Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2606.19465

Exact operator dynamics in Lindbladian Wess-Zumino-Witten conformal field theories

Qicheng Tang, Ruhanshi Barad, Xueda Wen

Published Jun 17, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Understanding the time evolution of physical observables in open quantum many-body systems coupled to external environments is a natural and difficult problem, and exact results are still rare. In this work, we study this problem for Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) conformal field theories with Lindblad jump operators linear in Kac-Moody current modes. We investigate the exact operator dynamics generated by these Lindbladians, identifying classes of current operators whose Heisenberg equations close and can therefore be solved analytically using the underlying current algebra. In Abelian $U(1)_k$ WZW theories, this closure of operator dynamics holds for arbitrary settings of jump rates and includes exactly tractable cooling dynamics. In contrast, for non-Abelian WZW theories, exact closure occurs only for symmetric current-mode dissipation, where upward and downward current-mode transitions occur with equal rates, and even then it leads to a simple closed evolution only for a single current operator. Generic imbalances, including those needed for cooling, produce additional non-Abelian terms and prevent closure of the opeartor dynamics. Consequently, the current algebra gives rise to a broad family of exactly solvable dissipative dynamics in the Abelian setting, whereas in the non-Abelian case it singles out only a special exactly solvable dynamics corresponding to an infinite-temperature bath.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2606.19465

Related papers

Exact Lindbladian Dynamics from Conformal Embeddings and Topological Defects in Conformal Field Theory

Chen Bai

Analyzing the dynamics of physical observables in open quantum many-body systems is a fundamental but highly challenging task that has yielded very few exact results. In this work, we identify intrinsic conformal structures that restore exact solvability in $(1+1)$D conformal field theories. For $N$ Majorana fermions with linear mode jumps, the adjoint Lindbladian is triangular on reduced even Majorana monomials, yielding recursive exact Heisenberg evolution. In Wess-Zumino-Witten models admitting conformal Majorana embeddings, this hierarchy gives exact dynamics of affine-current products realized as Majorana bilinears, including regimes where the Kac-Moody current algebra alone does not close. In diagonal rational conformal field theories, Verlinde topological defect lines furnish jump operators whose primary-sector dynamics is exactly diagonal: topological-charge probabilities are conserved, while intersector coherences dephase at rates fixed by the modular $S$ matrix and nonnegative measurement strengths. These examples show that intrinsic conformal structures, such as conformal embeddings and modular data, can organize exactly solvable open conformal dynamics.

cond-mat.stat-mechCross-listedarXiv:2607.08827•Jul 13, 2026•0 citations

Quantization of Wilson loops in Wess-Zumino-Witten models

Alekseev, A, Monnier, S

We describe a non-perturbative quantization of classical Wilson loops in the WZW model. The quantized Wilson loop is an operator acting on the Hilbert space of closed strings and commuting either with the full Kac-Moody chiral algebra or with one of its subalgebras. We prove that under open/closed string duality, it is dual to a boundary perturbation of the open string theory. As an application, we show that such operators are useful tools for identifying fixed points of the boundary renormalization group flow.

•Jan 1, 2007•21 citations

Quasiparticles operators in conformal field theories

D. C. Cabra

Gauge invariant fermion fields in fermionic coset models play a central role in the quasiparticle description of certain Conformal Field Theories (CFT’s). We briefly outline the description for unitary minimal models, and show how spinon fields in SU(N)1 Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) theories appear naturally within this scheme.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 1998•0 citations

Quantum nonequilibrium dynamics from Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations

Tigran Sedrakyan, H. Babujian

Abstract We consider a set of non-stationary quantum models. We show that their dynamics can be studied using links to Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov (KZ) equations for correlation functions in conformal field theories. We specifically consider the boundary Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model, where equations for correlators of primary fields are defined by an extension of KZ equations and explore the links to dynamical systems. As an example of the workability of the proposed method, we provide an exact solution to a dynamical system that is a specific multi-level generalization of the two-level Landau-Zenner system known in the literature as the Demkov-Osherov model. The method can be used to study the nonequilibrium dynamics in various multi-level systems from the solution of the corresponding KZ equations.

