Walking, Weak first-order transitions, and Complex CFTs II. Two-dimensional Potts model at Q > 4

We study complex CFTs describing fixed points of the two-dimensional Q-state Potts model with Q > 4. Their existence is closely related to the weak first-order phase transition and the "walking" renormalization group (RG) behavior present in the real Potts model at Q > 4. The Potts model, apart from its own significance, serves as an ideal playground for testing this very general relation. Cluster formulation provides nonperturbative definition for a continuous range of parameter Q, while Coulomb gas description and connection to minimal models provide some conformal data of the complex CFTs. We use one and two-loop conformal perturbation theory around complex CFTs to compute various properties of the real walking RG flow. These properties, such as drifting scaling dimensions, appear to be common features of the QFTs with walking RG flows, and can serve as a smoking gun for detecting walking in Monte Carlo simulations. The complex CFTs discussed in this work are perfectly well defined, and can in principle be seen in Monte Carlo simulations with complexified coupling constants. In particular, we predict a pair of S-5-symmetric complex CFTs with central charges c approximate to 1.138 +/- 0.021i describing the fixed points of a 5-state dilute Potts model with complexified temperature and vacancy fugacity. Copyright V. Gorbenko et al.

Numerical investigations of 3D CFTs using conformal bootstrap methods

Marten Jan Reehorst

Conformal field theories (CFTs) play a very significant role in modern physics, appearing in such diverse fields as particle physics, condensed matter and statistical physics and in quantum gravity both as the string worldsheet theory and through the AdS/CFT correspondence. In recent years major breakthroughs have been made in solving these CFTs through a method called numerical conformal bootstrap. This method uses consistency conditions on the CFT data in order to find and constrain conformal field theories and obtain precise measurements of physical observables. In this thesis we apply the conformal bootstrap to study among others the O(2)- and the ARP^3- models in 3D. In the first chapter we extend the conventional scalar numerical conformal bootstrap to a mixed system of correlators involving a scalar field charged under a global U(1) symmetry and the associated conserved spin-1 current J. The inclusion of a conserved spinning operator is an important advance in the numerical bootstrap program. Using numerical bootstrap techniques we obtain bounds on new observables not accessible in the usual scalar bootstrap. Concentrating on the O(2) model we extract rigorous bounds on the three-point function coefficient of two currents and the unique relevant scalar singlet, as well as those of two currents and the stress tensor. Using these results, and comparing with a quantum Monte Carlo simulation of the O(2) model conductivity, we give estimates of the thermal one-point function of the relevant singlet and the stress tensor. We also obtain new bounds on operators in various sectors. In the second chapter we investigate the existence of a second-order phase transition in the ARP^3 model. This model has a global O(4) symmetry and a discrete Z_2 gauge symmetry. It was shown by a perturbative renormalization group analysis that its Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson effective description does not have any stable fixed point, thus disallowing a second-order phase transition. However, it was also shown that lattice simulations contradict this, finding strong evidence for the existence of a second-order phase transition. In this chapter we apply conformal bootstrap methods to the correlator of four scalars t transforming in the traceless symmetric representation of O(4) in order to investigate the existence of this second order phase transition. We find various features that stand out in the region predicted by the lattice data. Moreover, under reasonable assumptions a candidate island can be isolated. We also apply a mixed t-s bootstrap setup in which this island persists. In addition we study the kink-landscape for all representations appearing in the t times t OPE for general N. Among others, we find a new family of kinks in the upper-bound on the dimension of the first scalar operator in the "Box" and "Hook" representations.

EPFL2020

Supersymmetry-breaking loops from analytic continuation into superspace

Riccardo Rattazzi

We extend to all orders in perturbation theory a method to calculate supersymmetry-breaking effects by analytic continuation of the renormalization group into superspace. A central observation is that the renormalized gauge coupling can be extended to a real vector superfield, thereby including soft breaking effects in the gauge sector. We explain the relation between this vector superfield coupling and the "holomorphic" gauge coupling, which is a chiral superfield running only at one loop. We consider these issues for a number of regulators, including dimensional reduction. With this method, the renormalization group equations for soft-supersymmetry-breaking terms are directly related to supersymmetric beta functions and anomalous dimensions to all orders in perturbation theory. However, the real power of the formalism lies in computing finite soft breaking effects corresponding to high-loop component calculations. We prove that the gaugino mass in gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking is "screened" from strong interactions in the messenger sector. We present a complete next-to-leading calculation of gaugino masses (two loops) and sfermion masses (three loops! in minimal gauge mediation and several other calculations of phenomenological relevance. [S0556-2821(98)06319-X].

1998

Unified minimal supersymmetric model with large Yukawa couplings

Riccardo Rattazzi

The consequences of assuming the third-generation Yukawa couplings are all large and comparable are studied in the context of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. General aspects of the renormalization group (RG) evolution of the parameters, theoretical constraints needed to ensure proper electroweak symmetry breaking, and experimental and cosmological bounds on low-energy parameters are presented. We also present complete and exact semianalytic solutions to the one-loop RG equations. Focusing on SU(5) or SO(10) unification, we analyse the relationship between the top and bottom masses and the superspectrum, and the phenomenological implications of the grand unified theory (GUT) conditions on scalar masses. Future experimental measurements of the superspectrum and of the strong coupling will distinguish between various GUT-scale scenarios. And if present experimental knowledge is to be accounted for most naturally, a particular set of predictions is singled out.

1996

Numerical investigations of 3D CFTs using conformal bootstrap methods

Marten Jan Reehorst

EPFL2020