The paper contributes to an ongoing effort to extend the conformal bootstrap beyond its traditional focus on systems of four-point correlation functions. Recently, it was demonstrated that semidefinite programming can be used to formulate a six-point generalisation of the numerical bootstrap, yielding qualitatively new, rigorous bounds on CFT data. However, the numerical six-point bootstrap requires solving SDPs involving infinite-dimensional matrices, which has so far limited its applicability and hindered scalability in early implementations. This work overcomes the challenges by using sparse matrix decompositions to exploit the banded structure of the underlying SDP. The result is a rewriting of one-dimensional six-point bootstrap problems as effectively two-dimensional standard mixed correlator four-point bootstrap computations. As application, novel bounds whose extremal correlators interpolate between the six-point functions of the generalised free fermion and boson are derived. The extremal interpolations are matched with perturbative deformations of the massive free boson in AdS _2 2 .The paper contributes to an ongoing effort to extend the conformal bootstrap beyond its traditional focus on systems of four-point correlation functions. Recently, it was demonstrated that semidefinite programming can be used to formulate a six-point generalisation of the numerical bootstrap, yielding qualitatively new, rigorous bounds on CFT data. However, the numerical six-point bootstrap requires solving SDPs involving infinite-dimensional matrices, which has so far limited its applicability and hindered scalability in early implementations. This work overcomes the challenges by using sparse matrix decompositions to exploit the banded structure of the underlying SDP. The result is a rewriting of one-dimensional six-point bootstrap problems as effectively two-dimensional standard mixed correlator four-point bootstrap computations. As application, novel bounds whose extremal correlators interpolate between the six-point functions of the generalised free fermion and boson are derived. The extremal interpolations are matched with perturbative deformations of the massive free boson in AdS _2 2 .

SciPost PhysicsDec 10, 20253 citations

Numerical Bootstrap Program for Boundary Conformal Field Theories

Bharathkumar Radhakrishnan

This thesis explores the application of numerical bootstrap techniques to two-point functions of bulk insertions in the presence of a boundary in two-dimensional conformal field theories. The first part of this thesis is devoted to presenting a comprehensive introduction to essential concepts in the numerical bootstrap of two-dimensional CFTs. Namely, an extensive introduction to the basics of conformal field theories (CFTs), their properties arising from the algebraic structure of conformal transformations, consitency conditions on the observables in a CFT, as well as the effects of the presence of defects in two-dimensional CFTs, is given. This is followed by a quick recount of the numerical techniques employed in the literature to solve for the aforementioned consistency conditions. These chapters form an overview of the seminal works that set the backdrop of the contributions made in the second part of the thesis. In the contributions of the thesis, we discuss the progress made in the investigations in (Meineri and Radhakrishnan 2025) where two-point functions in BCFTs are bootstrapped by treating them as a part of a larger system of consistency conditions involving the partition function on an annulus, the two-point function in the presence of a boundary, and four-point functions on the infinite plane. This perspective of treating the two-point function as a part of a larger system makes accessible parts of the BCFT data that have so-far remained inaccessible, and we present results on the boundary gap in the two-point function, and improvements in existing numerical bounds on the boundary entropy.This thesis explores the application of numerical bootstrap techniques to two-point functions of bulk insertions in the presence of a boundary in two-dimensional conformal field theories. The first part of this thesis is devoted to presenting a comprehensive introduction to essential concepts in the numerical bootstrap of two-dimensional CFTs. Namely, an extensive introduction to the basics of conformal field theories (CFTs), their properties arising from the algebraic structure of conformal transformations, consitency conditions on the observables in a CFT, as well as the effects of the presence of defects in two-dimensional CFTs, is given. This is followed by a quick recount of the numerical techniques employed in the literature to solve for the aforementioned consistency conditions. These chapters form an overview of the seminal works that set the backdrop of the contributions made in the second part of the thesis. In the contributions of the thesis, we discuss the progress made in the investigations in (Meineri and Radhakrishnan 2025) where two-point functions in BCFTs are bootstrapped by treating them as a part of a larger system of consistency conditions involving the partition function on an annulus, the two-point function in the presence of a boundary, and four-point functions on the infinite plane. This perspective of treating the two-point function as a part of a larger system makes accessible parts of the BCFT data that have so-far remained inaccessible, and we present results on the boundary gap in the two-point function, and improvements in existing numerical bounds on the boundary entropy.

Jan 1, 20250 citations

COLD ATOMS AND THE CONFORMAL BOOTSTRAP

Joshua William Squires

Statistical mechanics naturally lends itself to computational algorithms that use random sampling to leverage the law of large numbers. Though these methods have proven invaluable, in many cases yielding solutions to otherwise intractable problems, to an extent they also obscure the underlying physics. The two numerical methods studied in this thesis do not fit this description. The first, the conformal bootstrap, imposes symmetry constraints on the four-point correlation functions of a conformal field theory to restrict the spectrum of allowed scaling dimensions of a theory. A variation of the conformal bootstrap is implemented to treat two important non-unitary CFTs, percolation and the self-avoiding walk. The second involves a formalism which provides an integral equation with a kernel based on the two-body S-matrix. The solution of this integral equation represents a single particle's energy in the presence of interactions with the rest of a cold atom gas. The formalism is applied to Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless and upper branch phase transitions.Statistical mechanics naturally lends itself to computational algorithms that use random sampling to leverage the law of large numbers. Though these methods have proven invaluable, in many cases yielding solutions to otherwise intractable problems, to an extent they also obscure the underlying physics. The two numerical methods studied in this thesis do not fit this description. The first, the conformal bootstrap, imposes symmetry constraints on the four-point correlation functions of a conformal field theory to restrict the spectrum of allowed scaling dimensions of a theory. A variation of the conformal bootstrap is implemented to treat two important non-unitary CFTs, percolation and the self-avoiding walk. The second involves a formalism which provides an integral equation with a kernel based on the two-body S-matrix. The solution of this integral equation represents a single particle's energy in the presence of interactions with the rest of a cold atom gas. The formalism is applied to Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless and upper branch phase transitions.

