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Defect a-theorem and a-maximization
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DOI：10.1007/JHEP02(2022)061.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Conformal defects describe the universal behaviors of a conformal field theory (CFT) in the presence of a boundary or more general impurities. The coupled critical system is characterized by new conformal anomalies which are analogous to, and generalize those of standalone CFTs. Here we study the conformal a- and c-anomalies of four dimensional defects in CFTs of general spacetime dimensions greater than four. We prove that under unitary defect renormalization group (RG) flows, the defect a-anomaly must decrease, thus establishing the defect a-theorem. For conformal defects preserving minimal supersymmetry, the full defect symmetry contains a distinguished U(1)(R) subgroup. We derive the anomaly multiplet relations that express the defect a- and c-anomalies in terms of the defect (mixed) 't Hooft anomalies for this U(1)(R) symmetry. Once the U(1)(R) symmetry is identified using the defect a-maximization principle which we prove, this enables a nonperturbative pathway to the conformal anomalies of strongly coupled defects. We illustrate our methods by discussing a number of examples including boundaries in five dimensions and codimension-two defects in six dimensions. We also comment on chiral algebra sectors of defect operator algebras and potential conformal collider bounds on defect anomalies.
Keywords:
Anomalies in Field and String Theories
Boundary Quantum Field Theory
Conformal Field Theory
Supersymmetric Gauge Theory
Journal
IF:
5.5
Papers:
3.9W
Citations:
13.7W