We consider mixed three-point correlation functions of the supercurrent and flavour current in three-dimensional $1 \leq \mathcal{N} \leq 4$ superconformal field theories. Our method is based on the decomposition of the relevant tensors into irreducible components to guarantee that all possible tensor structures are systematically taken into account. We show that only parity even structures appear in the correlation functions. In addition to the previous results obtained in arXiv:1503.04961, it follows that supersymmetry forbids parity odd structures in three-point functions involving the supercurrent and flavour current multiplets.
We study global subalgebras of superconformal algebras in two dimensions and their unitary representations. Global superconformal multiplets are decomposed into conformal multiplets using Racah-Speiser algorithm, revealing many essential aspects of superconformal theories such as stress-energy tensor, conserved current, supersymmetric deformation and supersymmetry enhancement. Character formulae for the representations are presented. We further find a collection of conserved charges that are $k$-forms under the R-symmetry, which must be part of the super Virasoro algebra with $\mathcal{N} \geq…
Given a conserved and traceless energy-momentum tensor and a conformal Killing vector, one obtains a conserved current. We generalise this construction to superconformal theories in three, four, five and six dimensions with various amounts of supersymmetry by working in the appropriate superspaces.
We consider $\mathcal{N=1}$ superconformal field theories in three-dimensions possessing a conserved current multiplet $\mathcal{F}_{ (α_{1} α_{2} α_{3} α_{4}) }$ which we refer to as the superspin-2 current multiplet. At the component level it contains a conserved spin-2 current different from the energy-momentum tensor and a conserved fermionic higher spin current of spin 5/2. Using a superspace formulation, we calculate correlation functions involving $\mathcal{F}$, focusing particularly on the three-point function $ \langle \mathcal{F} \mathcal{F} \mathcal{F} \rangle $. After imposing the …
For SCFTs with an $SU(2)$ R-symmetry, we determine the superconformal blocks that contribute to the four-point correlation function of a priori distinct half-BPS superconformal primaries as an expansion in terms of the relevant bosonic conformal blocks. This is achieved by using the superconformal Casimir equation and the superconformal Ward identity to fix the coefficients of the bosonic blocks uniquely in a dimension-independent way. In addition we find that many of the resulting coefficients are related through a web of linear transformations of the conformal data.
Using superspace techniques, we compute the mixed OPE between an ${\mathcal N}=2$ stress-tensor multiplet, a chiral multiplet and a flavor current multiplet. We perform a detailed analysis of the three-point function between two of the mentioned multiplets and a third arbitrary operator. We then solve all the constraints coming from the ${\mathcal N}=2$ superconformal symmetry and from the equations of motion and/or conservation equations, and obtain all the possible operators that can appear in the expansion. This calculation is the first step towards a more general superconformal block analy…
Based on the structure of the three-dimensional superconformal algebra we show that every irreducible ${\mathcal N}=6$ three-dimensional superconformal theory containes exactly one conserved U(1)-symmetry current in the stress tensor supermultiplet and that superconformal symmetry of every ${\mathcal N}=7$ superconformal theory is in fact enhanced to ${\mathcal N}=8$. Moreover, an irreducible ${\cal N}=8$ superconformal theory does not have any global symmetries. The first observation explains why all known examples of ${\mathcal N}=6$ superconformal theories have a global abelian symmetry.
We prove explicitly that the general D=3, N=4 Chern-Simons-matter (CSM) theory has a complete OSp(4|4) superconformal symmetry, and construct the corresponding conserved currents. We re-derive the OSp(5|4) superconformal currents in the general N=5 theory as special cases of the OSp(4|4) currents by enhancing the supersymmetry from N=4 to N=5. The closure of the full OSp(4|4) superconformal algebra is verified explicitly.
