The modular bootstrap program for 2d CFTs could be seen as a systematic exploration of the physical consequences of consistency conditions at the elliptic points and at the cusp of their toruspartition function. The study at $τ=i$, the elliptic point stabilized by the modular inversion $S$, was initiated by Hellerman, who found a general upper bound for the most relevant scaling dimension $Δ$. Likewise, analyticity at $τ=i\infty$, the cusp stabilized by the modular translation $T$, yields an upper bound on the twist gap. Here we study consistency conditions at $τ=\exp[2iπ/3]$, the elliptic point stabilized by $S T$. We find a much stronger upper bound in the large-c limit, namely $Δ<\frac{c-1}{12}+0.092$, which is very close to the minimal mass threshold of the BTZ black holes in the gravity dual of $AdS_3/CFT_2$ correspondence.
We extend the ''modular localization'' principle from free to interacting theories and test its power for the special class of d=1+1 factorizing models.
The modular matrix for the generic 1-point conformal blocks on the torus is expressed in terms of the fusion matrix for the 4-point blocks on the sphere. The modular invariance of the toric 1-point functions in the Liouville field theory with DOZZ structure constants is proved.
We combine the large-$c$ ST modular bootstrap equations with the Cardy formula for the asymptotic growth of the density of states to prove that any $2d$ unitary, compact, conformal field theory (CFT) with no higher spin conserved currents leads to conflicting inequalities whenever the entire spectrum of non-trivial primaries lies above the BTZ threshold. As a consequence, the holographic dual of $3d$ pure gravity, if it exists, cannot be a $2d$ CFT. Consistent solutions of ST bootstrap equations require additional primaries lying below the BTZ threshold. The lowest non-trivial primary necessar…
We investigate the connection between spacetime wormholes and ensemble averaging in the context of higher spin AdS$_3$/CFT$_2$. Using techniques from modular bootstrap combined with some holographic inputs, we evaluate the partition function of a Euclidean wormhole in AdS$_3$ higher spin gravity. The fixed spin sectors of the dual CFT$_2$ exhibit features that starkly go beyond conventional random matrix ensembles: power-law ramps in the spectral form factor and potentials with a double-well/crest underlying the level statistics.
Modular invariance imposes rigid constrains on the partition functions of two-dimensional conformal field theories. Many fundamental results follow strictly from modular invariance, giving rise to the numerical modular bootstrap program. Here we report a way to assign to a particular family of quantum error correcting codes a family of "code CFTs" CFTs", which forms a subset of the space of Narain CFTs. This correspondence reduces modular invariance of the 2d CFT partition function to a few simple algebraic relations obeyed by a multivariate polynomial characterizing the corresponding code. Us…
In recent work we computed the path integral of three-dimensional gravity with negative cosmological constant on spaces which are topologically a torus times an interval. Here we employ a modular bootstrap to show that the amplitude is completely fixed by consistency conditions and a few basic inputs from gravity. This bootstrap is notably for an ensemble of CFTs, rather than for a single instance. We also compare the 3d gravity result with the Narain ensemble. The former is well-approximated at low temperature by a random matrix theory ansatz, and we conjecture that this behavior is generic f…
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.
S-matrices in the holomorphic modular bootstrap approach
Indian Institute of Technology Madras（印度马德拉斯理工学院）；Centre for Operator Algebras, Geometry, Matter and Spacetime, Indian Institute of Technology Madras（印度马德拉斯理工学院算子代数、几何、物质与时空中心）；Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences（马克斯·普朗克科学数学研究所）；AEI Potsdam（波茨坦阿诺尔德·爱因斯坦研究所）
本文提出了一种基于全纯模 Bootstrap 方法和 MLDE 的方法，通过 S 矩阵的整数性质确定其精确公式，并通过示例展示了该方法的实用性。
Indian Institute of Technology Madras（印度马德拉斯理工学院）；Centre for Operator Algebras, Geometry, Matter and Spacetime, Indian Institute of Technology Madras（印度马德拉斯理工学院算子代数、几何、物质与时空中心）
In this work we apply the lightcone bootstrap to a four-point function of scalars in two-dimensional conformal field theory. We include the entire Virasoro symmetry and consider non-rational theories with a gap in the spectrum from the vacuum and no conserved currents. For those theories, we compute the large dimension limit (h/c>>1) of the OPE spectral decomposition of the Virasoro vacuum. We then propose a kernel ansatz that generalizes the spectral decomposition beyond h/c>>1. Finally, we estimate the corrections to the OPE spectral densities from the inclusion of the lightest operator in t…
Using modular bootstrap we show the lightest primary fields of a unitary compact two dimensional conformal field theory(with $c, \bar{c}>1$) has a conformal weight $h_1\le \frac{c}{12}+\mathcal{O}(1)$.This implies that the upper bound on the dimension of the lightest primary fields depends on their spin. In particular if the set of lightest primary fields includes extremal or near extremal states whose spin to dimension ratio $\frac{j}Δ\approx 1$, the corresponding dimension is $Δ\le \frac{c}{12}+\mathcal{O}(1)$. From AdS/CFT correspondence, we obtain an upper bound on the spectrum of black ho…
All types of 4-point spheric conformal blocks in both sectors of N=1 superconformal field theory are introduced and analyzed. The elliptic recurrence formulae are derived for all the types of blocks not previously discussed in the literature. The results are used for numerical verification of the crossing symmetry of some 4-point functions in the N=1 superconformal Liouville field theory.
