We study two-point functions of local operators and their spectral representation in UV complete quantum field theories in generic dimensions focusing on conserved currents and the stress-tensor. We establish the connection with the central charges of the UV and IR fixed points. We re-derive c-theorems in 2d and show the absence of their direct analogs in higher dimensions. We conclude by focusing on quantum field theories with a mass gap. We study the stress tensor two-particle form factor, derive implications of unitarity and define concrete bootstrap problems in generic dimensions.
We use the numerical S-matrix bootstrap method to obtain bounds on the two leading Wilson coefficients of the chiral lagrangian controlling the low-energy dynamics of massless pions thus providing a proof of concept that the numerical S-matrix bootstrap can be used to derive non-perturbative bounds on EFTs in more than two spacetime dimensions.
Conformal field theories play a central role in theoretical physics with many applications ranging from condensed matter to string theory. The conformal bootstrap studies conformal field theories using mathematical consistency conditions and has seen great progress over the last decade. In this thesis we present an implementation of analytic bootstrap methods for perturbative conformal field theories in dimensions greater than two, which we achieve by combining large spin perturbation theory with the Lorentzian inversion formula. In the presence of a small expansion parameter, not necessarily …
We study half-BPS line defects in $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal theories using the bootstrap approach. We concentrate on local excitations constrained to the defect, which means the system is a $1d$ defect CFT with $\mathfrak{osp}(4^*|2)$ symmetry. In order to study correlation functions we construct a suitable superspace, and then use the Casimir approach to calculate a collection of new superconformal blocks. Special emphasis is given to the displacement operator, which controls deformations orthogonal to the defect and is always present in a defect CFT. After setting up the crossing equati…
We initiate a study of the bootstrap programme for field theories with BMS symmetry. Specifically, we look at two-dimensional field theories with BMS3 symmetry and, using highest weight representations, we construct the BMS bootstrap equation by formulating the notion of crossing symmetry in the four-point functions of these field theories. In the limit of large central charges, we find analytic expressions for the BMS blocks that are the basic ingredients for the solution of the bootstrap equation. This constitutes, to the best of our knowledge, the first example of the formulation and signif…
We study the reflection amplitudes of affine Toda field theories with boundary, following the ideas developed by Fring and Koberle and focusing our attention on the $E_{n}$ series elements, because of their interesting structure of higher order poles. We also investigate the corresponding minimal reflection matrices, finding, with respect to the bulk case, a more complicated relation between the spectra of bound states associated to the minimal and to the ''dressed'' amplitudes.
We initiate the bootstrap program for $\mathcal{N}=3$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) in four dimensions. The problem is considered from two fronts: the protected subsector described by a $2d$ chiral algebra, and crossing symmetry for half-BPS operators whose superconformal primaries parametrize the Coulomb branch of $\mathcal{N}=3$ theories. With the goal of describing a protected subsector of a family of $\mathcal{N}=3$ SCFTs, we propose a new $2d$ chiral algebra with super Virasoro symmetry that depends on an arbitrary parameter, identified with the central charge of the theory. Turni…
In this thesis we study two-dimensional conformal field theories with Virasoro algebra symmetry, following the conformal bootstrap approach. Under the assumption that degenerate fields exist, we provide an extension of the analytic conformal bootstrap method to theories with non-diagonal spectrums. We write the equations that determine structure constants, and find explicit solutions in terms of special functions. We validate this results by numerically computing four-point functions in diagonal and non-diagonal minimal models, and verifying that crossing symmetry is satisfied. In addition, we…
We use the amplitude soft bootstrap method to explore the space of effective field theories (EFT) of massless vectors and scalars. It is known that demanding vanishing soft limits fixes uniquely a special class of EFTs: non-linear sigma model, scalar Galileon and Born-Infeld theories. Based on the amplitudes analysis, we conjecture no-go theorems for higher-derivative vector theories and theories with coupled vectors and scalars. We then allow for more general soft theorems where the non-trivial part of the soft limit of the (n+1)-pt amplitude is equal to a linear combination of n-pt amplitude…