We demonstrate that the general D=3, N=5 Chern-Simons matter theory possesses a full OSp(5|4) superconformal symmetry, and construct the corresponding superconformal currents. The closure of the superconformal algebra is verified in detail. We also show that the conserved OSp(6|4) superconformal currents in the general N=6 theory can be obtained as special cases of the OSp(5|4) currents by enhancing the R-symmetry of the N=5 theory from USp(4) to SU(4).
Mixed anomalies, higher form symmetries, two-group symmetries and non-invertible symmetries have proved to be useful in providing non-trivial constraints on the dynamics of quantum field theories. We study mixed anomalies involving discrete zero-form global symmetries, and possibly a one-form symmetry, in 3d $\mathcal{N} \geq 3$ gauge theories using the superconformal index. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated via several classes of theories, including Chern-Simons-matter theories, such as the $\mathrm{U}(1)_k$ gauge theory with hypermultiplets of diverse charges, the $T(\mathrm{S…
For N-extended superconformal field theories in three spacetime dimensions (3D), with N=1,2,3, we compute the two- and three-point correlation functions of the supercurrent and the flavour current multiplets. We demonstrate that supersymmetry imposes additional restrictions on the correlators of conserved currents as compared with the non-supersymmetric case studied by Osborn and Petkou in hep-th/9307010. It is shown that the three-point function of the supercurrent is determined by a single functional form consistent with the conservation equation and all the symmetry properties. Similarly, t…
It's well known that in conformal theories the two- and three-point functions of a subset of the local operators-the conformal primaries-suffice, via the operator product expansion (OPE), to determine all local correlation functions of operators. It's less well known that, in superconformal theories, the OPE of superdescendants is generally undetermined from those of the superprimaries, and there is no universal notion of superconformal blocks. We recall these and related aspects of 4d (S)CFTs, and then we focus on the super operator product expansion (sOPE) of conserved currents in 4d N=1 SCF…
We systematically analyze the operator content of unitary superconformal multiplets in $d > 3$ spacetime dimensions. We present a simple, general, and efficient algorithm that generates all of these multiplets by correctly eliminating possible null states. The algorithm is conjectural, but passes a vast web of consistency checks. We apply it to tabulate a large variety of superconformal multiplets. In particular, we classify and construct all multiplets that contain conserved currents or free fields, which play an important role in superconformal field theories (SCFTs). Some currents that are …
We derive the explicit expression for the four-point correlation function of stress-energy tensors in four-dimensional N=4 superconformal theory. We show that it has a remarkably simple and suggestive form allowing us to predict a large class of four-point correlation functions involving the stress-energy tensor and other conserved currents. We then apply the obtained results on the correlation functions to computing the energy-energy correlations, which measure the flow of energy in the final states created from the vacuum by a source. We demonstrate that they are given by a universal functio…
We study implications of N=4 superconformal symmetry in three dimensions, thus extending our earlier results in arXiv:1503.04961 devoted to the N=1,2,3 cases. We show that the three-point function of the supercurrent in N=4 superconformal field theories contains two linearly independent forms. However, only one of these structures contributes to the three-point function of the energy-momentum tensor and the other one is present in those N=4 superconformal theories which are not invariant under the mirror map. We point out that general N=4 superconformal field theories admit two inequivalent fl…
We present the full list of conserved currents built of two massless spinor fields in Minkowski space and their derivatives multiplied by Clifford algebra elements. The currents have particular mixed-symmetry type described by Young diagrams with one row and one column of arbitrary lengths and heights. Along with Yukawa-like totally antisymmetric currents the complete set of constructed currents exactly matches the spectrum of AdS mixed-symmetry fields arising in the generalized Flato-Fronsdal theorem for two spinor singletons. As a by-product, we formulate and study general properties of prim…
We extend the superembedding formalism for 4D N=1 superconformal field theory (SCFT) to the case of fields in arbitrary representations of the superconformal group SU(2,2|1). As applications we obtain manifestly superconformally covariant expressions for two- and three-point functions involving conserved currents, e.g. the supercurrent multiplet or global symmetry current superfields. The embedding space results are presented in a compact form by employing an index-free formalism. Our expressions are consistent with the literature, but the manifestly covariant forms of correlators presented he…
In this paper we study the three-point correlation functions of two scalar operators with large conformal dimensions and the R-current or stress-energy tensor at strong coupling with the help of the AdS_4/CFT_3 correspondence. The scalar operators are dual to semiclassical strings in AdS_4 x CP^3, which are point-like in AdS. We establish thorough concordance between string theory results at large coupling constant and general predictions coming from Ward identities in the dual three-dimensional superconformal gauge theory.
