Search

The non-Abelian ferromagnet recently introduced by the authors, consisting of atoms in the fundamental representation of $SU(N)$, is studied in the limit where $N$ becomes large and scales as the square root of the number of atoms $n$. This model exhibits additional phases, as well as two different temperature scales related by a factor $N\!/\!\ln N$. The paramagnetic phase splits into a "dense" and a "dilute" phase, separated by a third-order transition and leading to a triple critical point in the scale parameter $n/N^2$ and the temperature, while the ferromagnetic phase exhibits additional structure, and a new paramagnetic-ferromagnetic metastable phase appears at the larger temperature scale. These phases can coexist, becoming stable or metastable as temperature varies. A generalized model in which the number of $SU(N)$-equivalent states enters the partition function with a nontrivial weight, relevant, e.g., when there is gauge invariance in the system, is also studied and shown to manifest similar phases, with the dense-dilute phase transition becoming second-order in the fully gauge invariant case., Comment: 41 pages, 9 figures

We provide the first supersymmetric embedding of an integrable $\lambda$-deformation to type-II supergravity. Specifically, that of the near horizon of the NS1-NS5 brane intersection, geometrically corresponding to $AdS_3 \times S^3 \times T^4$. We show that the deformed background preserves 1/4 of the maximal supersymmetry. In the Penrose limit we show that it preserves no-more than one half of the maximal supersymmetry., Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure, JHEP version

We study the multiplicity of irreducible representations in the decomposition of $n$ fundamentals of $SU(N)$ weighted by a power of their dimension in the large $n$ and large $N$ double scaling limit. A nontrivial scaling is obtained by keeping $n/N^2$ fixed, which plays the role of an order parameter. We find that the system generically undergoes a fourth order phase transition in this parameter, from a dense phase to a dilute phase. The transition is enhanced to third order for the unweighted multiplicity, and disappears altogether when weighting with the first power of the dimension. This corresponds to the infinite temperature partition function of non-Abelian ferromagnets, and the results should be relevant to the thermodynamic limit of such ferromagnets at high temperatures., Comment: Version published in NPB, extra references; 35 pages, 6 figures

We study the thermodynamics of a non-abelian ferromagnet consisting of "atoms" each carrying a fundamental representation of $SU(N)$, coupled with long-range two-body quadratic interactions. We uncover a rich structure of phase transitions from non-magnetized, global $SU(N)$-invariant states to magnetized ones breaking global invariance to $SU(N-1) \times U(1)$. Phases can coexist, one being stable and the other metastable, and the transition between states involves latent heat exchange, unlike in usual $SU(2)$ ferromagnets. Coupling the system to an external non-abelian magnetic field further enriches the phase structure, leading to additional phases. The system manifests hysteresis phenomena both in the magnetic field, as in usual ferromagnets, and in the temperature, in analogy to supercooled water. Potential applications are in fundamental situations or as a phenomenological model., Comment: 52 pages, 17 figures; version published in NPB with additional discussion and references

We compute the multiplicity of the irreducible representations in the decomposition of the tensor product of an arbitrary number $n$ of fundamental representations of $SU(N)$, and we identify a duality in the representation content of this decomposition. Our method utilizes the mapping of the representations of $SU(N)$ to the states of free fermions on the circle, and can be viewed as a random walk on a multidimensional lattice. We also derive the large-$n$ limit and the response of the system to an external non-abelian magnetic field. These results can be used to study the phase properties of non-abelian ferromagnets and to take various scaling limits., Comment: Additional derivations and material, version published in Nucl. Phys. B; 25 pages, no figures

We initiate the construction of integrable $\lambda$-deformed WZW models based on non-semisimple groups. We focus on the four-dimensional case whose underlying symmetries are based on the non-semisimple group $E_2^c$. The corresponding gravitational backgrounds of Lorentzian signature are plane waves which can be obtained as Penrose limits of the $\lambda$-deformed $SU(2)$ background times a timelike coordinate for appropriate choices of the $\lambda$-matrix. We construct two such deformations which we demonstrate to be integrable. They both deform the Nappi-Witten plane wave and are inequivalent. Nevertheless, they have the same underlying symmetry algebra which is a Saletan-type contraction of that for the $\lambda$-deformed $SU(2)$ background with a timelike direction. We also construct a plane wave from the Penrose limit of the $\lambda$-deformation of the $\nicefrac{SU(2)}{U(1)}$ coset CFT times a timelike coordinate which represents the deformation of a logarithmic CFT constructed in the past. Finally, we briefly consider contractions based on the simplest Yang-baxter $\sigma$-models., Comment: v1:1+33 pages, Latex, v2:JHEP version

