A bstract Topological/perfectly-transmissive defects play a fundamental role in the analysis of the symmetries of two dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs). In the present work, spin chain regularizations for these defects are proposed and analyzed in the case of the three-state Potts CFT. In particular, lattice versions for all the primitive defects are presented, with the remaining defects obtained from the fusion of the primitive ones. The defects are obtained by introducing modified interactions around two given sites of an otherwise homogeneous spin chain with periodic boundary condition. The various primitive defects are topological on the lattice except for one, which is topological only in the scaling limit. The lattice models are analyzed using a combination of exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group techniques. Low-lying energy spectra for different defect Hamiltonians as well as entanglement entropy of blocks located symmetrically around the defects are computed. The latter provides a convenient way to compute the g -function which characterizes various defects. Finally, the eigenvalues of the line operators in the “crossed channel” and fusion of different defect lines are also analyzed. The results are all in agreement with expectations from conformal field theory.
A bstract Topological/perfectly-transmissive defects play a fundamental role in the analysis of the symmetries of two dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs). In the present work, spin chain regularizations for these defects are proposed and analyzed in the case of the three-state Potts CFT. In particular, lattice versions for all the primitive defects are presented, with the remaining defects obtained from the fusion of the primitive ones. The defects are obtained by introducing modified interactions around two given sites of an otherwise homogeneous spin chain with periodic boundary condition. The various primitive defects are topological on the lattice except for one, which is topological only in the scaling limit. The lattice models are analyzed using a combination of exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group techniques. Low-lying energy spectra for different defect Hamiltonians as well as entanglement entropy of blocks located symmetrically around the defects are computed. The latter provides a convenient way to compute the g -function which characterizes various defects. Finally, the eigenvalues of the line operators in the “crossed channel” and fusion of different defect lines are also analyzed. The results are all in agreement with expectations from conformal field theory.
A bstract Topological defect lines (TDLs) in two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) are standard examples of generalized symmetries in quantum field theory. Integrable lattice incarnations of these TDLs, such as those provided by spin/anyonic chains, provide a crucial playground to investigate their properties, both analytically and numerically. Here, a family of parameter-dependent integrable lattice models is presented, which realize different TDLs in a given CFT as the parameter is varied. These models are based on the general quantum-inverse scattering construction, and involve inhomogeneities of the spectral parameter. Both defect hamiltonians and (defect) line operators are obtained in closed form. By varying the inhomogeneities, renormalization group flows between different TDLs (such as the Verlinde lines associated with the Virasoro primaries (1 , s ) and ( r, 1) in diagonal minimal CFTs) are then studied using different aspects of the Bethe-ansatz as well as ab-initio numerical techniques. Relationships with the anisotropic Kondo model as well as its non-Hermitian version are briefly discussed.
We systematically study gapless edge modes corresponding to Z(3) symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases of two-dimensional three-state Potts paramagnets on a triangular lattice. First, we derive microscopic lattice models for the gapless edge and, using the density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) approach, investigate the finite-size scaling of the low-lying excitation spectrum and the entanglement entropy. Based on the obtained results, we identify the universality class of the critical edge, namely the corresponding conformal field theory and the central charge. Finally, we discuss the inherent symmetries of the edge models and the emergent winding number symmetry. As a result, one-dimensional chains with this symmetry form a model that supports gapless excitations due to its tricritical symmetry. Numerically, we show that low-energy states in the continuous limit of the edge model can be described by conformal field theory (CFT) with central charge c=1, given by the coset SUk(3)/SUk(2) CFT at level k=1.
Topological defects play a fundamental role in the investigation of symmetries in quantum field theories. For conformal field theories in two space-time dimensions, it is possible to construct these defects using lattice models allowing ab-initio analytical and numerical computations of their characteristics. In this work, topological defects are investigated in non-unitary conformal field theories using appropriate variations of the restricted solid-on-solid models. The relevant impurity models and the corresponding defect operators are constructed for the lattice system. Numerical computations are performed for the energy spectrum, eigenvalues of the defect operators as well as thermodynamic characteristics and compared with analytical predictions. Finally, renormalization group flows between the different fixed points are analyzed using numerical methods.
Two-dimensional topological paramagnets protected by Z3 symmetry: Properties of the boundary Hamiltonian
We systematically study gapless edge modes corresponding to \mathbb{Z}_3 ℤ 3 symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases of two-dimensional three-state Potts paramagnets on a triangular lattice. First, we derive microscopic lattice models for the gapless edge and, using the density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) approach, investigate the finite-size scaling of the low-lying excitation spectrum and the entanglement entropy. Based on the obtained results, we identify the universality class of the critical edge, namely the corresponding conformal field theory and the central charge. Finally, we discuss the inherent symmetries of the edge models and the emergent winding number symmetry. As a result, one-dimensional chains with this symmetry form a model that supports gapless excitations due to its tricritical symmetry. Numerically, we show that low-energy states in the continuous limit of the edge model can be described by conformal field theory (CFT) with central charge c=1 c = 1 , given by the coset SU_k(3)/SU_k(2) S U k ( 3 ) / S U k ( 2 ) CFT at level k=1.
Abstract We construct a one-parameter family of lattice models starting from a two-dimensional rational conformal field theory on a torus with a regular lattice of holes, each of which is equipped with a conformal boundary condition. The lattice model is obtained by cutting the surface into triangles with clipped-off edges using open channel factorisation. The parameter is given by the hole radius. At finite radius, high energy states are suppressed and the model is effectively finite. In the zero-radius limit, it recovers the CFT amplitude exactly. In the touching hole limit, one obtains a topological field theory. If one chooses a special conformal boundary condition which we call ‘cloaking boundary condition’, then for each value of the radius the fusion category of topological line defects of the CFT is contained in the lattice model. The fact that the full topological symmetry of the initial CFT is realised exactly is a key feature of our lattice models. We provide an explicit recursive procedure to evaluate the interaction vertex on arbitrary states. As an example, we study the lattice model obtained from the Ising CFT on a torus with one hole, decomposed into two lattice cells. We numerically compare the truncated lattice model to the CFT expression obtained from expanding the boundary state in terms of the hole radius and we find good agreement at intermediate values of the radius.
Topological defects in two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) are canonical examples of generalized symmetries in quantum field theories. They not only encode key features of the underlying theory, but their study has also enhanced our understanding of renormalization group (RG) flows in theories that contain them. Lattice models exist which discretize the states, energy-momentum tensor, and primary fields of many 2D CFTs, raising the natural question of whether topological defects can be similarly discretized. In this thesis, we demonstrate that in many cases all topological defects of minimal model CFTs can be discretized, enabling analytical and ab-initio numerical computations of their properties. In some of these constructions, we make essential use of the integrable structure of the underlying lattice models. The lattice realization of these operators also permits the study of defect RG flows between CFTs with different topological defects inserted. These topological defects and defect RG flows are realized on the lattice not only for Hermitian but also for non-Hermitian lattice Hamiltonians. Studying topological defects in minimal model CFTs on the lattice has also opened the door to a deeper understanding of topological defects in CFTs where they remain poorly understood.