Recently there has appeared in the literature a sequence of papers questioning the consistency of supergravity coupled to Fayet-Iliopoulos terms. A key feature of these arguments is a demonstration that the conventional superspace stress tensor fails to be gauge invariant. We briefly show here how this can be understood as defining the stress tensor in a non-covariant Brans-Dicke frame in an underlying superconformal theory. When converted to the Einstein frame, the inconsistency vanishes, which is consistent with the emergence of a global symmetry discussed in these papers.
In this paper, we study the general form of three-point functions of conserved current multiplets $S_{α(k)}= S_{(α_1 \dots α_k)}$ of arbitrary rank in four-dimensional ${\mathcal N}=1$ superconformal theory. We find that the correlation function of three such operators $\langle \bar{S}_{\dotα(k)} (z_1) S_{β(k+l)} (z_2) \bar{S}_{\dotγ(l)} (z_3) \rangle$ is fixed by the superconformal symmetry up to a single complex coefficient though the precise form of the correlator depends on the values of $k$ and $l$. In addition, we present the general structure of mixed correlators of the form $\langle \b…
We construct superconformal invariants in superspace which are used to build 3-point correlators of spinning operators in general $\cal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories in three dimensions. Our systematic analysis includes various relations between these invariants and provides a minimal set of parity-even and parity-odd invariants which is further used to construct general 3-point functions in any 3d $\cal{N}=2$ SCFT. For conserved (super)currents, we explicitly compute various 3-point functions using Wick contractions in the free field case, and express them in terms of the constructed pa…
We give a new expression for the supercurrent and its conservation in curved ${\cal N}=1$, $D=4$ superspace using the superconformal approach. The first component of the superfield, whose lowest component is the vector auxiliary field gives the (super)Einstein equations. Its trace and couplings to conformal and non-conformal matter is presented. In a suitable dilatational gauge, the conformal gauge, we obtain an update of the Callan-Coleman-Jackiw improved currents for conformal matter, containing $R$-symmetry corrections for a new traceless covariantly conserved energy--momentum tensor. We ob…
We describe an approach to classifying four-dimensional conformal field theories with N=2 supersymmetry and a Coulomb branch of vacua with the topology of the complex plane. We also discuss the Higgs/mixed branches and conformal/flavor central charges.
We construct three-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric conformal field theories on conic spaces. Built upon the fact that the partition function depends solely on the Reeb vector of the Killing vector, we propose that holographic dual of these theories are four-dimensional, supersymmetric charged topological black holes. With the supersymmetry localization technique, we study conserved supercharges, free energy, and Renyi entropy. At planar large N limit, we demonstrate perfect agreement between the superconformal field theories and the supersymmetric charged topological black holes.
We summarize all the known properties of the supersymmetric integrable Two Boson equation. We present its nonstandard Lax formulation and tri-Hamiltonian structure, its reduction to the supersymmetric nonlinear Schrödinger equation and the local as well as nonlocal conserved charges. We also present the algebra of the conserved charges and identify its second Hamiltonian structure with the twisted $N=2$ superconformal algebra.
