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arXiv:2308.16839

Twist operator correlators and isomonodromic tau functions from modular Hamiltonians

Hewei Frederic Jia

Published Aug 31, 2023• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We introduce a novel approach for computing the twist operator correlators (TOC) in two-dimensional conformal field theories (2d CFT) and the closely related isomonodromic tau functions. The method stems from the formal path integral representation of the ground state reduced density matrix in 2d CFT, and exploits properties of the associated modular Hamiltonians. For a class of genus-zero TOC/tau functions associated with branched covers with non-abelian monodromy group, we present: i) a determinantal representation derived from the correlation matrix method for free fermions, and ii) a formal integral representation derived from the universal single-interval modular Hamiltonians. For the class of genus-zero TOC/tau functions, we also argue an approximate factorization property, utilizing the known ground state correlation structure of large-$c$ holographic CFT and the universality of genus-zero TOCs. We provide explicit examples for verifying the determinantal representation and the approximate factorization property.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2308.16839

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We introduce a novel approach for computing the twist operator correlators (TOC) in two-dimensional conformal field theories (2d CFT) and the closely related isomonodromic tau functions. The method stems from the formal path integral representation of the ground state reduced density matrix in 2d CFT, and exploits properties of the associated modular Hamiltonians. For a class of genus-zero TOC/tau functions associated with branched covers with non-abelian monodromy group, we present: i) a determinantal representation derived from the correlation matrix method for free fermions, and ii) a formal integral representation derived from the universal single-interval modular Hamiltonians. For the class of genus-zero TOC/tau functions, we also argue an approximate factorization property, utilizing the known ground state correlation structure of large-ccc holographic CFT and the universality of genus-zero TOCs. We provide explicit examples for verifying the determinantal representation and the approximate factorization property.
Abstract We obtain an asymptotic formula for the average value of the operator product expansion coefficients of any unitary, compact two dimensional CFT with c > 1. This formula is valid when one or more of the operators has large dimension or — in the presence of a twist gap — has large spin. Our formula is universal in the sense that it depends only on the central charge and not on any other details of the theory. This result unifies all previous asymptotic formulas for CFT2 structure constants, including those derived from crossing symmetry of four point functions, modular covariance of torus correlation functions, and higher genus modular invariance. We determine this formula at finite central charge by deriving crossing kernels for higher genus crossing equations, which give analytic control over the structure constants even in the absence of exact knowledge of the conformal blocks. The higher genus modular kernels are obtained by sewing together the elementary kernels for four-point crossing and modular transforms of torus one-point functions. Our asymptotic formula is related to the DOZZ formula for the structure constants of Liouville theory, and makes precise the sense in which Liouville theory governs the universal dynamics of heavy operators in any CFT. The large central charge limit provides a link with 3D gravity, where the averaging over heavy states corresponds to a coarse-graining over black hole microstates in holographic theories. Our formula also provides an improved understanding of the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis (ETH) in CFT2, and suggests that ETH can be generalized to other kinematic regimes in two dimensional CFTs.
We derive an asymptotic formula for operator product expansion coefficients of heavy operators in two dimensional conformal field theory. This follows from modular invariance of the genus two partition function, and generalises the asymptotic formula for the density of states from torus modular invariance. The resulting formula is universal, depending only on the central charge, but involves the asymptotic behaviour of genus two conformal blocks. We use monodromy techniques to compute the asymptotics of the relevant blocks at large central charge to determine the behaviour explicitly.
A bstract We investigate the short-interval expansion of the subsystem fidelity in two-dimensional conformal field theories (2D CFTs) using the operator product expansion (OPE) of twist operators. We obtain universal contributions from general quasiprimary operators valid for arbitrary 2D CFTs, along with specific results in free massless boson and fermion theories. The analytical predictions demonstrate excellent agreement with established analytical results in field theories and numerical calculations in integrable models. Furthermore, we extend the method to holographic CFTs, where subsystem fidelity serves to analyze the distinguishability of black hole microstates through the AdS/CFT correspondence. This work establishes a unified framework for quantifying quantum state distinguishability across various 2D CFTs, bridging quantum information techniques with applications in quantum gravity.
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The aim of this thesis is to explore correlation functions in two dimensional quantum field theories in two distinct ways. In part I a new method for calculating the differential equations parametrising the correlation functions of twist fields associated with the U (1) symmetry of the Dirac model is presented. While developing this method a new family of descendent twist fields are identified and their form factors calculated. This provides a novel way of calculating the vacuum expectation values of the primary twist fields and is shown to be entirely consistent with known results. The method of calculating the correlation functions of twist fields provides a parametrisation of several other correlation functions for various quantum states. Since this method relies on the Ward identities found in a double copy model it is hoped to have wider applications in other free fermion models. Part II concerns the truncated conformal space approach which has been developed to approximate perturbed conformal field theories. In this part the theory underpinning the approach is discussed and a working algorithm is developed for both bulk and boundary perturbed minimal models. The energy levels, mass gaps and one point functions of various models are computed using the truncated conformal space approach and are shown to be in good agreement with previous calculations. A possible method for using this approach to approximate two point functions in perturbed conformal field theories is discussed.
Abstract We compute the entanglement entropy in a two dimensional conformal field theory at finite size and finite temperature in the large central charge limit via the replica trick. We first generalize the known monodromy method for the calculation of conformal blocks on the plane to the torus. Then, we derive a monodromy method for the zero-point conformal blocks of the replica partition function. We explain the differences between the two monodromy methods before applying them to the calculation of the entanglement entropy. We find that the contribution of the vacuum exchange dominates the entanglement entropy for a large class of CFTs, leading to universal results in agreement with holographic predictions from the RT formula. Moreover, we determine in which regime the replica partition function agrees with a correlation function of local twist operators on the torus.