arXiv:2112.12866•Journal of High Energy Physics•Apr 7, 2022•6 citations

Studying the perturbed Wess–Zumino–Novikov–Witten SU(2) theory using the truncated conformal spectrum approach

Robert Konik, Tamás Pálmai, G. Takács +1 more

We study the SU ( 2 ) k Wess–Zumino–Novikov–Witten (WZNW) theory perturbed by the trace of the primary field in the adjoint representation, a theory governing the low-energy behavior of a class of strongly correlated electronic systems. While the model is non-integrable, its dynamics can be investigated using the numerical technique of the truncated conformal spectrum approach combined with numerical and analytical renormalization groups (TCSA + RG). The numerical results so obtained provide support for a semiclassical analysis valid at k ≫ 1 . Namely, we find that the low energy behavior is sensitive to the sign of the coupling constant, λ . Moreover, for λ > 0 this behavior depends on whether k is even or odd. With k even, we find definitive evidence that the model at low energies is equivalent to the massive O(3) sigma model. For k odd, the numerical evidence is more equivocal, but we find indications that the low energy effective theory is critical.

arXiv:1505.03860•Nuclear Physics B•Aug 24, 2015•36 citations

Algebraic structures of the Lindblad equation

Leonel Bixano, Guillermo López-Alvarez, Victor Alberto Cruz-Barriguete +4 more

We investigate the algebraic structure underlying the Lindblad equation for finite-dimensional open quantum systems. By introducing a suitable operator representation of the Liouville superoperator, we show that the dynamics can be formulated in terms of a closed algebra of Hermitian operators that is independent of the particular physical model. This formulation reveals that dissipative dynamics requires a substantially richer algebraic structure than purely unitary evolution, thereby providing a clear characterization of the additional complexity introduced by the Lindbladian. The resulting framework naturally leads to parametrizations of the dynamical map and to differential equations governing its evolution. We further derive recursion relations that enable the efficient construction of the algebra for systems of increasing dimension. Because the algebraic basis is universal, while all model-dependent information enters through a single set of coefficients, the proposed approach significantly reduces the computational cost of constructing the Liouville superoperator compared with direct methods. To facilitate the implementation of the method, we provide a Mathematica notebook containing a one-qubit example that can be systematically extended to an arbitrary number of qubits. The proposed framework therefore provides both a general mathematical description of finite-dimensional Lindblad dynamics and a practical foundation for efficient analytical and numerical implementations.

