose of this article is to explore the properties of integrable, purely transmitting, defects placed at the junctions of several one-dimensional domains within a network. The defect sewing conditions turn out to be quite restrictive - for example, requiring the number of domains meeting at a junction to be even - and there is a clear distinction between the behaviour of conformal and massive integrable models. The ideas are mainly developed within classical field theory and illustrated using a variety of field theory models defined on the branches of the network, including both linear a…
We present an inverse scattering approach to defects in classical integrable field theories. Integrability is proved systematically by constructing the generating function of the infinite set of modified integrals of motion. The contribution of the defect to all orders is explicitely identified in terms of a defect matrix. The underlying geometric picture is that those defects correspond to Backlund transformations localized at a given point. A classification of defect matrices as well as the corresponding defect conditions is performed. The method is applied to a collection of well-known inte…
Type-I quantum defects are considered in the context of the gl_N spin chain. The type-I defects are associated to the generalized harmonic oscillator algebra, and the chosen defect matrix is the one of the vector non-linear Schrodinger (NLS) model. The transmission matrices relevant to this particular type of defects are computed via the Bethe ansatz methodology.
The structure of integrable field theories in the presence of jump defects is discussed in terms of boundary functions under the Lagrangian formalism. Explicit examples of bosonic and fermionic theories are considered. In particular, the boundary functions for the N=1 and N=2 super sinh-Gordon models are constructed and shown to generate the Backlund transformations for its soliton solutions. As a new and interesting example, a solution with an incoming boson and an outgoing fermion for the N=1 case is presented. The resulting integrable models are shown to be invariant under supersymmetric tr…
Application of our algebraic approach to Liouville integrable defects is proposed for the sine-Gordon model. Integrability of the model is ensured by the underlying classical r-matrix algebra. The first local integrals of motion are identified together with the corresponding Lax pairs. Continuity conditions imposed on the time components of the entailed Lax pairs give rise to the sewing conditions on the defect point consistent with Liouville integrability.
A new integrable boundary for the classical nonlinear Schrödinger model is derived by dressing a boundary with a defect. A complete investigation of the integrability of the new boundary is carried out in the sense that the boundary ${\cal K}$ matrix is derived and the integrability is proved via the classical $r$-matrix. The issue of conserved charges is also discussed. The key point in proving the integrability of the new boundary is the use of suitable modified Poisson brackets. Finally, concerning the kind of defect used in the present context, this investigation offers the opportunity to …
We consider the algebraic setting of classical defects in discrete and continuous integrable theories. We derive the "equations of motion" on the defect point via the space-like and time-like description. We then exploit the structural similarity of these equations with the discrete and continuous Backlund transformations. And although these equations are similar they are not exactly the same to the Backlund transformations. We also consider specific examples of integrable models to demonstrate our construction, i.e. the Toda chain and the sine-Gordon model. The equations of the time (space) e…
Transmission matrices for two types of integrable defect are calculated explicitly, first by solving directly the nonlinear transmission Yang-Baxter equations, and second by solving a linear intertwining relation between a finite dimensional representation of the relevant Borel subalgebra of the quantum group underpinning the integrable quantum field theory and a particular infinite dimensional representation expressed in terms of sets of generalized `quantum' annihilation and creation operators. The principal examples analysed are based on the $a_2^{(2)}$ and $a_n^{(1)}$ affine Toda models bu…
A new super-Backlund transformation for the N=1 supersymmetric sinh-Gordon equation is constructed. Based on this construction we propose a type-II integrable defect for the supersymmetric sinh-Gordon model consistent with this new transformation through the Lagrangian formalism. Explicit expressions for the modified conserved energy, momentum and supercharges are also computed. In addition, we show for the model that the type-II defect can also been regarded as a pair of fused defects of a previously introduced type. The explicit derivation of the associated defect matrices is also presented …
We discuss the integrability of the Bosonic and Grassmannian massive Thirring models in the presence of defects through the inverse scattering approach. We present a general method to compute the generating functions of modified conserved quantities for any integrable field equation associated to the m x m spectral linear problem. We apply the method to derive in particular the defect contributions for the number of occupation, energy and momentum of the massive Thirring models.
