A systematic analysis of the genus two vacuum amplitudes of chiral self-dual conformal field theories is performed. It is explained that the existence of a modular invariant genus two partition function implies infinitely many relations among the structure constants of the theory. All of these relations are shown to be a consequence of the associativity of the OPE, as well as the modular covariance properties of the torus one-point functions. Using these techniques we prove that for the proposed extremal conformal field theories at c=24k a consistent genus two vacuum amplitude exists for all k, but that this does not actually check the consistency of these theories beyond what is already testable at genus one.
It is shown that the higher genus vacuum amplitudes of a meromorphic conformal field theory determine the affine symmetry of the theory uniquely, and we give arguments that suggest that also the representation content with respect to this affine symmetry is specified, up to automorphisms of the finite Lie algebra. We illustrate our findings with the self-dual theories at c=16 and c=24; in particular, we give an elementary argument that shows that the vacuum amplitudes of the E_8\times E_8 theory and the Spin(32)/Z_2 theory differ at genus g=5. The fact that the discrepancy only arises at rathe…
Recently Witten conjectured the existence of a family of "extremal" conformal field theories (ECFTs) of central charge c=24k, which are supposed to be dual to three-dimensional pure quantum gravity in AdS3. Assuming their existence, we determine explicitly the genus two partition functions of k=2 and k=3 ECFTs, using modular invariance and the behavior of the partition function in degenerating limits of the Riemann surface. The result passes highly nontrivial tests and in particular provides a piece of evidence for the existence of the k=3 ECFT. We also argue that the genus two partition funct…
We explore and exploit the relation between non-planar correlators in ${\cal N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills, and higher-genus closed string amplitudes in type IIB string theory. By conformal field theory techniques we construct the genus-one, four-point string amplitude in AdS$_5\times S^5$ in the low-energy expansion, dual to an ${\cal N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills correlator in the 't Hooft limit at order $1/c^2$ in a strong coupling expansion. In the flat space limit, this maps onto the genus-one, four-point scattering amplitude for type II closed strings in ten dimensions. Using this approach we reproduc…
We consider the free field approach or bosonization technique for the Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model with arbitrary Kac-Moody algebra on Riemann surface of genus zero. This subject was much studied previously, and the paper can be partially taken as a brief survey. The way to obtain well-known Schechtman-Varchenko solutions of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations as certain correlators in free chiral theory is revisited. This gives rise to simple description of space of the WZNW conformal blocks. The general $N$-point correlators of the model are constructed from the conformal blocks using n…
We compute the genus-two chiral partition function of the left-moving heterotic string for a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ CHL orbifold. The required twisted determinants can be evaluated explicitly in terms of the untwisted determinants and theta functions using orbifold techniques. The dependence on Prym periods cancels neatly once summation over odd charges is properly taken into account. The resulting partition function is a Siegel modular form of level two and precisely equals recently proposed dyon partition function for this model. This result provides an independent weak coupling derivation of the dy…
We consider the Feigin-Fuchs-Felder formalism of the $SU(2)_k\times SU(2)_l/SU(2)_{k+l}$ coset minimal conformal field theory and extend it to higher genus. We investigate a double BRST complex with respect to two compatible BRST charges, one associated with the parafermion sector and the other associated with the minimal sector in the theory. The usual screened vertex operator is extended to the BRST invariant screened three string vertex. We carry out a sewing operation of these string vertices and derive the BRST invariant screened $g$-loop operator. The latter operator characterizes the hi…
We describe the construction of the genus-zero parts of conformal field theories in the sense of G. Segal from representations of vertex operator algebras satisfying certain conditions. The construction is divided into four steps and each step gives a mathematical structure of independent interest. These mathematical structures are intertwining operator algebras, genus-zero modular functors, genus-zero holomorphic weakly conformal field theories, and genus-zero conformal field theories.