quant-pharXiv:2606.26477•New Journal of Physics•Jun 26, 2026•0 citations
Understanding the time evolution of physical observables in open quantum many-body systems coupled to external environments is a natural and difficult problem, and exact results are still rare. In this work, we study this problem for Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) conformal field theories with Lindblad jump operators linear in Kac-Moody current modes. We investigate the exact operator dynamics generated by these Lindbladians, identifying classes of current operators whose Heisenberg equations close and can therefore be solved analytically using the underlying current algebra. In Abelian U(1)kU(1)_kU(1)k​ WZW theories, this closure of operator dynamics holds for arbitrary settings of jump rates and includes exactly tractable cooling dynamics. In contrast, for non-Abelian WZW theories, exact closure occurs only for symmetric current-mode dissipation, where upward and downward current-mode transitions occur with equal rates, and even then it leads to a simple closed evolution only for a single current operator. Generic imbalances, including those needed for cooling, produce additional non-Abelian terms and prevent closure of the opeartor dynamics. Consequently, the current algebra gives rise to a broad family of exactly solvable dissipative dynamics in the Abelian setting, whereas in the non-Abelian case it singles out only a special exactly solvable dynamics corresponding to an infinite-temperature bath.
Analyzing the dynamics of physical observables in open quantum many-body systems is a fundamental but highly challenging task that has yielded very few exact results. In this work, we identify intrinsic conformal structures that restore exact solvability in (1+1)(1+1)(1+1)D conformal field theories. For NNN Majorana fermions with linear mode jumps, the adjoint Lindbladian is triangular on reduced even Majorana monomials, yielding recursive exact Heisenberg evolution. In Wess-Zumino-Witten models admitting conformal Majorana embeddings, this hierarchy gives exact dynamics of affine-current products realized as Majorana bilinears, including regimes where the Kac-Moody current algebra alone does not close. In diagonal rational conformal field theories, Verlinde topological defect lines furnish jump operators whose primary-sector dynamics is exactly diagonal: topological-charge probabilities are conserved, while intersector coherences dephase at rates fixed by the modular SSS matrix and nonnegative measurement strengths. These examples show that intrinsic conformal structures, such as conformal embeddings and modular data, can organize exactly solvable open conformal dynamics.
We describe a non-perturbative quantization of classical Wilson loops in the WZW model. The quantized Wilson loop is an operator acting on the Hilbert space of closed strings and commuting either with the full Kac-Moody chiral algebra or with one of its subalgebras. We prove that under open/closed string duality, it is dual to a boundary perturbation of the open string theory. As an application, we show that such operators are useful tools for identifying fixed points of the boundary renormalization group flow.
Abstract We consider a set of non-stationary quantum models. We show that their dynamics can be studied using links to Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov (KZ) equations for correlation functions in conformal field theories. We specifically consider the boundary Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model, where equations for correlators of primary fields are defined by an extension of KZ equations and explore the links to dynamical systems. As an example of the workability of the proposed method, we provide an exact solution to a dynamical system that is a specific multi-level generalization of the two-level Landau-Zenner system known in the literature as the Demkov-Osherov model. The method can be used to study the nonequilibrium dynamics in various multi-level systems from the solution of the corresponding KZ equations.
We study the SU ( 2 ) k Wess–Zumino–Novikov–Witten (WZNW) theory perturbed by the trace of the primary field in the adjoint representation, a theory governing the low-energy behavior of a class of strongly correlated electronic systems. While the model is non-integrable, its dynamics can be investigated using the numerical technique of the truncated conformal spectrum approach combined with numerical and analytical renormalization groups (TCSA + RG). The numerical results so obtained provide support for a semiclassical analysis valid at k ≫ 1 . Namely, we find that the low energy behavior is sensitive to the sign of the coupling constant, λ . Moreover, for λ > 0 this behavior depends on whether k is even or odd. With k even, we find definitive evidence that the model at low energies is equivalent to the massive O(3) sigma model. For k odd, the numerical evidence is more equivocal, but we find indications that the low energy effective theory is critical.
We investigate the algebraic structure underlying the Lindblad equation for finite-dimensional open quantum systems. By introducing a suitable operator representation of the Liouville superoperator, we show that the dynamics can be formulated in terms of a closed algebra of Hermitian operators that is independent of the particular physical model. This formulation reveals that dissipative dynamics requires a substantially richer algebraic structure than purely unitary evolution, thereby providing a clear characterization of the additional complexity introduced by the Lindbladian. The resulting framework naturally leads to parametrizations of the dynamical map and to differential equations governing its evolution. We further derive recursion relations that enable the efficient construction of the algebra for systems of increasing dimension. Because the algebraic basis is universal, while all model-dependent information enters through a single set of coefficients, the proposed approach significantly reduces the computational cost of constructing the Liouville superoperator compared with direct methods. To facilitate the implementation of the method, we provide a Mathematica notebook containing a one-qubit example that can be systematically extended to an arbitrary number of qubits. The proposed framework therefore provides both a general mathematical description of finite-dimensional Lindblad dynamics and a practical foundation for efficient analytical and numerical implementations.