We study Bethe/gauge correspondence at the special locus of Coulomb moduli where the integrable system exhibits the splitting of degenerate levels. For this investigation, we consider the four-dimensional pure $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric $U(N)$ gauge theory, with a half-BPS surface defect constructed with the help of an orbifold or a degenerate gauge vertex. We show that the non-perturbative Dyson-Schwinger equations imply the Schrödinger-type and the Baxter-type differential equations satisfied by the respective surface defect partition functions. At the special locus of Coulomb moduli the…
A systematic approach to Liouville integrable defects is proposed, based on an underlying Poisson algebraic structure. The non-linear Schrodinger model in the presence of a single particle-like defect is investigated through this algebraic approach. Local integrals of motions are constructed as well as the time components of the corresponding Lax pairs. Continuity conditions imposed upon the time components of the Lax pair to all orders give rise to sewing conditions, which turn out to be compatible with the hierarchy of charges in involution. Coincidence of our results with the continuum limi…
The introduction of defects is discussed under the Lagrangian formalism and Backlund transformations for the N=1 super sinh-Gordon model. Modified conserved momentum and energy are constructed for this case. Some explicit examples of different Backlund solitons solutions are discussed. The Lax formulation within the space split by the defect leads to the integrability of the model and henceforth to the existence of an infinite number of constants of motion
Ideas from the theory of multisymplectic systems, introduced recently in integrable systems by the author and Kundu to discuss Liouville integrability in classical field theories with a defect, are applied to the sine-Gordon model. The key ingredient is the introduction of a second Poisson bracket in the theory that allows for a Hamiltonian description of the model that is completely equivalent to the standard one, in the absence of a defect. In the presence of a defect described by frozen Bäcklund transformations, our approach based on the new bracket unifies the various tools used so far to …
We introduce the concept of multisymplectic formalism, familiar in covariant field theory, for the study of integrable defects in 1+1 classical field theory. The main idea is the coexistence of two Poisson brackets, one for each spacetime coordinate. The Poisson bracket corresponding to the time coordinate is the usual one describing the time evolution of the system. Taking the nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation as an example, we introduce the new bracket associated to the space coordinate. We show that, in the absence of any defect, the two brackets yield completely equivalent Hamiltonian d…
Defects which are predominant in a realistic model, usually spoil its integrability or solvability. We on the other hand show the exact integrability of a known sine-Gordon field model with a defect (DSG), at the classical as well as at the quantum level based on the Yang-Baxter equation. We find the associated classical and quantum R-matrices and the underlying q-algebraic structures, analyzing the exact lattice regularized model. We derive algorithmically all higher conserved quantities $C_n, n=1,2,...$ of this integrable DSG model, focusing explicitly on the contribution of the defect point…
The four dimensional $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills (SYM) theory exhibits rich dynamics in the presence of codimension-one conformal defects. The new structure constants of the extended operator algebra consist of one-point functions of local operators which are nonvanishing due to the defect insertion and carry nontrivial coupling dependence. We study an important class of half-BPS superconformal defects engineered by D5 branes that share three common directions with the D3 branes and involve Nahm pole configurations for the SYM fields on the D3 brane worldvolume. In the planar large $N$ li…
The classical sine-Gordon model is a two-dimensional integrable field theory, with particle like solutions the so-called solitons. Using its integrability one can define its quantum version without the process of canonical quantization. This bootstrap method uses the fundamental propterties of the model and its quantum features in order to restrict the structure of the scattering matrix as far as possible. The classical model can be extended with integrable discontinuities, purely transmitting jump-defects. Then the quantum version of the extended model can be determined via the bootstrap meth…
We consider the non-unitary Lee-Yang minimal model ${\cal M}(2,5)$ in three different finite geometries: (i) on the interval with integrable boundary conditions labelled by the Kac labels $(r,s)=(1,1),(1,2)$, (ii) on the circle with periodic boundary conditions and (iii) on the periodic circle including an integrable purely transmitting defect. We apply $φ_{1,3}$ integrable perturbations on the boundary and on the defect and describe the flow of the spectrum. Adding a $Φ_{1,3}$ integrable perturbation to move off-criticality in the bulk, we determine the finite size spectrum of the massive sca…
