English

Exact C=1 Boundary Conformal Field Theories

High Energy Physics - Theory 2009-10-22 v1 Condensed Matter

Abstract

We present a solution of the problem of a free massless scalar field on the half line interacting through a periodic potential on the boundary. For a critical value of the period, this system is a conformal field theory with a non-trivial and explicitly calculable S-matrix for scattering from the boundary. Unlike all other exactly solvable conformal field theories, it is non-rational ({\it i.e.} has infinitely many primary fields). It describes the critical behavior of a number of condensed matter systems, including dissipative quantum mechanics and of barriers in ``quantum wires''.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.hep-th/9311092,
  title  = {Exact C=1 Boundary Conformal Field Theories},
  author = {Curtis G. Callan and Igor R. Klebanov},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/9311092},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

harvmac, 10 pages, PUPT-1432/IASSNS-HEP-93/78