Related papers: Line and surface defects for the free scalar field
We construct field theories in $2+1$ dimensions with multiple conformal symmetries acting on only one of the spatial directions. These can be considered a conformal extension to "subsystem scale invariances", borrowing the language often…
We consider the generalizations of the free U(N) and O(N) scalar conformal field theories to actions with higher powers of the Laplacian box^k, in general dimension d. We study the spectra, Verma modules, anomalies and OPE of these…
We give a non-perturbative proof that any 4D unitary and Lorentz-invariant quantum field theory with a conserved scale current is in fact conformally invariant. We show that any scale invariant theory (unitary or not) must have either a…
QCD in $d=4-2\epsilon$ space-time dimensions possesses a nontrivial critical point. Scale invariance usually implies conformal symmetry so that there are good reasons to expect that QCD at the critical point restricted to the gauge…
We explore higher-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) in the presence of a conformal defect that itself hosts another sub-dimensional defect. We refer to this new kind of conformal defect as the composite defect. We elaborate on the…
We outline a general strategy developed for the analysis of critical models, which we apply to obtain a heuristic classification of all universality classes with up to three field-theoretical scalar order parameters in $d=6-\epsilon$…
The presence of a boundary (or defect) in a conformal field theory allows one to generalize the notion of an exactly marginal deformation. Without a boundary, one must find an operator of protected scaling dimension $\Delta$ equal to the…
We study properties of non-topological solitons in two-dimensional conformal field theory. The spectrum of linear perturbations on these solutions is found to be trivial, containing only symmetry-related zero modes. The interpretation of…
It was demonstrated in recent work that $d=4$ unitary CFT's satisfy a special property: if a scalar operator with conformal dimension $\Delta$ exists in the operator spectrum, then the conformal bootstrap demands that large spin primary…
I discuss some aspects of conformal defects and conformal interfaces in two spacetime dimensions. Special emphasis is placed on their role as spectrum-generating symmetries of classical string theory.
We study the implications of scale invariance in four-dimensional quantum field theories. Imposing unitarity, we find that infinitely many matrix elements vanish in a suitable kinematical configuration. This vanishing is a nontrivial…
We make an exact field theoretical computation of the conformal anomaly for two-dimensional submanifold observables. By including a scalar field in the definition for the Wilson surface, as appropriate for a spontaneously broken A_1 theory,…
There has been recent interest in the question of whether four dimensional scale invariant unitary quantum field theories are actually conformally invariant. In this note we present a complete analysis of possible scale anomalies in…
Conformal defects describe the universal behaviors of a conformal field theory (CFT) in the presence of a boundary or more general impurities. The coupled critical system is characterized by new conformal anomalies which are analogous to,…
Extended objects such as line or surface operators, interfaces or boundaries play an important role in conformal field theory. Here we propose a systematic approach to the relevant conformal blocks which are argued to coincide with the wave…
We investigate exactly solvable two-dimensional conformal field theories that exist at generic values of the central charge, and that interpolate between A-series or D-series minimal models. When the central charge becomes rational,…
The effect of a co--dimension--2 spherical monodromy defect on the free--field theory of a conformal scalar is investigated. The conformal anomaly is computed (in two ways) and thence the R\'enyi and entanglement entropies. The $C_T$…
Boundaries in three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal theories may preserve one half of the original bulk supersymmetry. There are two possibilities which are characterized by the chirality of the leftover supercharges. Depending…
We extend the work of [4] to support the conjecture that any conformal field theory with a large N expansion and a large gap in the spectrum of anomalous dimensions has a local bulk dual. We count to O(1/N^2) the solutions to the crossing…
We analyze the constraints on the general form and the singularity structure of the correlation functions of the symmetric, traceless and conserved stress-energy tensor implied by conformal invariance and higher spin symmetry in four…