Many CFTs can be extended to lines of nonlocal CFTs parametrised by the scaling dimension $Δ$ of the fundamental field appearing in the action. $Δ=\frac{d}{2}-ζ$ is set by the exponent of the kinetic term $(-\partial^2)^ζ$, which is nonlocal for noninteger $ζ$. If $Δ$ is tuned to $Δ_\mathrm{local}$, the scaling dimension of the fundamental field in the local CFT, arXiv:1703.05325 showed that we recover the conformal data of that CFT (plus a decoupled sector). One natural question is: how is the local point special on this line of nonlocal CFTs? We prove that these local CFTs lie at the extrema of the (universal part of the) sphere free energy $\tilde{F}(Δ)=\sin(\frac{πd}{2}) \log Z_{S^d}$ of the long-range CFTs: $d\tilde{F}/dΔ|_{Δ=Δ_\mathrm{local}}=0$; and for unitary CFTs they locally maximise it. The simple proof uses the fact that the derivative of $\tilde{F}$ with respect to $Δ$ receives contributions only from the nonlocal terms in the action. The nonlocal terms must be absent in the limit $Δ\to Δ_\mathrm{local}$, and hence the derivative is zero. Demonstrating maximisation then requires a proof of the generalised $F$-theorem in conformal perturbation theory to subleading order. We check our result with the O$(N)$ $ϕ^4$ and cubic CFTs in the $ε$ expansion and the large-$N$ limit. This result provides a minimal encoding of the scaling dimension of the fundamental field in many CFTs, and also explains the curious derivative structure of the large-$N$ expansion of $Δ_ϕ$ in the O$(N)$ model. Finally, this nonlocal $F$-extremisation can be viewed as a non-supersymmetric version of the known $c,F,a$-extremisation mechanisms.
In this work we extensively study the dynamics of excited states created by instantaneous local quenches at two different points, i.e., double local quenches. We focus on setups in two dimensional holographic and free Dirac fermion CFTs. We calculate the energy stress tensor and entanglement entropy for double joining and splitting local quenches. In the splitting local quenches we find an interesting oscillating behaviors. Finally, we study the energy stress tensor in double operator local quenches. In all these examples, we find that, in general, there are non-trivial interactions between th…
Infinite-dimensional conformal symmetry in two dimensions leads to integrability of 2d conformal field theories through an infinite tower of local conserved qKdV charges in involution. We discuss the role this integrable structure plays in equilibration of 2d CFTs. We show that in the thermodynamic limit large central charge 2d CFTs satisfy generalized eigenstate thermalization, with the values of qKdV charges forming a complete set of thermodynamically relevant quantities, which unambiguously determine expectation values of all local observables from the vacuum family. Our work settles the qu…
Various holographic set-ups in string theory suggest the existence of non-local, UV complete two-dimensional QFTs that possess Virasoro symmetry, in spite of their non-locality. We argue that $J\bar T$-deformed CFTs are the first concrete realisation of such "non-local CFTs", through a detailed analysis of their classical and quantum symmetry algebra. Classically, the symmetries consist of an infinite set of left-moving conformal and affine $U(1)$ transformations that generate a Witt-Kac-Moody algebra, as well as a set of non-local, field-dependent generalizations of right-moving conformal and…
We study the time evolution of Renyi entanglement entropy for locally excited states in two dimensional large central charge CFTs. It generically shows a logarithmical growth and we compute the coefficient of $\log t$ term. Our analysis covers the entire parameter regions with respect to the replica number $n$ and the conformal dimension $h_O$ of the primary operator which creates the excitation. We numerically analyse relevant vacuum conformal blocks by using Zamolodchikov's recursion relation. We find that the behavior of the conformal blocks in two dimensional CFTs with a central charge $c$…
In this paper, we use the replica approach to study the Rényi entropy $S_L$ of generic locally excited states in (1+1)D CFTs, which are constructed from the insertion of multiple product of local primary operators on vacuum. Alternatively, one can calculate the Rényi entropy $S_R$ corresponding to the same states using Schmidt decomposition and operator product expansion, which reduces the multiple product of local primary operators to linear combination of operators. The equivalence $S_L=S_R$ translates into an identity in terms of the $F$ symbols and quantum dimensions for rational CFT, and …
Using numerical methods for finding Ricci-flat metrics, we explore the spectrum of local operators in two-dimensional conformal field theories defined by sigma models on Calabi-Yau targets at large volume. Focusing on the examples of K3 and the quintic, we show that the spectrum, averaged over a region in complex structure moduli space, possesses the same statistical properties as the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble of random matrix theory.