We study the correspondence between four-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories and two-dimensional conformal field theories in the case of N=2* gauge theory. We emphasize the genus expansion on the gauge theory side, as obtained via geometric engineering from the topological string. This point of view uncovers modular properties of the one-point conformal block on a torus with complexified intermediate momenta: in the large intermediate weight limit, it is a power series whose coefficients are quasi-modular forms. The all-genus viewpoint that the conformal field theory approach lends to th…
Genus two partition functions of 2d chiral conformal field theories are given by Siegel modular forms. We compute their conformal blocks and use them to perform the conformal bootstrap. The advantage of this approach is that it imposes crossing symmetry of an infinite family of four point functions and also modular invariance at the same time. Since for a fixed central charge the ring of Siegel modular forms is finite dimensional, we can perform this analytically. In this way we derive bounds on three point functions and on the spectrum of such theories.
The elliptic genus for arbitrary two dimensional $N=2$ Landau-Ginzburg orbifolds is computed. This is used to search for possible mirror pairs of such models. An important aspect of this work is that there is no restriction to theories for which the conformal anomaly is $\hat c\in\ZZ$, nor are the results only valid at the conformal fixed point.
We consider the partition function of a general vertex operator algebra $V$ on a genus two Riemann surface formed by sewing together two tori. We consider the non-trivial degeneration limit where one torus is pinched down to a Riemann sphere and show that the genus one partition function on the degenerate torus is recovered up to an explicit universal $V$-independent multiplicative factor raised to the power of the central charge.
The character integral representation of one loop partition functions is useful to establish the relation between partition functions of conformal fields on Weyl equivalent spaces. The Euclidean space $S^a\times AdS_b$ can be mapped to $S^{a+b}$ provided $S^a$ and $AdS_b$ are of the same radius. As an example, to begin with, we show that the partition function in the character integral representation of conformally coupled free scalars and fermions are identical on $S^a\times AdS_b$ and $S^{a+b}$. We then demonstrate that the partition function of higher derivative conformal scalars and fermio…
We compute the contribution of the vacuum Virasoro representation to the genus-two partition function of an arbitrary CFT with central charge $c>1$. This is the perturbative pure gravity partition function in three dimensions. We employ a sewing construction, in which the partition function is expressed as a sum of sphere four-point functions of Virasoro vacuum descendants. For this purpose, we develop techniques to efficiently compute correlation functions of holomorphic operators, which by crossing symmetry are determined exactly by a finite number of OPE coefficients; this is an analytic im…
We analyze the partition function of two dimensional Yang-Mills theory on a family of surfaces of infinite genus. These surfaces have a recursive structure, which was used by one of us to compute the partition function that results in a generalized Migdal formula. In this paper we study the `small area' (weak coupling) expansion of the partition function, by exploiting the fact that the generalized Migdal formula is analytic in the (complexification of the) Euler characteristic. The structure of the perturbative part of the weak coupling expansion suggests that the moduli space of flat connect…
We establish the relation of partition functions of conformal higher spin fields on Weyl equivalent spaces in $d=4$ dimension. We express the partition function of Weyl graviton and conformal higher spin fields as an integral over characters on $S^1\times AdS_3$, $S^4$, and $AdS_4$. We observe that the partition function of conformal higher spins on hyperbolic cylinders differs from the partition function on $S^4$ by the `edge' contribution. The logarithmic coefficient obtained from the character integral of the partition function of conformal higher spins on $AdS_4$ is the half of that obtain…
We describe a numerical method to compute the action of Euclidean saddlepoints for the partition function of a two-dimensional holographic CFT on a Riemann surface of arbitrary genus, with constant curvature metric. We explicitly evaluate the action for the saddles for genus two and map out the phase structure of dominant bulk saddles in a two-dimensional subspace of the moduli space. We discuss spontaneous breaking of discrete symmetries, and show that the handlebody bulk saddles always dominate over certain non-handlebody solutions.