Particle production in integrable field theories may exist depending on the vacuum around which excitations are defined. To tackle this and analogous issues with conventional field theoretical tools, we consider the integrable $\lambda$-deformed model for $SU(2)$ together with a timelike coordinate. We construct the corresponding four-dimensional plane wave background keeping also post-plane wave corrections, as well as all the non-trivial $\lambda$-dependence. After imposing the light-cone gauge and the Virasoro constraints, we obtain an interacting field theory for the transverse physical modes which are massive. We explicitly demonstrate the absence of particle production to leading order in the large $k$-expansion. This is based crucially on the form of the interaction vertices and their dependence on the $\lambda$-deformation parameter. In addition, we compute the $S$-matrix for the two-particle elastic scattering exactly in $\lambda$ and to leading order in the large $k$-expansion. Our method can be applied to any integrable theory with at least one isometry., Comment: 31 pages, 1 figure

The simplest example of the $\lambda$-deformation connects the SU(2) Wess-Zumino-Witten model with the non-Abelian T-dual (NATD) of the SU(2) principal chiral model. We analyze spinning strings with one spin propagating through the $\lambda$-deformation of the target space of the interpolation. We show that the situation apart from the NATD limit parallels the undeformed case. We demonstrate that regular spinning strings are either folded or circular, and that nearly degenerate spinning strings are either nearly point-like, fast, or slow. The effects of the $\lambda$-deformation are both the overall increment of the energy of spinning strings and the enlargement of the gap between the energies of folded and circular strings. In the NATD limit, we prove that circular strings disappear and that fast strings realize the dispersion relation of Gubser-Klebanov-Polyakov strings., Comment: Comments: 45 pages. Latex. v2: Spinning strings consistently truncate now the equations of motion. Most of the discussion remains unaffected. Minor improvements and typos fixed. Published version

Integrable $\lambda$-deformed $\sigma$-models are characterized by an underlying current algebra/coset model CFT deformed, at the infinitesimal level, by current/parafermion bilinears. We promote the deformation parameters to dynamical functions of time introduced as an extra coordinate. It is conceivable that by appropriately constraining them, the beta-functions vanish and consequently the $\sigma$-model stays conformal. Remarkably, we explicitly materialize this scenario in several cases having a single and even multiple deformation parameters. These generically obey a system of non-linear second-order ordinary differential equations. They are solved by the fixed points of the RG flow of the original $\sigma$-model. Moreover, by appropriately choosing initial conditions we may even interpolate between the RG fixed points as the time varies from the far past to the far future.Finally, we present an extension of our analysis to the Yang--Baxter deformed PCMs., Comment: v1:1+37 pages, Latex, v2: SciPost version

Kerr-Schild perturbations in General Relativity provide a fruitful way of constructing new exact solutions starting from known ones, elucidating also the structure of the spacetimes. We initiate such a study in the context of string theory and supergravity. Specifically, we explicitly construct Kerr-Schild perturbations of coset CFTs based on low dimensionality orthogonal groups. We show that these give rise to scale, but not Weyl, invariant integrable $\sigma$-models. We explicitly demonstrate that these models can also be derived from a particular limiting procedure of $\lambda$-deformed coset CFTs based on non-compact groups. The target space of the simplest $\sigma$-model describes a two-dimensional scale invariant black hole for which we also provide two different embeddings to type-II supergravity., Comment: v1:1+24 pages, Latex

A novel class of integrable $\sigma$-models interpolating between exact coset conformal field theories in the IR and hyperbolic spaces in the UV is constructed. We demonstrate the relation to the asymptotic limit of $\lambda$-deformed models for cosets of non-compact groups. An integrable model interpolating between two spacetimes with cosmological and black hole interpretations and exact conformal field theory descriptions is also provided. In the process of our work, a new zoom-in limit, distinct from the well known non-Abelian T-duality limit, is found., Comment: V1: 1+26 pages, V2: minor corrections, NPB version

We investigate the stability of the non-supersymmetric solutions of type-IIB supergravity having an unwarped $AdS$ factor and $\lambda$-deformed subspaces found in arXiv:1911.12371. Among the plethora of solutions we study the perturbative stability of backgrounds with an $AdS_n$, with $n = 3,4,6$, factor. Our analysis is performed from a lower dimensional effective theory which we construct. We uncover the regions and isolated points in the parameter space of potential perturbative stability., Comment: v1: 32 pages + appendices, 4 figures, v2: minor clarifications, 2 references addded, JHEP version