We study the structure and dynamics of entanglement in CFTs and black holes. We use a local entanglement measure, the entanglement contour, which is a spatial density function for von Neumann entropy with some additional properties. The entanglement contour can be calculated in many 1+1d condensed matter systems and simple models of black hole evaporation. We calculate the entanglement contour of a state excited by a splitting quench, and find universal results for the entanglement contours of low energy non-equilibrium states in 2d CFTs. We also calculate the contour of a non-gravitational ba…
The Rényi entanglement entropy (REE) of the states excited by local operators in two-dimensional irrational conformal field theories (CFTs), especially in Liouville field theory (LFT) and $\mathcal{N}=1$ super-Liouville field theory (SLFT), has been investigated. In particular, the excited states obtained by acting on the vacuum with primary operators were considered. {We start from evaluating the second REE in a compact $c=1$ free boson field theory at generic radius, which is an irrational CFT. Then we focus on the two special irrational CFTs, e.g., LFT and SLFT. In these theories, the secon…
We study the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis (ETH) in chaotic conformal field theories (CFTs) of arbitrary dimensions. Assuming local ETH, we compute the reduced density matrix of a ball-shaped subsystem of finite size in the infinite volume limit when the full system is an energy eigenstate. This reduced density matrix is close in trace distance to a density matrix, to which we refer as the ETH density matrix, that is independent of all the details of an eigenstate except its energy and charges under global symmetries. In two dimensions, the ETH density matrix is universal for all theori…
We construct classical theories for scalar fields in arbitrary Carroll spacetimes that are invariant under Carrollian diffeomorphisms and Weyl transformations. When the local symmetries are gauge fixed these theories become Carrollian conformal field theories. We show that generically there are at least two types of such theories: one in which only time derivatives of the fields appear and the other in which both space and time derivatives appear. A classification of such scalar field theories in three (and higher) dimensions up to two derivative order is provided. We show that only a special …
We present a new method of deriving the geometry of entanglement wedges in holography directly from conformal field theories (CFTs). We analyze an information metric called the Bures metric of reduced density matrices for locally excited states. This measures distinguishability of states with different points excited. For a subsystem given by an interval, we precisely reproduce the expected entanglement wedge for two dimensional holographic CFTs from the Bures metric, which turns out to be proportional to the AdS metric on a time slice. On the other hand, for free scalar CFTs, we do not find a…
Relaxation Process During Complex Time Evolution In Two-Dimensional Integrable and Chaotic CFTs
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学）；RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS)（理研交叉理论与数学科学研究所(iTHEMS)）；Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics（亚太理论物理中心）；University of Ljubljana（卢布尔雅那大学）；Georgia Institute of Technology（佐治亚理工学院）
Holographic Entanglement Propagation Through Wormholes
Center for Gravitational Physics and Quantum Information, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University（京都大学汤川理论物理研究所引力物理与量子信息中心）；Inamori Research Institute for Science（稻盛科学研究所）
Krylov operator complexity in holographic CFTs: Smeared boundary reconstruction and the dual proper radial momentum
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University（冲绳科学技术大学院大学）；Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology（光州科学技术院）；National Institute of Technology, Yuge College（国立丰桥技术大学宇部学院）
Following recent work on heavy-light correlators in higher-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) with a large central charge $C_T$, we clarify the properties of stress tensor composite primary operators of minimal twist, $[T^m]$, using arguments in both CFT and gravity. We provide an efficient proof that the three-point coupling $\langle \mathcal{O}_L\mathcal{O}_L [T^m]\rangle$, where $\mathcal{O}_L$ is any light primary operator, is independent of the purely gravitational action. Next, we consider corrections to this coupling due to additional interactions in AdS effective field theory …
Recently, a non-local yet possibly UV-complete quantum field theory has been constructed by deforming a two-dimensional CFT by the composite operator $J \bar T$, where $J$ is a chiral $U(1)$ current and $\bar T$ is a component of the stress tensor. Assuming the original CFT was a holographic CFT, we work out the holographic dual of its $J \bar T$ deformation. We find that the dual spacetime is still AdS$_3$, but with modified boundary conditions that mix the metric and the Chern-Simons gauge field dual to the $U(1)$ current. We show that when the coefficient of the chiral anomaly for $J$ vanis…
We study generalized symmetries of quantum field theories in 1+1D generated by topological defect lines with no inverse. This paper follows our companion paper on gapped phases and anomalies associated with these symmetries. In the present work we focus on identifying fusion category symmetries, using both specialized 1+1D methods such as the modular bootstrap and (rational) conformal field theory (CFT), as well as general methods based on gauging finite symmetries, that extend to all dimensions. We apply these methods to $c = 1$ CFTs and uncover a rich structure. We find that even those $c = …
We construct localized states defined in a ball or the half-space of a conformal field theory (CFT) in Minkowski that are thermal with respect to the local modular flow. We compute their energy density at arbitrary temperature for a variety of CFTs, and find values for which it is negative and divergent at the boundary. Despite this singular behavior we show that the energy measured by an observer is consistent with the bounds present in the literature. For holographic CFTs these states are captured by hyperbolic black holes in anti-de Sitter, where the negative energy in field theory amounts …
Symmetries, operators and correlators in $J\bar{T}$ deformed CFTs
Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, Tsinghua University（清华大学丘成桐数学科学中心）；Department of Mathematical Sciences, Tsinghua University（清华大学数学科学系）；Center for the Fundamental Laws of Nature, Harvard University（哈佛大学自然基本定律中心）
We present an analytic study of conformal field theories on the real projective space $\mathbb{RP}^d$, focusing on the two-point functions of scalar operators. Due to the partially broken conformal symmetry, these are non-trivial functions of a conformal cross ratio and are constrained to obey a crossing equation. After reviewing basic facts about the structure of correlators on $\mathbb{RP}^d$, we study a simple holographic setup which captures the essential features of boundary correlators on $\mathbb{RP}^d$. The analysis is based on calculations of Witten diagrams on the quotient space $AdS…
We study the entanglement contour, a quasi-local measure of entanglement, and propose a generic formula for the contour in 1+1d quantum systems. We use this formalism to investigate the real space entanglement structure of various static CFTs as well as local and global quantum quenches. The global quench elucidates the spatial distribution of entanglement entropy in strongly interacting CFTs and clarifies the interpretation of the entanglement tsunami picture. The entanglement tsunami effectively characterizes the non-local growth of entanglement entropy while the contour characterizes the lo…