The numerical conformal bootstrap is used to study mixed correlators in $\mathcal{N}=1$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) in $d=4$ spacetime dimensions. Systems of four-point functions involving scalar chiral and real operators are analyzed, including the case where the scalar real operator is the zero component of a global conserved current multiplet. New results on superconformal blocks as well as universal constraints on the space of 4D $\mathcal{N}=1$ SCFTs with chiral operators are presented. At the level of precision used, the conditions under which the putative "minimal" 4D $\mathca…
We develop a general formalism to study the three-point correlation functions of conserved higher-spin supercurrent multiplets $J_{α(r) \dotα(r)}$ in 4D ${\cal N}=1$ superconformal theory. All the constraints imposed by ${\cal N}=1$ superconformal symmetry on the three-point function $\langle J_{α(r_1) \dotα(r_1)} J_{β(r_2) \dotβ(r_2) }J_{γ(r_3) \dotγ(r_3)}\rangle$ are systematically derived for arbitrary $r_1, r_2, r_3$, thus reducing the problem mostly to computational and combinatorial. As an illustrative example, we explicitly work out the allowed tensor structures contained in $\langle J_…
We study the application of our recent holographic entanglement negativity conjecture for mixed states of adjacent subsystems in conformal field theories with a conserved charge. In this context we obtain the holographic entanglement negativity for zero and finite temperature mixed state configurations in $d$-dimensional conformal field theories dual to bulk extremal and non extremal charged $AdS_{d+1}$ black holes. Our results conform to quantum information theory expectations and constitute significant consistency checks for our conjecture.
We consider conformal and 't Hooft anomalies in six-dimensional ${\cal N}=(1,0)$ superconformal field theories, focusing on those conformal anomalies that determine the two- and three-point functions of conserved flavor and $SU(2)_R$ currents, as well as stress tensors. By analyzing these correlators in superspace, we explain why the number of independent conformal anomalies is reduced in supersymmetric theories. For instance, non-supersymmetric CFTs in six dimensions have three independent conformal $c$-anomalies, which determine the stress-tensor two- and three-point functions, but in superc…
We present a comprehensive analysis of supersymmetry anomalies in the free and massless Wess-Zumino (WZ) model in perturbation theory. At the classical level the model possesses ${\mathcal N}=1$ superconformal symmetry, which is partially broken by quantum anomalies. The form of the anomalies and the part of the symmetry they break depend on the multiplet of conserved currents used. It was previously shown that the R-symmetry anomaly of the conformal current multiplet induces an anomaly in Q-supersymmetry, which appears first in 4-point functions. Here we confirm this result by an explicit 1-l…
We study N=1 supersymmetric SU(N) gauge theories with an antisymmetric tensor and F flavors using the recent proposal of a-maximization by Intriligator and Wecht. This theory had previously been studied using the method of "deconfinement", but such an analysis was not conclusive since anomalous dimensions in the non-perturbative regime could not be calculated. Using a-maximization we show that for a large range of F the theory is at an interacting superconformal fixed point. However, we also find evidence that for a range of F the theory in the IR splits into a free "magnetic" gauge sector and…
A fully quantum version of the Witten-Olive analysis of the central charge in the N=1 Wess-Zumino model in $d=2$ with a kink solution is presented by using path integrals in superspace. We regulate the Jacobians with heat kernels in superspace, and obtain all superconformal anomalies as one Jacobian factor. The conserved quantum currents differ from the Noether currents by terms proportional to field equations, and these terms contribute to the anomalies. We identify the particular variation of the superfield which produces the central charge current and its anomaly; it is the variation of the…
We study superconformal deformations of the $T_ρ^{\hatρ}[SU(N)]$ theories of Gaiotto-Hanany-Witten, paying special attention to mixed-branch operators with both electrically- and magnetically-charged fields. We explain why all marginal ${\cal N}=2$ operators of an ${\cal N}=4$ CFT$_3$ can be extracted unambiguously from the superconformal index. Computing the index at the appropriate order we show that the mixed moduli in $T_ρ^{\hatρ}[SU(N)]$ theories are double-string operators transforming in the (Adjoint, Adjoint) representation of the electric and magnetic flavour groups, up to some overco…