The partition function of Euclidean Yang-Mills theory on two dimensional surfaces is given by the Migdal formula. It involves the area and topological characteristics of the surface. We consider this theory on a class of infinite genus surfaces that are constructed recursively. We make use of this recursive structure to compute the partition functions (with or without additional Wilson loops) on such surfaces. Our method also works for the quantum deformed Yang-Mills theory.
We compute the heat kernel for the Laplacians of symmetric transverse traceless fields of arbitrary spin on the $AdS$ background in even number of dimensions using the group theoretic approach introduced in \cite{Gopakumar:2011qs} and apply it on the partition function of six dimensional conformal gravity. The obtained partition function consists of the Einstein gravity, conformal ghost and two modes that contain mass.
We develop an iterative algorithm for the genus expansion of the hermitian $N\times N$ one-matrix model ( = the Penner model in an external field). By introducing moments of the external field, we prove that the genus $g$ contribution to the $m$-loop correlator depends only on $3g-2+m$ lower moments ($3g-2$ for the partition function). We present the explicit results for the partition function and the one-loop correlator in genus one. We compare the correlators for the hermitian one-matrix model with those at zero momenta for $c=1$ CFT and show an agreement of the one-loop correlators for genu…
Using the conformal embedding on the torus, we can express some characters of $SU(3)_3$ in terms of $SO(8)_1$ characters. Then with the help of crossing symmetry, modular transformation and factorization properties of Green functions, we will calculate a class of correlators of $SU(3)_3$ on arbitrary Riemann surfaces. This method can apply to all $k>1$ WZW models which can be conformally embedded in some $k=1$ WZW models.
We investigate the structure of the higher genus topological string amplitudes on the quintic hypersurface. It is shown that the partition functions of the higher genus than one can be expressed as polynomials of five generators. We also compute the explicit polynomial forms of the partition functions for genus 2, 3, and 4. Moreover, some coefficients are written down for all genus.
We study the partition function of both Close-Packed Dimers and the Critical Ising Model on a square lattice embedded on a genus two surface. Using numerical and analytical methods we show that the determinants of the Kasteleyn adjacency matrices have a dependence on the boundary conditions that, for large lattice size, can be expressed in terms of genus two theta functions. The period matrix characterizing the continuum limit of the lattice is computed using a discrete holomorphic structure. These results relate in a direct way the lattice combinatorics with conformal field theory, providing …
We compute genus two partition functions in two dimensional conformal field theories at large central charge, focusing on surfaces that give the third Renyi entropy of two intervals. We compute this for generalized free theories and for symmetric orbifolds, and compare it to the result in pure gravity. We find a new phase transition if the theory contains a light operator of dimension $Δ\leq0.19$. This means in particular that unlike the second Renyi entropy, the third one is no longer universal.
We construct the genus two (or two loop) partition function for meromorphic bosonic conformal field theories. We use a sewing procedure involving two genus one tori by exploiting an explicit relationship between the genus two period matrix and pinching modular parameters. We obtain expressions for the partition function for the chiral bosonic string, even rank lattice theories and self-dual meromorphic conformal field theories including the Moonshine Module. In particular, we find that for self-dual theories with central charge 24, the genus two partition function multiplied by a universal hol…
We analyze various perspectives on the elliptic genus of non-compact supersymmetric coset conformal field theories with central charge larger than three. We calculate the holomorphic part of the elliptic genus via a free field description of the model, and show that it agrees with algebraic expectations. The holomorphic part of the elliptic genus is directly related to an Appell-Lerch sum and behaves anomalously under modular transformation properties. We analyze the origin of the anomaly by calculating the elliptic genus through a path integral in a coset conformal field theory. The path inte…
The partition function of the membrane is investigated. In particular, the case relevant to perturbative string theory of a membrane with topology $S^1 \times Σ$ is examined. The coupling between the string world sheet Euler character and the dilaton is shown to arise from a careful treatment of the membrane partition function measure. This demonstrates that the M-theory origin of the dilaton coupling to the string world sheet is quantum in nature.
