For a generic conformal field theory (CFT) in four dimensions, the scale anomaly dictates that the universal part of entanglement entropy across a sphere ($\mathcal{C}_{\text{univ}}(S^{2})$) is positive. Based on this fact, we explore the consequences of assuming positive sign for $\mathcal{C}_{\text{univ}}(S^{2})$ in a four dimensional scale invariant theory (SFT). In absence of a dimension two scalar operator $\mathcal{O}_{2}$ in the spectrum of a SFT, we show that this assumption suggests that SFT is a CFT. In presence of $\mathcal{O}_{2}$, we show that this assumption can fix the coefficient of the nonlinear coupling term $\int\hspace{-.5mm} d^{4}x\sqrt{g} R\mathcal{O}_{2}$ to a conformal value.
The most general lagrangian describing spin 2 particles in flat spacetime and containing operators up to (mass) dimension 6 is carefully analyzed, determining the precise conditions for it to be invariant under linearized (transverse) diffeomorphisms, linearized Weyl rescalings, and conformal transformations.
We argue that conformal invariance is a common thread linking several scalar effective field theories that appear in the double copy and scattering equations. For a derivatively coupled scalar with a quartic ${\cal O}(p^4)$ vertex, classical conformal invariance dictates an infinite tower of additional interactions that coincide exactly with Dirac-Born-Infeld theory analytically continued to spacetime dimension $D=0$. For the case of a quartic ${\cal O}(p^6)$ vertex, classical conformal invariance constrains the theory to be the special Galileon in $D=-2$ dimensions. We also verify the conform…
There exists a certain argument that in even dimensions, scale invariant quantum field theories are conformal invariant. We may try to extend the argument in $2n + ε$ dimensions, but the naive extension has a small loophole, which indeed shows an obstruction in non-linear sigma models in $2+ε$ dimensions. Even though it could have failed due to the loophole, we show that scale invariance does imply conformal invariance of non-linear sigma models in $2+ε$ dimension from the seminal work by Perelman on the Ricci flow.
Implications are explored of promoting non-conformal scale-invariant theories to conformal theories by nonlinearly realizing the missing symmetry. Properties of the associated Nambu-Goldstone mode imply that conformal invariance cannot be spontaneously broken to scale invariance in unitary theories and that, as well known, scale invariant unitary theories in two dimensions are also conformal. The promoted theories have only conformal primaries and no descendants. The (non-)decoupling of the Nambu-Goldstone mode is explicitly shown in examples of scale invariant theories that are actually (not)…
It was argued recently that conformal invariance in flat spacetime implies Weyl invariance in a general curved background for unitary theories and possible anomalies in the Weyl variation of scalar operators are identified. We argue that generically unitarity alone is not sufficient for a conformal field theory to be Weyl invariant. Furthermore, we show explicitly that when a unitary conformal field theory couples to gravity in a Weyl invariant way, each primary scalar operator that is either relevant or marginal in the unitary conformal field theory corresponds to a Weyl-covariant operator in…
In a recent preprint [ArXiv 1802.02319], Meneses et al. challenge our proof that scale invariance implies conformal invariance for the three-dimensional Ising model [B. Delamotte, M. Tissier and N. Wschebor, Phys. Rev. E 93 (2016), 012144.]. We refute their arguments. We also point out a mistake in their one-loop calculation of the dimension of the vector operator $V_μ$ of lowest dimension which is not a total derivative.
We explore a conformal field theoretic interpretation of the holographic entanglement of purification, which is defined as the minimal area of entanglement wedge cross section. We argue that in AdS3/CFT2, the holographic entanglement of purification agrees with the entanglement entropy for a purified state, obtained from a special Weyl transformation, called path-integral optimizations. By definition, this special purified state has the minimal path-integral complexity. We confirm this claim in several examples.
I will discuss spontaneous conformal symmetry breaking in the strongly $γ$-deformed limit of the $\mathcal N=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory known as~\emph{Fishnet Conformal Field Theory}.
We revisit the invariance of the curved spacetime Maxwell equations under conformal transformations. Contrary to standard literature, we include the discussion of the four-current, the wave equations for the four-potential and the field, and the behaviour of gauge conditions under the conformal transformation.
Long ago, Nemeschansky and Sen demonstrated that the Ricci-flat metric on a Calabi-Yau manifold could be corrected, order by order in perturbation theory, to produce a conformally invariant (2,2) nonlinear sigma model. Here we extend this result to (0,2) sigma models for stable holomorphic vector bundles over Calabi-Yaus.
We discuss the realization of conformal invariance for Wilson actions using the formalism of the exact renormalization group. This subject has been studied extensively in the recent works of O. J. Rosten. The main purpose of this paper is to reformulate Rosten's formulas for conformal transformations using a method developed earlier for the realization of any continuous symmetry in the exact renormalization group formalism. The merit of the reformulation is simplicity and transparency via the consistent use of equation-of-motion operators. We derive equations that imply the invariance of the W…
We obtain the entanglement negativity for various bipartite zero and finite temperature pure and mixed state configurations in a class of $(1+1)$-dimensional Galilean conformal field theories. In this context we establish a construction for computing the entanglement negativity for such bipartite states involving a suitable replica technique. Our construction exactly reproduces certain universal features observed for entanglement negativity of corresponding states in relativistic $(1+1)$-dimensional conformal field theories.