We present a low entry-level introduction to the Conformal Bootstrap. We review and obtain several basic bounds using Linear Programming in machine precision in Mathematica, making the results accessible even to the most uneducated computer user. The Extremal Functional Method and the method of determinants are also explored. Finally, we make an attempt at writing modular invariance statements as crossing symmetry equations for twist operators and perform Modular Bootstrap using 4-pt correlators.
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.
We present our recent studies on the dynamics of boundary N=2 Liouville theory. We use the representation theory of N=2 superconformal algebra and the method of modular bootstrap to derive three classes of boundary states of the N=2 Liouville theory. Class 1 and 2 branes are analogues of ZZ and FZZT branes of N=0,1 Liouville theory while class 3 branes come from U(1) degrees of freedom. We compare our results with those of SL(2;R)/U(1) supercoset which is known to be T-dual to N=2 Liouville theory and describes the geometry of 2d black hole. We find good agreements with known results in SL(2;R…
Using the technology of harmonic analysis, we derive a crossing equation that acts only on the scalar primary operators of any two-dimensional conformal field theory with $U(1)^c$ symmetry. From this crossing equation, we derive bounds on the scalar gap of all such theories. Rather remarkably, our crossing equation contains information about all nontrivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function. As a result, we rephrase the Riemann hypothesis purely as a statement about the asymptotic density of scalar operators in certain two-dimensional conformal field theories. We discuss generalizations to the…
Any unitary compact two-dimensional CFT with $c>1$ and no symmetries beyond Virasoro has a parametrically large density of primary states at large spin for $\bar{h}>\bar{h}_\text{extr}\sim \frac{c-1}{24}$, of a universal form determined by modular invariance. By including the contribution of light primary operators and multi-twist composites constructed from them in the modular bootstrap, we find that $\bar{h}_\text{extr}$ receives corrections in a large spin expansion, which we compute at finite $c$. The analysis uses a formulation of the modular S-transform as a Fourier transform acting on t…
We consider unitary, modular invariant, two-dimensional CFTs which are invariant under the parity transformation $P$. Combining $P$ with modular inversion $S$ leads to a continuous family of fixed points of the $SP$ transformation. A particular subset of this locus of fixed points exists along the line of positive left- and right-moving temperatures satisfying $β_L β_R = 4π^2$. We use this fixed locus to prove a conjecture of Hartman, Keller, and Stoica that the free energy of a large-$c$ CFT$_2$ with a suitably sparse low-lying spectrum matches that of AdS$_3$ gravity at all temperatures and …
We explore the large spin spectrum in two-dimensional conformal field theories with a finite twist gap, using the modular bootstrap in the lightcone limit. By recursively solving the modular crossing equations associated to different $PSL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ elements, we identify the universal contribution to the density of large spin states from the vacuum in the dual channel. Our result takes the form of a sum over $PSL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ elements, whose leading term generalizes the usual Cardy formula to a wider regime. Rather curiously, the contribution to the density of states from the vacuum beco…
We consider previously derived upper and lower bounds on the number of operators in a window of scaling dimensions $[Δ- δ,Δ+ δ]$ at asymptotically large $Δ$ in 2d unitary modular invariant CFTs. These bounds depend on a choice of functions that majorize and minorize the characteristic function of the interval $[Δ- δ,Δ+ δ]$ and have Fourier transforms of finite support. The optimization of the bounds over this choice turns out to be exactly the Beurling-Selberg extremization problem, widely known in analytic number theory. We review solutions of this problem and present the corresponding bounds…
We study the boundary N=2 Liouville theory based on the ``modular bootstrap'' approach. As fundamental conformal blocks we introduce the ``extended characters'' that are defined as the proper sums over spectral flows of irreducible characters of the N=2 superconformal algebra (SCA) and clarify their modular transformation properties in models with rational central charges. We then try to classify the Cardy states describing consistent D-branes based on the modular data. We construct the analogues of ZZ-branes (hep-th/0101152), localized at the strong coupling region, and the FZZT-branes (hep-t…
Following the initial proposal in 1988, there has been much progress in classifying Rational Conformal Field Theories in 2 dimensions from the Holomorphic Bootstrap approach. This method starts by postulating a generic holomorphic Modular Linear Differential Equation of a given order and imposing the requirement of non-negative integrality of the coefficients in the series expansion of the solutions, which are then identified as admissible characters, from which a modular-invariant partition function is constructed. In this short note, the status of this project is summarised.
