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arXiv:1802.02319 · Journal of High Energy Physics

A structural test for the conformal invariance of the critical 3d Ising model

Simão M. João, João Penedones, Slava Rychkov, J. M. Viana Parente Lopes, Pierre Yvernay

Published Apr 1, 2019• 17 citations
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Abstract

Abstract How can a renormalization group fixed point be scale invariant without being conformal? Polchinski (1988) showed that this may happen if the theory contains a virial current — a non-conserved vector operator of dimension exactly (d − 1), whose divergence expresses the trace of the stress tensor. We point out that this scenario can be probed via lattice Monte Carlo simulations, using the critical 3d Ising model as an example. Our results put a lower bound Δ V > 5.0 on the scaling dimension of the lowest virial current candidate V, well above 2 expected for the true virial current. This implies that the critical 3d Ising model has no virial current, providing a structural explanation for the conformal invariance of the model.

DOI
10.1007/jhep04(2019)115

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Comment on "A structural test for the conformal invariance of the critical 3d Ising model" by S. Meneses, S. Rychkov, J. M. Viana Parente Lopes and P. Yvernay. arXiv:1802.02319

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In a recent preprint [ArXiv 1802.02319], Meneses et al. challenge our proof that scale invariance implies conformal invariance for the three-dimensional Ising model [B. Delamotte, M. Tissier and N. Wschebor, Phys. Rev. E 93 (2016), 012144.]. We refute their arguments. We also point out a mistake in their one-loop calculation of the dimension of the vector operator $V_μ$ of lowest dimension which is not a total derivative.

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Scale invariance implies conformal invariance for the three-dimensional Ising model

Bertrand Delamotte, Matthieu Tissier, Nicolás Wschebor

Using the Wilson renormalization group, we show that if no integrated vector operator of scaling dimension -1 exists, then scale invariance implies conformal invariance. By using the Lebowitz inequalities, we prove that this necessary condition is fulfilled in all dimensions for the Ising universality class. This shows, in particular, that scale invariance implies conformal invariance for the three-dimensional Ising model.

arXiv:1501.01776•Physical review. E•Jan 25, 2016•42 citations
Abstract How can a renormalization group fixed point be scale invariant without being conformal? Polchinski (1988) showed that this may happen if the theory contains a virial current — a non-conserved vector operator of dimension exactly (d − 1), whose divergence expresses the trace of the stress tensor. We point out that this scenario can be probed via lattice Monte Carlo simulations, using the critical 3d Ising model as an example. Our results put a lower bound Δ V > 5.0 on the scaling dimension of the lowest virial current candidate V, well above 2 expected for the true virial current. This implies that the critical 3d Ising model has no virial current, providing a structural explanation for the conformal invariance of the model.
In a recent preprint [ArXiv 1802.02319], Meneses et al. challenge our proof that scale invariance implies conformal invariance for the three-dimensional Ising model [B. Delamotte, M. Tissier and N. Wschebor, Phys. Rev. E 93 (2016), 012144.]. We refute their arguments. We also point out a mistake in their one-loop calculation of the dimension of the vector operator VμV_μVμ​ of lowest dimension which is not a total derivative.
It is widely expected that the realization of scale invariance in the critical regime implies conformal invariance for a large class of systems. This is known to be true if there exist no integrated operator which transforms like a vector under rotations and which has scaling dimension −1-1−1. In this article we give exact expressions for the critical exponents of some of these vector operators. In particular, we show that one operator has scaling dimension exactly 3 in any space dimension. This operator turns out be the leading operator at least in d=2d=2d=2 and d=4d=4d=4. Moreover, we prove that the operator previously considered in Monte-Carlo simulations has also scaling dimension exactly 333 in any dimension.
The fractal structure and scaling properties of a 2d slice of the 3d Ising model is studied using Monte Carlo techniques. The percolation transition of geometric spin (GS) clusters is found to occur at the Curie point, reflecting the critical behavior of the 3d model. The fractal dimension and the winding angle statistics of the perimeter and external perimeter of the geometric spin clusters at the critical point suggest that, if conformally invariant in the scaling limit, they can be described by the theory of Schramm-Löwner evolution (SLE κ ) with diffusivity of κ=5 and 16/5, respectively, putting them in the same universality class as the interfaces in 2d tricritical Ising model. It is also found that the Fortuin-Kasteleyn (FK) clusters associated with the cross-sections undergo a nontrivial percolation transition, in the same universality class as the ordinary 2d critical percolation.
We investigate a critical Ising-like model in the curved geometry ${S}^{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{R}^{1}$ obtained by a conformal mapping of the infinite 3D space R3{R}^{3}R3. The incompatibility of regular lattices with this geometry is avoided by use of the anisotropic limit of the lattice Ising model, which renders one of the space coordinates continuous. We determine magnetic and energylike correlation lengths of this model by means of a cluster Monte Carlo algorithm. From these data, and the assumption of conformal invariance, we obtain the magnetic and temperature scaling dimensions as Xh=0.5178(12){X}_{h}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0.5178(12)Xh​=0.5178(12) and Xt=1.423(19){X}_{t}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1.423(19)Xt​=1.423(19), respectively. These numbers are in a good agreement with the existing results for the 3D Ising universality class.
Inspired by the possibility of emergent supersymmetry in critical random systems, we study a field theory model with a quartic potential of one superfield, possessing the Parisi-Sourlas supertranslation symmetry. Within perturbative ε expansion, we find nine nontrivial scale-invariant renormalization group fixed points, but only one of them is conformal. We, however, believe scale invariance without conformal invariance cannot occur without a sophisticated mechanism because it predicts the existence of a nonconserved but nonrenormalized vector operator called virial current, whose existence must be nongeneric. We show that the virial current in this model is related to the supercurrent by supertranslation. The supertranslation Ward-Takahashi identity circumvents the genericity argument, explaining its nonrenormalization property.