We give a general analysis of AdS boundary conditions for spin-3/2 Rarita-Schwinger fields and investigate boundary conditions preserving supersymmetry for a graviton multiplet in AdS_4. Linear Rarita-Schwinger fields in AdS_d are shown to admit mixed Dirichlet-Neumann boundary conditions when their mass is in the range $0 \leq |m| < 1/2l_{AdS}$. We also demonstrate that mixed boundary conditions are allowed for larger masses when the inner product is "renormalized" accordingly with the action. We then use the results obtained for |m| = 1/l_{AdS} to explore supersymmetric boundary conditions f…
In four dimensional N=1 supersymmetric field theory it is often the case that the $U(1)_R$ current that becomes part of the superconformal algebra at the infrared fixed point is conserved throughout the renormalization group (RG) flow. We show that when that happens, the central charge $a$ decreases under RG flow. The main tool we employ is an extension of recent ideas on ``$a$-maximization'' away from fixed points of the RG. This extension is useful more generally in studying RG flows in supersymmetric theories.
We analyze the structure of a particular higher derivative correction of five-dimensional ungauged and gauged supergravity with eight supercharges. Specifically, we determine all the purely bosonic terms which are connected by the supersymmetry transformation to the mixed gauge-gravitational Chern-Simons term, W wedge tr R wedge R. Our construction utilizes the superconformal formulation of supergravity. As an application, we determine the condition for the supersymmetric anti-de Sitter vacuum with this term. We check that it gives precisely the same condition as the a-maximization in four-dim…
We analyze correlation functions of Wilson loop observables and local vertex operators within the strong-coupling regime of the AdS/CFT correspondence. When the local operator corresponds to a light string state with finite conserved charges the correlation function can be evaluated in the semiclassical approximation of large string tension, where the contribution from the light vertex can be neglected. We consider the cases where the Wilson loops are described by two concentric surfaces and the local vertices are the superconformal chiral primary scalar or a singlet massive scalar operator.
We present a detailed study of the pulsating string solutions in AdS3 x S3 supported by both RR and NS-NS fluxes. This background has recently been proved to be integrable. We find the dispersion relation between the energy, oscillation number and other conserved charges when the NS-NS flux turned on is small. We further discuss the fate of the string solutions in pure RR and NS-NS cases.
Non-invertible symmetries and mixed anomalies from conserved current construction in (3+1)D twisted $BF$ topological quantum field theories
Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems（马克斯·普朗克复杂系统物理研究所）；School of Physics, Sun Yat-sen University（中山大学物理学院）；Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, Tsinghua University（清华大学丘成桐数学科学中心）
We uncover 2-group symmetries in 6d superconformal field theories. These symmetries arise when the discrete 1-form symmetry and continuous flavor symmetry group of a theory mix with each other. We classify all 6d superconformal field theories with such 2-group symmetries. The approach taken in 6d is applicable more generally, with minor modifications to include dimension specific operators (such as instantons in 5d and monopoles in 3d), and we provide a discussion of the dimension-independent aspects of the analysis. We include an ancillary mathematica code for computing 2-group symmetries, on…
We extend our previous work arXiv:1012.5721 [hep-th] on the non-compact N=2 SCFT_2 defined as the supersymmetric SL(2,R)/U(1)-gauged WZW model. Starting from path-integral calculations of torus partition functions of both the axial-type (`cigar') and the vector-type (`trumpet') models, we study general models of the Z_M-orbifolds and M-fold covers with an arbitrary integer M. We then extract contributions of the degenerate representations (`discrete characters') in such a way that good modular properties are preserved. The `modular completion' of the extended discrete characters introduced in …