Recently, various possible expressions for the vacuum-to-vacuum superstring amplitudes has been proposed at genus $g=3,4,5$. To compare the different proposals, here we will present a careful analysis of the comparison between the two main technical tools adopted to realize the proposals: the classical theta constants and the lattice theta series. We compute the relevant Fourier coefficients in order to relate the two spaces. We will prove the equivalence up to genus 4. In genus five we will show that the solutions are equivalent modulo the Schottky form and coincide if we impose the vanishing…
We compute the partition function of the conformal field theory on the two-dimensional euclidean black hole background using path-integral techniques. We show that the resulting spectrum is consistent with the algebraic expectations for the SL(2,R)/U(1) coset conformal field theory construction. In particular, we find confirmation for the bound on the spin of the discrete representations and we determine the density of the continuous representations. We point out the relevance of the partition function to all string theory backgrounds that include an SL(2,R)/U(1) coset factor.
We study partition function of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric field theory on $T^2 \times S^2$. By applying supersymmetry localization, we show that the $T^2 \times S^2$ partition function is given by elliptic genus of certain two-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ theory. As an application, we discuss a relation between 4d Seiberg duality duality and 2d $(0,2)$ triality, proposed by Gadde, Gukov and Putrov. In other examples, we identify 4d theories giving elliptic genera of K3, M-strings and E-strings. In the example of K3, we find that there are two 4d theories giving the elli…
For a one-parameter family of Calabi-Yau d-fold M embedded in ${{CP}^{d+1}}$, we consider a new quasi-topological field theory ${A^{\ast}}$(M)-model compared with the $A$(M)-model. The two point correlators on the sigma model moduli space (the hermitian metrics) are analyzed by the $A{A^{\ast}}$-fusion on the world sheet sphere. A set of equations of these correlators turns out to be a non-affine A-type Toda equation system for the d-fold M. This non-affine property originates in the vanishing first Chern class of M. Using the results of the $A{A^{\ast}}$-equation, we obtain a genus one partit…
The symmetries associated with the closed bosonic string partition function are examined so that the integration region in Teichmuller space can be determined. The conditions on the period matrix defining the fundamental region can be translated to relations on the parameters of the uniformizing Schottky group. The growth of the lower bound for the regularized partition function is derived through integration over a subset of the fundamental region.
We define the $n$-point function for a vertex operator algebra on a genus two Riemann surface in two separate sewing schemes where either two tori are sewn together or a handle is sewn to one torus. We explicitly obtain closed formulas for the genus two partition function for the Heisenberg free bosonic string and lattice vertex operator algebras in both sewing schemes. We prove that the partition functions are holomorphic in the sewing parameters on given suitable domains and describe their modular properties. Finally, we show that the partition functions cannot be equal in the neighborhood o…
We define the partition and $n$-point correlation functions for a vertex operator superalgebra on a genus two Riemann surface formed by sewing two tori together. For the free fermion vertex operator superalgebra we obtain a closed formula for the genus two continuous orbifold partition function in terms of an infinite dimensional determinant with entries arising from torus Szegö kernels. We prove that the partition function is holomorphic in the sewing parameters on a given suitable domain and describe its modular properties. Using the bosonized formalism, a new genus two Jacobi product identi…
We compute the canonical partition function Z of non-interacting conformal higher spin (CHS) theory viewed as a collection of free spin s CFT's in R^d. We discuss in detail the 4-dimensional case (where s=1 is the standard Maxwell vector, s=2 is the Weyl graviton, etc.), but also present a generalization for all even dimensions d. Z may be found by counting the numbers of conformal operators and their descendants (modulo gauge identities and equations of motion) weighted by scaling dimensions. This conformal operator counting method requires a careful analysis of the structure of characters of…
We study elliptic vortices on $\mathbb{C}\times T^2$ by considering the 2d quiver gauge theory describing their moduli spaces. The elliptic genus of these moduli spaces is the elliptic version of vortex partition function of the 4d theory. We focus on two examples: the first is a $\mathcal{N}=1$, $\mathrm{U}(N)$ gauge theory with fundamental and anti-fundamental matter; the second is a $\mathcal{N}=2$, $\mathrm{U}(N)$ gauge theory with matter in the fundamental representation. The results are instances of 4d "holomorphic blocks" into which partition functions on more complicated surfaces facto…
This thesis examines the interaction of both bosonic and superstrings with various backgrounds with a view to understanding the interplay between tachyon condensation and world-sheet conformal invariance, and to understanding the overlap of d-branes and closed string modes. We develop the boundary state and show that in a background of interest to tachyon condensation the conformal invariance of the string world-sheet is broken, which suggests a generalized boundary state obtained by integrating over the conformal group of the disk. We find that this prescription reproduces particle emission a…
A discussion of character formulae for positive energy unitary irreducible representations of the the conformal group is given, employing Verma modules and Weyl group reflections. Product formulae for various conformal group representations are found. These include generalisations of those found by Flato and Fronsdal for SO(3,2). In even dimensions the products for free representations split into two types depending on whether the dimension is divisible by four or not.
