Related papers: Conformal Surface Defects in Maxwell Theory are Tr…
For a single free scalar field in $d \geq 2$ dimensions, almost all the unitary conformal defects must be `trivial' in the sense that they cannot hold interesting dynamics. The only possible exceptions are monodromy defects in $d \geq 4$…
Defects in conformal field theories are interesting objects to study from both formal and applied points of view. In this paper, we construct conformal defects in free scalar field CFTs in diverse dimensions. After discussing the possible…
Symmetries corresponding to local transformations of the fundamental fields that leave the action invariant give rise to (invertible) topological defects, which obey group-like fusion rules. One can construct more general (codimension-one)…
We study co-dimension two monodromy defects in theories of conformally coupled scalars and free Dirac fermions in arbitrary $d$ dimensions. We characterise this family of conformal defects by computing the one-point functions of the…
We argue that interacting conformal line defects in free quantum field theories can exist, provided that inversion symmetry is broken. Important for our demonstration is the existence of a special cross ratio for bulk-defect-defect three…
We study various aspects of codimension one defects in free scalar field theory, with particular emphasis on line defects in two-dimensions. These defects are generically non-conformal, but include conformal and topological defects as…
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…
The free Maxwell theory in D<>4 dimensions provides a physical example of a unitary, scale invariant theory which is NOT conformally invariant. The easiest way to see this is that the field strength operator F_mn is neither a primary nor a…
This paper is designed to be a practical tool for constructing and investigating two-point correlation functions in defect conformal field theory, directly in physical space, between any two bulk primaries or between a bulk primary and a…
In this paper we study the constraints imposed by conformal invariance on extended objects a.k.a defects in a conformal field theory. We identify a particularly nice class of defects that is closed under conformal transformations.…
We study the constraints of superconformal symmetry on codimension two defects in four-dimensional superconformal field theories. We show that the one-point function of the stress tensor and the two-point function of the displacement…
The tensors which may be defined on the conformal manifold for six dimensional CFTs with exactly marginal operators are analysed by considering the response to a Weyl rescaling of the metric in the presence of local couplings. It is shown…
Introduction to two dimensional conformal field theory on open and unoriented surfaces. The construction is illustrated in detail on the example of SU(2) WZW models.
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 symmetry-breaking line defects in the Wilson-Fisher theory with $O(2N+1)$ global symmetry near four dimensions and symmetry-preserving surface defects in a cubic model with $O(2N)$ global symmetry near six dimensions. We introduce…
The problem of duality symmetry in free field models is examined in details by performing a mode expansion of these fields which provides a mapping with the purely quantum mechanical example of a harmonic oscillator. By analysing the…
The implications of restricted conformal invariance under conformal transformations preserving a plane boundary are discussed for general dimensions $d$. Calculations of the universal function of a conformal invariant $\xi$ which appears in…
We discuss consequences of the breaking of conformal symmetry by a flat or spherical extended operator. We adapt the embedding formalism to the study of correlation functions of symmetric traceless tensors in the presence of the defect.…
Free Maxwell theory on general four-manifolds may, under certain conditions on the background geometry, exhibit holomorphic factorization in its partition function. We show that when this occurs, new discrete symmetries emerge at orbifold…
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…