We combine supersymmetric localization and the conformal bootstrap to study five-dimensional superconformal field theories. To begin, we classify the admissible counter-terms and derive a general relation between the five-sphere partition function and the conformal and flavor central charges. Along the way, we discover a new superconformal anomaly in five dimensions. We then propose a precise triple factorization formula for the five-sphere partition function, that incorporates instantons and is consistent with flavor symmetry enhancement. We numerically evaluate the central charges for the ra…
We propose a new non-perturbative method for studying UV complete unitary quantum field theories (QFTs) with a mass gap in general number of spacetime dimensions. The method relies on unitarity formulated as positive semi-definiteness of the matrix of inner products between asymptotic states (in and out) and states created by the action of local operators on the vacuum. The corresponding matrix elements involve scattering amplitudes, form factors and spectral densities of local operators. We test this method in two-dimensional QFTs by setting up a linear optimization problem that gives a lower…
The bootstrap programme for finding exact S-matrices of integrable quantum field theories with N=1 supersymmetry is investigated. New solutions are found which have the same fusing data as bosonic theories related to the classical affine Lie algebras. When the states correspond to a spinor spot of the Dynkin diagram they are kinks which carry a non-zero topological charge. Using these results, the S-matrices of the supersymmetric O($2n$) sigma model and sine-Gordon model can be shown to close under the bootstrap.
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…
We generalise the form factor bootstrap approach to integrable field theories with U(1) symmetry to derive matrix elements of composite branch-point twist fields associated with symmetry resolved entanglement entropies. The bootstrap equations are solved for the free massive Dirac and complex boson theories, which are the simplest theories with U(1) symmetry. We present the exact and complete solution for the bootstrap, including vacuum expectation values and form factors involving any type and arbitrarily number of particles. The non-trivial solutions are carefully cross-checked by performing…
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.
Recent programs on conformal bootstrap suggest an empirical relationship between the existence of non-trivial conformal field theories and non-trivial features such as a kink in the unitarity bound of conformal dimensions in the conformal bootstrap equations. We report the existene of non-trivial kinks in the unitarity bound of scalar operators in the adjoint representation of the $SU(N)$ symmetric conformal field theories. They have interesting properties (1) the kinks exist in $d<6$ dimensions (2) the location of kinks are when the unitarity bound hits the space-time dimension $d$ (3) there …
This paper focuses on the analysis of $4d$ $\mathcal{N}=4$ superconformal theories in the presence of a defect from the point of view of the conformal bootstrap. We will concentrate first on the case of codimension one, where the defect is a boundary that preserves half of the supersymmetry. After studying the constraints imposed by supersymmetry, we will obtain the Ward identities associated to two-point functions of $\tfrac{1}{2}$-BPS operators and write their solution as a superconformal block expansion. Due to a surprising connection between spacetime and R-symmetry conformal blocks, our r…
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.
Applications of the bootstrap program to superconformal field theories promise unique new insights into their landscape and could even lead to the discovery of new models. Most existing results of the superconformal bootstrap were obtained form correlation functions of very special fields in short (BPS) representations of the superconformal algebra. Our main goal is to initiate a superconformal bootstrap for long multiplets, one that exploits all constraints from superprimaries and their descendants. To this end, we work out the Casimir equations for four-point correlators of long multiplets o…
The purpose of the "bootstrap program" is to construct integrable quantum field theories in 1+1 dimensions in terms of their Wightman functions explicitly. As an input the integrability and general assumptions of local quantum field theories are used. The object is to be achieved in tree steps: 1) The S-matrix is obtained using a qualitative knowledge of the particle spectrum and the Yang-Baxter equations. 2) Matrix elements of local operators are calculated by means of the "form factor program" using the S-matrix as an input. 3) The Wightman functions are calculated by taking sums over interm…