We formulate $\lambda$-deformed $\sigma$-models as QFTs in the upper-half plane. For different boundary conditions we compute correlation functions of currents and primary operators, exactly in the deformation parameter $\lambda$ and for large values of the level $k$ of the underlying WZW model. To perform our computations we use either conformal perturbation theory in association with Cardy's doubling trick, as well as meromorphicity arguments and a non-perturbative symmetry in the parameter space $(\lambda,k)$, or standard QFT techniques based on the free field expansion of the $\sigma$-model action, with the free fields obeying appropriate boundary conditions. Both methods have their own advantages yielding consistent and rich, compared to those in the absence of a boundary, complementary results. We pay particular attention, albeit not exclusively, to integrability preserving boundary conditions., Comment: v1: 45 pages + 24 pages appendices, v2: NPB version

Non-trivial outer algebra automorphisms may be utilized in $\lambda$-deformations of (gauged) WZW models thus providing an efficient way to construct new integrable models. We provide two such integrable deformations of the exact coset CFT $SU(2)_k\times U(1)/U(1)_q$ with a vector and axial residual gauge. Besides the integer level $k$ and the deformation parameter $\lambda$, these models are characterized by the embedding parameter $q$ of the $U(1)$ factor. We show that an axial-vector T-duality persists along the deformations and, therefore, the models are canonically equivalent. We demonstrate integrability even though the space is non-symmetric and compute the $RG$-flow equations for the parameters $\lambda$ and $q$. Our example provides an integrable deformation of the gravitational solution representing a Euclidean three-dimensional black string., Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures. v2: minor corrections and clarifications added, version to appear in NPB

In the study of integrable non-linear $\sigma$-models which are assemblies and/or deformations of principal chiral models and/or WZW models, a rational function called the twist function plays a central role. For a large class of such models, we show that they are one-loop renormalizable, and that the renormalization group flow equations can be written directly in terms of the twist function in a remarkably simple way. The resulting equation appears to have a universal character when the integrable model is characterized by a twist function., Comment: v1: 1+47 pages, Latex, v2: JHEP version

We construct a generalization of the cyclic $\lambda$-deformed models of \cite{Georgiou:2017oly} by relaxing the requirement that all the WZW models should have the same level $k$. Our theories are integrable and flow from a single UV point to different IR fixed points depending on the different orderings of the WZW levels $k_i$. First we calculate the Zamolodchikov's C-function for these models as exact functions of the deformation parameters. Subsequently, we fully characterize each of the IR conformal field theories. Although the corresponding left and right sectors have different symmetries, realized as products of current and coset-type symmetries, the associated central charges are precisely equal, in agreement with the valuesobtained from the C-function., Comment: 41 pages, v2: minor typos corrected to match the published version

We continue our study of $\lambda$-deformed $\sigma$-models by setting up a $1/k$ perturbative expansion around the free field point for cosets, in particular for the $\lambda$-deformed $SU(2)/U(1)$ coset CFT. We construct an interacting field theory in which all deformation effects are manifestly encoded in the interaction vertices. Using this we reproduce the known $\beta$-function and the anomalous dimension of the composite operator perturbing away from the conformal point. We introduce the $\lambda$-dressed parafermions which have an essential Wilson-like phase in their expressions. Subsequently, we compute their anomalous dimension, as well as their four-point functions, as exact functions of the deformation and to leading order in the $k$ expansion. Correlation functions with an odd number of these parafermions vanish as in the conformal case., Comment: v1: 1+36 pages, Latex, v2: JHEP version

We elevate $\lambda$-deformed $\sigma$-models into full type-II supergravity backgrounds. We construct several solutions which contain undeformed $AdS_n$ spaces, with $n=2,3,4$ and $6$, as an integrable part. In that respect, our examples are the first in the literature in this context and bring $\lambda$-deformations in contact with the AdS/CFT correspondence. The geometries are supported by appropriate dilaton and RR-fields. Most of the solutions admit non-Abelian T-dual limits., Comment: v1: 1+32 pages, v2: minor typos fixed in the formulas (3.22), (6.3), (A.6) and (A.11)

We study the notion of strong integrability for classically integrable $\lambda$-deformed CFTs and coset CFTs. To achieve this goal we employ the Poisson brackets of the spatial Lax matrix which we prove that it assumes the Maillet $r/s$-matrix algebra. As a consequence the system in question are integrable in the strong sense. Furthermore, we show that the derived Maillet $r/s$-matrix algebras can be realized in terms of twist functions, at the poles of which we recover the underlying symmetry algebras., Comment: v1:1+22 pages, Latex, v2: NPB version