We investigate cubic interactions between a chiral superfield and higher spin superfield corresponding to irreducible representations of the $4D,\, \mathcal{N}=1$ super-Poincaré algebra. We do this by demanding an invariance under the most general transformation, linear in the chiral superfield. Following Noether's method we construct an infinite tower of higher spin supercurrent multiplets which are quadratic in the chiral superfield and include higher derivatives. The results are that a single, massless, chiral superfield can couple only to the half-integer spin supermultiplets $(s+1,s+1/2)$…
We consider a class of non-unitary Toda theories based on the Lie superalgebras $A^{(1)}(n,n)$ in two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime, which can be twisted into a topological sector. In particular we study the simplest example with $n=1$ and real fields, and show how this theory can be treated as an integrable perturbation of the $A(1,0)$ superconformal model. We construct the conserved currents and the vertex operators which are chiral primary fields in the conformal theory. We then define the chiral ring of the $A^{(1)}(1,1)$ Toda theory and compute topological correlation functions in the t…
We study rigidly rotating and pulsating $(m,n)$ strings in $AdS_3 \times S^3$ with mixed three form flux. The $AdS_3 \times S^3$ background with mixed three form flux is obtained in the near horizon limit of $SL(2,Z)$-transformed solution, corresponding to the bound state of NS5-branes and fundamental strings. We study the probe $(m,n)-$string in this background by solving the manifest $SL(2,Z)-$covariant form of the action. We find out the dyonic giant magnon and single spike solutions corresponding to the equations of motion of a probe string in this background and find out various relations…
We found another N=1 odd superanalog of complex structure (the even one is widely used in the theory of super Riemann surfaces). New N=1 superconformal-like transformations are similar to anti-holomorphic ones of nonsupersymmetric complex function theory. They are dual to the ordinary superconformal transformations subject to the Berezinian addition formula presented, noninvertible, highly degenerated and twist parity of the tangent space in the standard basis. They also lead to the ''mixed cocycle condition'' which can be used in building noninvertible objects analogous to super Riemann surfa…
We compute the partition function of $\mathcal N=2$ supersymmetric mixed dimensional QED on a squashed hemisphere using localization. Mixed dimensional QED is an abelian gauge theory coupled to charged matter fields at the boundary. The partition function is a function of the complex gauge coupling $τ$, the choice of R-symmetry and the squashing deformation. The superconformal R-symmetry is determined using the 3-dimensional F-maximization. The free energy as a function of squashing deformation allows computing correlation functions that contain the insertion of the energy-momentum tensor. We …
We consistently couple simple continuum field theories with fracton excitations to curved spacetime backgrounds. We consider homogeneous and isotropic fracton field theories, with a conserved $U(1)$ charge and dipole moment. Coupling to background fields allows us to consistently define a stress-energy tensor for these theories and obtain the respective Ward identities. Along the way, we find evidence for a mixed gauge-gravitational anomaly in the symmetric tensor gauge theory which naturally couples to conserved dipoles. Our results generalise to systems with arbitrarily higher conserved mome…
Compactifying the 6-dimensional (2,0) superconformal field theory, of type ADE, on a Riemann surface, $C$, with codimension-2 defect operators at points on $C$, yields a 4-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theory. An outstanding problem is to classify the 4D theories one obtains, in this way, and to understand their properties. In this paper, we turn our attention to the $E_6$ (2,0) theory, which (unlike the A- and D-series) has no realization in terms of M5-branes. Classifying the 4D theories amounts to classifying all of the 3-punctured spheres ("fixtures"), and the cylinders …
We show that a special superconformal coset (with $\hat c =3$) is equivalent to $c=1$ matter coupled to two dimensional gravity. This identification allows a direct computation of the correlation functions of the $c=1$ non-critical string to all genus, and at nonzero cosmological constant, directly from the continuum approach. The results agree with those of the matrix model. Moreover we connect our coset with a twisted version of a Euclidean two dimensional black hole, in which the ghost and matter systems are mixed.