We carry out a numerical study of the spinless modular bootstrap for conformal field theories with current algebra $U(1)^c \times U(1)^c$, or equivalently the linear programming bound for sphere packing in $2c$ dimensions. We give a more detailed picture of the behavior for finite $c$ than was previously available, and we extrapolate as $c \to \infty$. Our extrapolation indicates an exponential improvement for sphere packing density bounds in high dimensions. Furthermore, we study when these bounds can be tight. Besides the known cases $c=1/2$, $4$, and $12$ and the conjectured case $c=1$, our…
We derive Cardy-like formulas for the growth of operators in different sectors of unitary $2$ dimensional CFT in the presence of topological defect lines by putting an upper and lower bound on the number of states with scaling dimension in the interval $[Δ-δ,Δ+δ]$ for large $Δ$ at fixed $δ$. Consequently we prove that given any unitary modular invariant $2$D CFT symmetric under finite global symmetry $G$ (acting faithfully), all the irreducible representations of $G$ appear in the spectra of the untwisted sector; the growth of states is Cardy like and proportional to the ''square'' of the dime…
We obtain eigenvalue equations satisfied by various elliptic modular graphs with five links where two of the vertices are unintegrated. Solving them leads to several non--trivial algebraic identities between these graphs.
We consider the 2D S-matrix bootstrap in the presence of supersymmetry, $\mathbb{Z}_2$ and $\mathbb{Z}_4$ symmetry. At the boundary of the allowed S-matrix space we encounter well known integrable models such as the supersymmetric sine-Gordon and restricted sine-Gordon models, novel elliptic deformations thereof, as well as a two parameter family of $\mathbb{Z}_4$ elliptic S-matrices previously proposed by Zamolodchikov. We highlight an intricate web of relations between these various S-matrices.
In this work we revisit the "holomorphic modular bootstrap", i.e. the classification of rational conformal field theories via an analysis of the modular differential equations satisfied by their characters. By making use of the representation theory of ${\rm PSL}(2,\mathbb{Z}_n)$, we describe a method to classify allowed central charges and weights $(c,h_i)$ for theories with any number of characters $d$. This allows us to avoid various bottlenecks encountered previously in the literature, and leads to a classification of consistent characters up to $d=5$ whose modular differential equations a…
We constrain the spectrum of two-dimensional unitary, compact conformal field theories with central charge c > 1 using modular bootstrap. Upper bounds on the gap in the dimension of primary operators of any spin, as well as in the dimension of scalar primaries, are computed numerically as functions of the central charge using semi-definite programming. Our bounds refine those of Hellerman and Friedan-Keller, and are in some cases saturated by known CFTs. In particular, we show that unitary CFTs with c < 8 must admit relevant deformations, and that a nontrivial bound on the gap of scalar primar…
We explore constraints on (1+1)$d$ unitary conformal field theory with an internal $\mathbb{Z}_N$ global symmetry, by bounding the lightest symmetry-preserving scalar primary operator using the modular bootstrap. Among the other constraints we have found, we prove the existence of a $\mathbb{Z}_N$-symmetric relevant/marginal operator if $N-1 \le c\le 9-N$ for $N\leq4$, with the endpoints saturated by various WZW models that can be embedded into $(\mathfrak{e}_8)_1$. Its existence implies that robust gapless fixed points are not possible in this range of $c$ if only a $\mathbb{Z}_N$ symmetry is…
We study the refined topological string partition function of a class of toric elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau threefolds. These Calabi-Yau threefolds give rise to five dimensional quiver gauge theories and are dual to configurations of M5-M2-branes. We determine the Gopakumar-Vafa invariants for these threefolds and show that the genus $g$ free energy is given by the weight $2g$ Eisenstein series. We also show that although the free energy at all genera are modular invariant the full partition function satisfies the non-perturbative modular transformation property discussed by Lockhart and Va…
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…