We propose a systematic approach to computing the BPS spectra of any 5d/6d supersymmetric quantum field theory in Coulomb phases, which admits either gauge theory descriptions or geometric descriptions, based on the Nakajima-Yoshioka's blowup equations. We provide a significant generalization of the blowup equation approach in terms of both properly quantized magnetic fluxes on the blowup $\hat{\mathbb{C}}^2$ and the effective prepotential for 5d/6d field theories on the Omega background which is uniquely determined by the Chern-Simons couplings on their Coulomb branches. We employ our method …
In this work we initiate the conformal bootstrap program for ${\mathcal N}=2$ superconformal field theories in four dimensions. We promote an abstract operator-algebraic viewpoint in order to unify the description of Lagrangian and non-Lagrangian theories, and formulate various conjectures concerning the landscape of theories. We analyze in detail the four-point functions of flavor symmetry current multiplets and of ${\mathcal N}=2$ chiral operators. For both correlation functions we review the solution of the superconformal Ward identities and describe their superconformal block decomposition…
We introduce an approach to find approximate numerical solutions of truncated bootstrap equations for Conformal Field Theories (CFTs) in arbitrary dimensions. The method is based on a stochastic search via a Metropolis algorithm guided by an action $S$ which is the logarithm of the truncated bootstrap equations for a single scalar field correlator. While numerical conformal bootstrap methods based on semi-definite programming put rigorous exclusion bounds on CFTs, this method looks for approximate solutions, which correspond to local minima of $S$, when present, and can be even far from the ex…
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…
We propose a roadmap for bootstrapping conformal field theories (CFTs) described by gauge theories in dimensions $d>2$. In particular, we provide a simple and workable answer to the question of how to detect the gauge group in the bootstrap calculation. Our recipe is based on the notion of \emph{decoupling operator}, which has a simple (gauge) group theoretical origin, and is reminiscent of the null operator of $2d$ Wess-Zumino-Witten CFTs in higher dimensions. Using the decoupling operator we can efficiently detect the rank (i.e. color number) of gauge groups, e.g., by imposing gap conditions…
We bootstrap ${\cal N}=(1,0)$ superconformal field theories in six dimensions, by analyzing the four-point function of flavor current multiplets. Assuming $E_8$ flavor group, we present universal bounds on the central charge $C_T$ and the flavor central charge $C_J$. Based on the numerical data, we conjecture that the rank-one E-string theory saturates the universal lower bound on $C_J$, and numerically determine the spectrum of long multiplets in the rank-one E-string theory. We comment on the possibility of solving the higher-rank E-string theories by bootstrap and thereby probing M-theory o…
An algebraic approach to integrable quantum field theory with a boundary (a half line) is presented and interesting algebraic equations, Reflection equations (RE) and Reflection Bootstrap equations (RBE) are discussed. The Reflection equations are a consistent generalisation of Yang-Baxter equations for factorisable scatterings on a half line (or with a reflecting boundary). They determine the so-called reflection matrices. However, for Toda field theory and/or other theories with diagonal S-matrices, the Reflection-Bootstrap equations proposed by Fring and Köberle determine the reflection mat…
Infrared fixed points of gauge theories provide intriguing targets for the modern conformal bootstrap program. In this work we provide some preliminary evidence that a family of gauged fermionic CFTs saturate bootstrap bounds and can potentially be solved with the conformal bootstrap. We start by considering the bootstrap for $SO(N)$ vector 4-point functions in general dimension $D$. In the large $N$ limit, upper bounds on the scaling dimensions of the lowest $SO(N)$ singlet and traceless symmetric scalars interpolate between two solutions at $Δ=D/2-1$ and $Δ=D-1$ via generalized free field th…
The analytic conformal bootstrap is an array of techniques to characterize, constrain, and solve strongly interacting quantum field theories using symmetries, causality, unitarity, and other general principles. In the last decade, bolstered by the development of new Lorentzian methods, it has been used to solve conformal field theories at large spin; to place bounds on energy distributions, event shapes, operator product coefficients, and other observables; and to understand aspects of quantum gravity in anti-de Sitter space. We review these advances and highlight several promising areas for f…