Jan 1, 20190 citations

The bootstrap of points and lines

Marco Meineri, Bharathkumar Radhakrishnan

A bstract We study two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) with boundaries via the conformal bootstrap. We derive a positive semi-definite program from crossing symmetry of three observables: the annulus partition function, the two-point function of identical operators in the presence of a boundary, and the four-point function of the same operators on the infinite plane. The mixed-correlator system allows the numerical bootstrap to access new data, like the bulk-to-boundary Operator Product Expansion coefficients, and to strengthen the bounds on observables already contained in the partition function on the annulus, such as the boundary entropy. We test the method on the free boson CFT; then, as a first application, we produce new non-perturbative bounds on the entropy and the gaps in boundary CFTs with central charge c = 3/2, with special emphasis on the 𝔰𝔲(2) 2 WZW model.A bstract We study two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) with boundaries via the conformal bootstrap. We derive a positive semi-definite program from crossing symmetry of three observables: the annulus partition function, the two-point function of identical operators in the presence of a boundary, and the four-point function of the same operators on the infinite plane. The mixed-correlator system allows the numerical bootstrap to access new data, like the bulk-to-boundary Operator Product Expansion coefficients, and to strengthen the bounds on observables already contained in the partition function on the annulus, such as the boundary entropy. We test the method on the free boson CFT; then, as a first application, we produce new non-perturbative bounds on the entropy and the gaps in boundary CFTs with central charge c = 3/2, with special emphasis on the 𝔰𝔲(2) 2 WZW model.

arXiv:2506.17382Journal of High Energy PhysicsApr 2, 20264 citations

The Application of Conformal Bootstrap Method Based on Semi-Definite Programming in Quantum Mechanics

会鹏张

Pure MathematicsJan 1, 20240 citations

Conformal bootstrap in two-dimensional conformal field theories with with non-diagonal spectrums

Santiago Migliaccio

Bootstrap conforme en théorie conforme bidimensionnelle avec spectre non-diagonal La symétrie conforme impose de très fortes contraintes sur les théories quantiques des champs. En deux dimensions, l’algèbre des symétries conformes est infinie, et les théories conformes bidimensionnelles peuvent être complètement résolubles, dans le sens où toutes leurs fonctions de corrélation peuvent être calculées. Ces théories ont un grand domaine d'application, de la théorie des cordes jusqu'aux systèmes critiques en physique statistique, et elles ont été largement étudiées pendant les dernières décennies.Dans cette thèse nous étudions les théories conformes bidimensionnelles dont l’algèbre de symétrie est celle de Virasoro, en suivant l'approche connue sous le nom de bootstrap conforme. Sous l'hypothèse de l'existence de champs dégénérés, nous généralisons le bootstrap conforme analytique aux théories avec des spectres non-diagonaux. Nous écrivons les équations qui déterminent les constantes de structure, et nous trouvons des solutions explicites en termes de fonctions spéciales. Nous validons ces résultats en faisant des calculs numériques des fonctions de corrélation à quatre points dans des modèles minimaux diagonaux et non-diagonaux, et en vérifiant que la symétrie de croisement est respectée.En outre, nous construisons une proposition pour une famille de théories conformes non-diagonales et non-rationnelles pour toute charge centrale telle que Re(c) < 13. Cette proposition est motivée par les limites des spectres des modèles minimaux de la série D. Nous réalisons des calculs numériques des fonctions à quatre points dans ces théories, et nous trouvons qu'elles obéissent à la symétrie de croisement. Ces théories peuvent être interprétées comme des extensions non-diagonales de la théorie de Liouville.Bootstrap conforme en théorie conforme bidimensionnelle avec spectre non-diagonal La symétrie conforme impose de très fortes contraintes sur les théories quantiques des champs. En deux dimensions, l’algèbre des symétries conformes est infinie, et les théories conformes bidimensionnelles peuvent être complètement résolubles, dans le sens où toutes leurs fonctions de corrélation peuvent être calculées. Ces théories ont un grand domaine d'application, de la théorie des cordes jusqu'aux systèmes critiques en physique statistique, et elles ont été largement étudiées pendant les dernières décennies.Dans cette thèse nous étudions les théories conformes bidimensionnelles dont l’algèbre de symétrie est celle de Virasoro, en suivant l'approche connue sous le nom de bootstrap conforme. Sous l'hypothèse de l'existence de champs dégénérés, nous généralisons le bootstrap conforme analytique aux théories avec des spectres non-diagonaux. Nous écrivons les équations qui déterminent les constantes de structure, et nous trouvons des solutions explicites en termes de fonctions spéciales. Nous validons ces résultats en faisant des calculs numériques des fonctions de corrélation à quatre points dans des modèles minimaux diagonaux et non-diagonaux, et en vérifiant que la symétrie de croisement est respectée.En outre, nous construisons une proposition pour une famille de théories conformes non-diagonales et non-rationnelles pour toute charge centrale telle que Re(c) < 13. Cette proposition est motivée par les limites des spectres des modèles minimaux de la série D. Nous réalisons des calculs numériques des fonctions à quatre points dans ces théories, et nous trouvons qu'elles obéissent à la symétrie de croisement. Ces théories peuvent être interprétées comme des extensions non-diagonales de la théorie de Liouville.

Oct 10, 20181 citation

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