Integrable N-particle systems have an important property that the associated Seiberg-Witten prepotentials satisfy the WDVV equations. However, this does not apply to the most interesting class of elliptic and double-elliptic systems. Studying the commutativity conjecture for theta-functions on the families of associated spectral curves, we derive some other non-linear equations for the perturbative Seiberg-Witten prepotential, which turn out to have exactly the double-elliptic system as their generic solution. In contrast with the WDVV equations, the new equations acquire non-perturbative corr…
We revisit the consistency of torus partition functions in (1+1)$d$ fermionic conformal field theories, combining traditional ingredients of modular invariance/covariance with a modernized understanding of bosonization/fermionization dualities. Various lessons can be learned by simply examining the oft-ignored Ramond sector. For several extremal/kinky modular functions in the bootstrap literature, we can either rule out or identify the underlying theory. We also revisit the ${\cal N} = 1$ Maloney-Witten partition function by calculating the spectrum in the Ramond sector, and further extending …
We investigate the interplay between the enumerative geometry of Calabi-Yau fourfolds with fluxes and the modularity of elliptic genera in four-dimensional string theories. We argue that certain contributions to the elliptic genus are given by derivatives of modular or quasi-modular forms, which encode BPS invariants of Calabi-Yau or non-Calabi-Yau threefolds that are embedded in the given fourfold. As a result, the elliptic genus is only a quasi-Jacobi form, rather than a modular or quasi-modular one in the usual sense. This manifests itself as a holomorphic anomaly of the spectral flow symme…
When we describe string propagation on non-compact or singular Calabi-Yau manifolds by CFT, continuous as well as discrete representations appear in the theory. These representations mix in an intricate way under the modular transformations. In this article, we propose a method of combining discrete and continuous representations so that the resulting combinations have a simpler modular behavior and can be used as conformal blocks of the theory. We compute elliptic genera of ALE spaces and obtain results which agree with those suggested from the decompactification of K3 surface. Consistency of…
When we describe non-compact or singular Calabi-Yau manifolds by CFT, continuous as well as discrete representations appear in the theory. These representations mix in an intricate way under the modular transformations. In this article, we propose a method of combining discrete and continuous representations so that the resulting combinations have a simpler modular behavior and can be used as conformal blocks of the theory. We compute elliptic genera of ALE spaces and obtain results which agree with those suggested from the decompactification of K3 surface. Consistency of our approach is assur…
We study the Coulomb branches of the rank-one 4d $\mathcal{N} = 2$ quantum field theories, including the KK theories obtained from the circle compactification of the 5d $\mathcal{N}= 1$ $E_n$ Seiberg theories. The focus is set on the relation between their Seiberg-Witten geometries and rational elliptic surfaces, with more attention being given to the modular surfaces, which we completely classify using the classification of subgroups of the modular group ${\rm PSL}(2,\mathbb{Z})$. We derive closed-form expressions for the modular functions for all congruence and some of the non-congruence sub…
We obtain Poisson equations satisfied by elliptic modular graph functions with four links. Analysis of these equations leads to a non--trivial algebraic relation between the various graphs.
The crossing equations of a conformal field theory can be systematically truncated to a finite, closed system of polynomial equations. In certain cases, solutions of the truncated equations place strict bounds on the space of all unitary CFTs. We describe the conditions under which this holds, and use the results to develop a fast algorithm for modular bootstrap in 2d CFT. We then apply it to compute spectral gaps to very high precision, find scaling dimensions for over a thousand operators, and extend the numerical bootstrap to the regime of large central charge, relevant to holography. This …
We study the limit of Calabi-Yau modular forms, and in particular, those resulting in classical modular forms. We then study two parameter families of elliptically fibred Calabi-Yau fourfolds and describe the modular forms arising from the degeneracy loci. In the case of elliptically fibred Calabi-Yau threefolds our approach gives a mathematical proof of many observations about modularity properties of topological string amplitudes starting with the work of Candelas, Font, Katz and Morrison. In the case of Calabi-Yau fourfolds we derive new identities not computed before.