We use radial quantization to compute Chern-Simons partition functions on handlebodies of arbitrary genus. The partition function is given by a particular transition amplitude between two states which are defined on the Riemann surfaces that define the (singular) foliation of the handlebody. The final state is a coherent state while on the initial state the holonomy operator has zero eigenvalue. The latter choice encodes the constraint that the gauge fields must be regular everywhere inside the handlebody. By requiring that the only singularities of the gauge field inside the handlebody must b…
Recursion relations for the sphere $4$-point and torus $1$-point ${\cal W}_3$ conformal blocks, generalizing Alexei Zamolodchikov's famous relation for the Virasoro conformal blocks are proposed. One of these relations is valid for any 4-point conformal block with two arbitrary and two special primaries with charge parameters proportional to the highest weight of the fundamental irrep of $SU(3)$. The other relation is designed for the torus conformal block with a special (in above mentioned sense) primary field insertion. AGT relation maps the sphere conformal block and the torus block to the …
Conformal deformations manifest in the AdS/CFT correspondence as boundary conditions on the AdS field. Heretofore, double-trace deformations have been the primary focus in this context. To better understand multitrace deformations, we revisit the relationship between the generating AdS partition function for a free bulk theory and the boundary CFT partition function subject to arbitrary conformal deformations. The procedure leads us to a formalism that constructs bulk fields from boundary operators. Using this formalism, we independently replicate the holographic RG flow narrative to go on to …
We obtain the topological expansion of the hermitian matrix model using its representation as a CFT on a hyperelliptic Riemann surface. To each branch point of the Riemann surface we associate an operator which represents a twist field dressed by the modes of the twisted boson. The partition function of the matrix model is computed as a correlation function of such dressed twist fields. The perturbative construction of the dressing operators yields a set of Feynman rules for evaluating the free energy and the loop observables at any genus.
We extend the definitions of characters and partition functions to the case of conformal field theories which contain operators with logarithmic correlation functions. As an example we consider the theories with central charge c = c(p,1) = 13-6(p+1/p), the ``border'' of the discrete minimal series. We show that there is a slightly generalized form of the property of rationality for such logarithmic theories. In particular, we obtain a classification of theories with c = c(p,1) which is similar to the A-D-E classification of c = 1 models.