The main purpose of this paper is to extend results, which have been obtained previously to describe the classical scattering of solitons with integrable defects of type I, to include the much larger and intricate collection of finite-gap solutions defined in terms of generalised theta functions. In this context, it is generally not feasible to adopt a direct approach, via ansatze for the fields to either side of the defect tuned to satisfy the defect sewing conditions. Rather, essential use is made of the fact that the defect sewing conditions themselves are intimately related to Backlund tra…
Affine Toda field theories with a purely transmitting integrable defect are considered and the model based on a_2 is analysed in detail. After providing a complete characterization of the problem in a classical framework, a suitable quantum transmission matrix, able to describe the interaction between an integrable defect and solitons, is found. Two independent paths are taken to reach the result. One is an investigation of the triangle equations using the S-matrix for the imaginary coupling bulk affine Toda field theories proposed by Hollowood, and the other uses a functional integral approac…
Inspired by recent results on the effect of integrable boundary conditions on the bulk behavior of an integrable system, and in particular on the behavior of an existing defect we systematically formulate the Lax pairs in the simultaneous presence of integrable boundaries and defects. The respective sewing conditions as well as the relevant equations of motion on the defect point are accordingly extracted. We consider a specific prototype i.e. the vector non-linear Schrödinger (NLS) model to exemplify our construction. This model displays a highly non-trivial behavior and allows the existence …
We present determinant formulae for the form factors of spin operators of general integrable XXX Heisenberg spin chains for arbitrary (finite dimensional) spin representations. The results apply to any "mixed" spin chains, such as alternating spin chains, or to spin chains with magnetic impurities.
The sine-Gordon model in the presence of dynamical integrable defects is investigated. This is an application of the algebraic formulation introduced for integrable defects in earlier works. The quantities in involution as well as the associated Lax pairs are explicitly extracted. Integrability i also shown using certain sewing constraints, which emerge as suitable continuity conditions.
Perturbing a Virasoro minimal model by the (1,3) primary bulk field results in an integrable field theory. In this paper, an infinite set of commuting conserved charges is obtained by considering defects: a one-parameter family of perturbed defect operators is given, and it is shown that these operators mutually commute, that they commute with the Hamiltonian of the perturbed CFT, and that they satisfy a T-system functional relation. The formulation in terms of perturbed defects is a modification of the original prescription for such charges by Bazhanov, Lukyanov and Zamolodchikov.
In this paper we describe how relativistic field theories containing defects are equivalent to a class of boundary field theories. As a consequence previously derived results for boundaries can be directly applied to defects, these results include reduction formulas, the Coleman-Thun mechanism and Cutcosky rules. For integrable theories the defect crossing unitarity equation can be derived and defect operator found. For a generic purely transmitting impurity we use the boundary bootstrap method to obtain solutions of the defect Yang-Baxter equation. The groundstate energy on the strip with def…
Type-I quantum impurities are investigated in the context of the integrable Heisenberg model. This type of defects is associated to the (q)-harmonic oscillator algebra. The transmission matrices associated to this particular type of defects are computed via the Bethe ansatz methodology for the XXX model, as well as for the critical and non-critical XXZ spin chain. In the attractive regime of the critical XXZ spin chain the transmission amplitudes for the breathers are also identified.
Type II integrable defects with more than one degree of freedom at the defect are investigated. A condition on the form of the Lagrangian for such defects is found which ensures the existence of a conserved momentum in the presence of the defect. In addition it is shown that for any Lagrangian satisfying this condition, the defect equations of motion, when taken to hold everywhere, can be extended to give a Bäcklund transformation between the bulk theories on either side of the defect. This strongly suggests that such systems are integrable. Momentum conserving defects and Bäcklund transformat…