The theory of Topological Modular Forms suggests the existence of deformation invariants for two-dimensional supersymmetric field theories that are more refined than the standard elliptic genus. In this note we give a physical definition of some of these invariants. The theory of mock modular forms makes a surprise appearance, shedding light on the integrality properties of some well-known examples.
University of Southern California（南加州大学）；Boston University（波士顿大学）；Massachusetts Institute of Technology（麻省理工学院）；The NSF Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions（美国国家科学基金会人工智能与基本相互作用研究所）
We consider certain elliptic modular graph functions that arise in the asymptotic expansion around the non--separating node of genus two string invariants that appear in the integrand of the $D^8 R^4$ interaction in the low momentum expansion of the four graviton amplitude in type II superstring theory. These elliptic modular graphs have links given by the Green function, as well its holomorphic and anti--holomorphic derivatives. Using appropriate auxiliary graphs at various intermediate stages of the analysis, we show that each graph can be expressed solely in terms of graphs with links given…
It is known that the L-function of an elliptic curve defined over Q is given by the Mellin transform of a modular form of weight 2. Does that modular form have anything to do with string theory? In this article, we address a question along this line for elliptic curves that have complex multiplication defined over number fields. So long as we use diagonal rational N=(2,2) superconformal field theories for the string-theory realizations of the elliptic curves, the weight-2 modular form turns out to be the Boltzmann-weighted (q^{L_0-c/24}-weighted) sum of U(1) charges with F e^{ πi F} insertion …
We investigate the behaviour of elliptic Feynman integrals under modular transformations. This has a practical motivation: Through a suitable modular transformation we can achieve that the nome squared is a small quantity, leading to fast numerical evaluations. Contrary to the case of multiple polylogarithms, where it is sufficient to consider just variable transformations for the numerical evaluations of multiple polylogarithms, it is more natural in the elliptic case to consider a combination of a variable transformation (i.e. a modular transformation) together with a redefinition of the mas…
Elliptic modular graph forms (eMGFs) are non-holomorphic modular forms depending on a modular parameter $τ$ of a torus and marked points $z$ thereon. Traditionally, eMGFs are constructed from nested lattice sums over the discrete momenta on the worldsheet torus in closed-string genus-one amplitudes. In this work, we develop methods to translate the lattice-sum realization of eMGFs into iterated integrals over modular parameters $τ$ of the torus with particular focus on cases with one marked point. Such iterated-integral representations manifest algebraic and differential relations among eMGFs …
In the paper we study two types of relations: a one is between the elliptic genus of Calabi-Yau manifolds and Jacobi modular forms, another one is between the second quantized elliptic genus, Siegel modular forms and Lorentzian Kac-Moody Lie algebras. We also determine the structure of the graded ring of the weak Jacobi forms with integral Fourier coefficients. It gives us a number of applications to the theory of elliptic genus and of the second quantized elliptic genus.
We relate one-loop scattering amplitudes of massless open- and closed-string states at the level of their low-energy expansion. The modular graph functions resulting from integration over closed-string punctures are observed to follow from symmetrized open-string integrals through a tentative generalization of the single-valued projection known from genus zero.
For an elliptic curve E over an abelian extension k/K with CM by K of Shimura type, the L-functions of its [k:K] Galois representations are Mellin transforms of Hecke theta functions; a modular parametrization (surjective map) from a modular curve to E pulls back the 1-forms on E to give the Hecke theta functions. This article refines the study of our earlier work and shows that certain class of chiral correlation functions in Type II string theory with [E]_C (E as real analytic manifold) as a target space yield the same Hecke theta functions as objects on the modular curve. The Kahler paramet…
Elliptic modular graph functions and forms (eMGFs) are defined for arbitrary graphs as natural generalizations of modular graph functions and forms obtained by including the character of an Abelian group in their Kronecker--Eisenstein series. The simplest examples of eMGFs are given by the Green function for a massless scalar field on the torus and the Zagier single-valued elliptic polylogarithms. More complicated eMGFs are produced by the non-separating degeneration of a higher genus surface to a genus one surface with punctures. eMGFs may equivalently be represented by multiple integrals ove…