We give two results concerning the construction of modular invariant partition functions for conformal field theories constructed by tensoring together other conformal field theories. First we show how the possible modular invariants for the tensor product theory are constrained if the allowed modular invariants of the individual conformal field theory factors have been classified. We illustrate the use of these constraints for theories of the type $SU(2)_{K_A}\otimes SU(2)_{K_B}$, finding all consistent theories for $K_A,K_B$ odd. Second we show how known diagonal modular invariants can be us…
We find a simple relation between a free higher spin field partition function on thermal quotient of AdS(d+1) and the partition function of the associated d-dimensional conformal higher spin field on thermal quotient of AdS(d). Starting with a conformal higher spin field defined on AdS(d) one may also associate to it another conformal field in d-1 dimensions, thus "iterating" AdS/CFT. We observe that in the case of d=4 this iteration leads to a "trivial" 3d higher spin conformal theory with parity-even non-local action: it describes zero total number of dynamical degrees of freedom and the cor…
We show that the elliptic genus of the higher rank E-strings can be computed based solely on the genus 0 Gromov-Witten invariants of the corresponding elliptic geometry. To set up our computation, we study the structure of the topological string free energy on elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds both in the unrefined and the refined case, determining the maximal amount of the modular structure of the partition function that can be salvaged. In the case of fibrations exhibiting only isolated fibral curves, we show that the principal parts of the topological string partition function at gi…
It is possible to formulate light-cone gauge string field theory in noncritical dimensions. Such a theory corresponds to conformal gauge worldsheet theory with nonstandard longitudinal part. We study the longitudinal part of the worldsheet theory on higher genus Riemann surfaces. The results in this paper shall be used to study the dimensional regularization of light-cone gauge string field theory.
Higher genus partition functions of string world sheets with boundaries are relevant, e.g. for computation of quantum corrections to Wilson loop expectation values. As a preparation for a possible study of strings in curved space like AdS here we consider examples of genus one partition functions of string world-sheets ending on a circle in the bosonic string theory in flat space. We begin with the partition function for annular topology, writing it as an integral over the modulus of the annulus. In the process, we compute the determinant of the Laplacian on the annulus for Dirichlet-Dirichlet…
Thus far in the search for, and classification of, `physical' modular invariant partition functions $\sum N_{LR}\,\c_L\,\C_R$ the attention has been focused on the {\it symmetric} case where the holomorphic and anti-holomorphic sectors, and hence the characters $\c_L$ and $\c_R$, are associated with the same Kac-Moody algebras $\g_L=\g_R$ and levels $k_L=k_R$. In this paper we consider the more general possibility where $(\g_L,k_L)$ may not equal $(\g_R,k_R)$. We discuss which choices of algebras and levels may correspond to well-defined conformal field theories, we find the `smallest' such {\…
We consider the half-genus expansion of the resolvent function in the $β$-deformed matrix model with three-Penner potential under the AGT conjecture and the $0d-4d$ dictionary. The partition function of the model, after the specification of the paths, becomes the DF conformal block for fixed $c$ and provides the Nekrasov partition function expanded both in $g_s = \sqrt{-ε_1 ε_2}$ and in $ε= ε_1+ε_2$. Exploiting the explicit expressions for the lower terms of the free energy extracted from the above expansion, we derive the first few $ε$ corrections to the Seiberg-Witten prepotential in terms o…
We discuss the recent results of the author on the existence of systems of differential equations for chiral genus-zero and genus-one correlation functions in conformal field theories.
We study the Virasoro conformal block decomposition of the genus two partition function of a two-dimensional CFT by expanding around a Z3-invariant Riemann surface that is a three-fold cover of the Riemann sphere branched at four points, and explore constraints from genus two modular invariance and unitarity. In particular, we find 'critical surfaces' that constrain the structure constants of a CFT beyond what is accessible via the crossing equation on the sphere.
Higher genus modular invariance of two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) is a largely unexplored area. In this paper, we derive explicit expressions for the higher genus partition functions of a specific class of CFTs: code CFTs, which are constructed using classical error-correcting codes. In this setting, the $\mathrm{Sp}(2g,\mathbb Z)$ modular transformations of genus $g$ Riemann surfaces can be recast as a simple set of linear maps acting on $2^g$ polynomial variables, which comprise an object called the code enumerator polynomial. The CFT partition function is directly related t…
Open topological string partition function on compact Calabi-Yau threefolds satisfies the extended holomorphic anomaly equation. By direct integration, we solve these equations and obtain partition functions for first several genus and boundaries on complete intersection Calabi-Yau threefolds. Complemented by the unoriented worldsheet contribution, the annulus functions encode the genus one BPS invariants.