We propose a new approach to solve conformal field theories and apply it to Chern-Simons Matter theories and three-dimensional bosonization duality. All three-point correlation functions of single-trace operators are obtained in the large-$N$ as a simple application. The idea is to construct, as an effective weakly-coupled theory, a nonlinear realization of the conformal algebra in terms of physical, gauge-invariant, operators. The efficiency of the method is also in the use of an analog of the light-cone gauge and of the momentum-space on the CFT side. AdS/CFT is used as a convenient regulato…
We consider 2-2 scattering in four spacetime dimensions in Celestial variables. Using the crossing symmetric dispersion relation (CSDR), we recast the Celestial amplitudes in terms of crossing symmetric partial waves. These partial waves have spurious singularities in the complex Celestial variable, which need to be removed in local theories. The locality constraints (null constraints) admit closed form expressions, which lead to novel bounds on partial wave moments. These bounds allow us to quantify the degree of low spin dominance(LSD) for scalar theories. We study a new kind of positivity t…
We find a simple relation between two-dimensional BPS N=2 superconformal blocks and bosonic Virasoro conformal blocks, which allows us to analyze the crossing equations for BPS 4-point functions in unitary (2,2) superconformal theories numerically with semidefinite programming. We constrain gaps in the non-BPS spectrum through the operator product expansion of BPS operators, in ways that depend on the moduli of exactly marginal deformations through chiral ring coefficients. In some cases, our bounds on the spectral gaps are observed to be saturated by free theories, by N=2 Liouville theory, an…
It is pointed out that the apparent presence of the fusing rule for purely elastic scattering theories in theories with dynamical Yangian invariance implies beautiful and hitherto unseen structure in the finite-dimensional representation theory of Yangians.
We initiate an exploration of the conformal bootstrap for $n>4$ point correlation functions. Here we bootstrap correlation functions of the lightest scalar gauge invariant operators in planar non-abelian conformal gauge theories as their locations approach the cusps of a null polygon. For that we consider consistency of the OPE in the so-called snowflake channel with respect to cyclicity transformations which leave the null configuration invariant. For general non-abelian gauge theories this allows us to strongly constrain the OPE structure constants of up to three large spin $J_j$ operators (…
We consider the form factor bootstrap approach of integrable field theories to derive matrix elements of composite branch-point twist fields associated with symmetry resolved entanglement entropies. The bootstrap equations are determined in an intuitive way and their solution is presented for the massive Ising field theory and for the genuinely interacting sinh-Gordon model, both possessing a $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ symmetry. The solutions are carefully cross-checked by performing various limits and by the application of the $Δ$-theorem. The issue of symmetry resolution for discrete symmetries is als…
We consider the general properties of effective field theories. We note that the freedom to fix the renormalization conditions in the effective field theory is not as great as it seems. The consideration of minimal requirements of correctness of the perturbative scheme based on Dyson's formula for S-matrix leads to severe restriction on the essential parameters of a theory and, hence, on the allowed set of renormalization conditions. In the first part we make a short review of the structure of localizable effective field theories. We discuss the conditions needed to ensure the correctness of t…
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…
We study a general class of functionals providing an analytic handle on the conformal bootstrap equations in one dimension. We explicitly identify the extremal functionals, corresponding to theories saturating conformal bootstrap bounds, in two regimes. The first corresponds to functionals that annihilate the generalized free fermion spectrum. In this case, we analytically find both OPE and gap maximization functionals proving the extremality of the generalized free fermion solution to crossing. Secondly, we consider a scaling limit where all conformal dimensions become large, equivalent to th…
We review unitarity and crossing constraints on scattering amplitudes for particles with spin in four dimensional quantum field theories. As an application we study two to two scattering of neutral spin 1/2 fermions in detail. Assuming Mandelstam analyticity of its scattering amplitude, we use the numerical S-matrix bootstrap method to estimate various non-perturbative bounds on quartic and cubic (Yukawa) couplings.
In this paper, we elaborate on aspects of the recently introduced BMS bootstrap programme. We consider two-dimensional (2d) field theories with BMS3 symmetry and extensively use highest weight representations to uncover the BMS version of crossing symmetry in 4-point functions that are constrained by symmetry. The BMS bootstrap equation is formulated and then analytic expressions for BMS blocks are constructed by looking at the limit of large central charges. These results are also applicable to 2d Galilean Conformal Field Theories through the isomorphism between the BMS3 and 2d Galilean Confo…
The bootstrap program for 1+1-dimensional integrable Quantum Field Theories (QFT's) is developed to a large extent for the Homogeneous sine-Gordon (HSG) models. This program can be divided into various steps, which include the computation of the exact S-matrix, Form Factors of local operators and correlation functions, as well as the identification of the operator content of the QFT and the development of various consistency checks. Taking as an input the S-matrix proposal for the HSG-models, we confirm its consistency by carrying out both a Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz (TBA) and a Form Factor a…
We study analytically the constraints of the conformal bootstrap on the low-lying spectrum of operators in field theories with global conformal symmetry in one and two spacetime dimensions. We introduce a new class of linear functionals acting on the conformal bootstrap equation. In 1D, we use the new basis to construct extremal functionals leading to the optimal upper bound on the gap above identity in the OPE of two identical primary operators of integer or half-integer scaling dimension. We also prove an upper bound on the twist gap in 2D theories with global conformal symmetry. When the ex…
The S-matrix Bootstrap originated on the idea that the S-matrix might be fully constrained by global symmetries, crossing, unitarity, and analyticity without relying on an underlying dynamical theory that may or may not be a quantum field theory. Recently this approach was revived from a somewhat different point of view. Using the same constraints, one numerically maps out the (infinite-dimensional) space of allowed S-matrices that should contain all consistent quantum field theories (and quantum theories of gravity). Moreover, in the best case scenario one finds special points in the space th…
We study the consistency of four-point functions of half-BPS chiral primary operators of weight p in four-dimensional N=4 superconformal field theories. The resulting conformal bootstrap equations impose non-trivial bounds for the scaling dimension of unprotected local operators transforming in various representations of the R-symmetry group. These bounds generalize recent bounds for operators in the singlet representation, arising from consistency of the four-point function of the stress-energy tensor multiplet.
We study the crossing equations in $d=3$ for the four point function of two $U(1)$ currents and two scalars including the presence of a parity violating term for the $s$-channel stress tensor exchange. We show the existence of a new tower of double trace operators in the $t$-channel whose presence is necessary for the crossing equation to be satisfied and determine the corresponding large spin parity violating OPE coefficients. Contrary to the parity even situation, we find that the parity odd $s$-channel light cone stress tensor block do not have logarithmic singularities. This implies that t…
There are three generalizations of the Platonic solids that exist in all dimensions, namely the hypertetrahedron, the hypercube, and the hyperoctahedron, with the latter two being dual. Conformal field theories with the associated symmetry groups as global symmetries can be argued to exist in $d=3$ spacetime dimensions if the $\varepsilon=4-d$ expansion is valid when $\varepsilon\to1$. In this paper hypercubic and hypertetrahedral theories are studied with the non-perturbative numerical conformal bootstrap. In the $N=3$ cubic case it is found that a bound with a kink is saturated by a solution…
A consistent description of gauge theories on coordinate dependent non-commutative (NC) space-time is a long-standing problem with a number of solutions, none of which is free from criticism. In this work, we discuss the approach proposed in arXiv:1803.00732, based on the conjecture that any consistent gauge theory can be described in terms of the $L_\infty$-structure. Starting with a well-defined commutative gauge theory, we represent it, together with the non-commutative deformation, as a part of a bigger $L_\infty$-algebra by setting some initial brackets $\ell_1$, $\ell_2$, etc. Then, solv…
We formulate a new bootstrap principle which allows for the construction of particle spectra involving unstable as well as stable particles. We comment on the general Lie algebraic structure which underlies theories with unstable particles and propose several new scattering matrices. We find a new Lie algebraic decoupling rule, which predicts the renormalization group flow in dependence of the relative ordering of the resonance parameters. The proposals are exemplified for some concrete theories which involve unstable particles, such as the homogeneous sine-Gordon models and their generalizati…
The applications of the existing Liouville theories for the description of the longitudinal dynamics of non-critical Nambu-Goto string are analyzed. We show that the recently developed DOZZ solution to the Liouville theory leads to the cut singularities in tree string amplitudes. We propose a new version of the Polyakov geometric approach to Liouville theory and formulate its basic consistency condition - the geometric bootstrap equation. Also in this approach the tree amplitudes develop cut singularieties.