We consider $\lambda$-deformed current algebra CFTs at level $k$, interpolating between an exact CFT in the UV and a PCM in the IR. By employing gravitational techniques, we derive the two-loop, in the large $k$ expansion, $\beta$-function. We find that this is covariant under a remarkable exact symmetry involving the coupling $\lambda$, the level $k$ and the adjoint quadratic Casimir of the group. Using this symmetry and CFT techniques, we are able to compute the Zamolodchikov metric, the anomalous dimension of the bilinear operator and the Zamolodchikov $C$-function at two-loops in the large $k$ expansion, as exact functions of the deformation parameter. Finally, we extend the above results to $\lambda$-deformed parafermionic algebra coset CFTs which interpolate between exact coset CFTs in the UV and a symmetric coset space in the IR., Comment: v1: 1+27 pages, Latex, v2: JHEP version

We explore the structure of the $\lambda$-deformed $\sigma$-model action by setting up a perturbative expansion around the free field point corresponding to the identity group element. We include all field interaction terms up to sixth order. We compute the two- and three-point functions of current and primary filed operators, their anomalous dimensions as well as the $\beta$-function for the $\lambda$-parameter. Our results are in complete agreement with those obtained previously using gravitational and/or CFT perturbative methods in conjunction with the non-perturbative symmetry, as well as with those obtained using methods exploiting the geometry defined in the space of couplings. The advantage of this approach is that all deformation effects are already encoded in the couplings of the interaction vertices and in the $\lambda$-dressed operators., Comment: 29 pages, minor improvements, published version

We study string theory on the pp-wave geometry obtained by taking the Penrose limit around a certain null geodesic of the non-supersymmetric Schrodinger background. We solve for the spectrum of bosonic excitations and find compelling agreement with the dispersion relation of the giant magnons in the Schrodinger background obtained previously in arXiv:1712.03091. Inspired by the pp-wave spectrum we conjecture an exact in the t'Hooft coupling dispersion relation for the magnons in the original Schrodinger background. We show that the pp-wave background admits exactly 16 Killing spinors. We use the explicit form of the latter in order to derive the supersymmetry algebra of the background which explicitly depends on the deformation parameter. Its bosonic subalgebra is of the Newton-Hooke type., Comment: 35 pages; v2: Minor changes, JHEP version

We invent a method that exploits the geometry in the space of couplings and the known all-loop effective action, in order to calculate the exact in the couplings anomalous dimensions of composite operators for a wide class of integrable $\sigma$-models. These involve both self and mutually interacting current algebra theories. We work out the details for important classes of such operators. In particular, we consider the operators built solely from an arbitrary number of currents of the same chirality, the composite operators which factorize into a chiral and an anti-chiral part, as well as those made up of three currents of mixed chirality. Remarkably enough, the anomalous dimensions of the former two sets of operators turn out to vanish. In our approach, loop computations are completely avoided., Comment: 1+60 pages, minor improvements, published version

We examine a two parameter family of gravitational actions which contains higher-derivative terms. These are such that the entire action is invariant under corrected T-duality rules, which we derive explicitly. Generically this action does not describe low energy string backgrounds except for isolated choices for the parameters. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that in this theory the entropy and the temperature of generic black hole solutions are T-duality invariant. This further supports the idea put forward in our previous work that T-duality might provide physical equivalences beyond the realm of string theory., Comment: 46 pages; v2: typos fixed

We construct the all loop effective action for WZW models perturbed by current-bilinear terms of the type $J_+J_- $, $J_+J_+ $ and $J_-J_- $, the last two of which explicitly break Lorentz invariance. For isotropic couplings we prove integrability. For the case in which only the first two terms are present we identify a non-perturbative symmetry of the effective action and we compute the exact beta-functions. These become identically zero outside a bounded region in the parametric space., Comment: 21 pages, 1 figure. some presentation improvements

We show that the CFT with symmetry group $G_{k_1}\times G_{k_2}\times \cdots \times G_{k_n}$ consisting of WZW models based on the same group $G$, but at arbitrary integer levels, admits an integrable deformation depending on $2(n-1)$ continuous parameters. We derive the all-loop effective action of the deformed theory and prove integrability. We also calculate the exact in the deformation parameters RG flow equations which can be put in a particularly simple compact form. This allows a full determination and classification of the fixed points of the RG flow, in particular those that are IR stable. The models under consideration provide concrete realizations of integrable flows between CFTs. We also consider non-Abelian T-duality type limits., Comment: 27 pages

For a general $\lambda$-deformation of current algebra CFTs we compute the exact Weyl anomaly coefficient and the corresponding metric in the couplings space geometry. By incorporating the exact $\beta$-function found in previous works we show that the Weyl anomaly is in fact the exact Zamolodchikov's $C$-function interpolating between exact CFTs occurring in the UV and in the IR. We provide explicit examples with the anisotropic $SU(2)$ case presented in detail. The anomalous dimension of the operator driving the deformation is also computed in general. Agreement is found with special cases existing already in the literature., Comment: 1+19 pages, Latex, v2: NPB version

We construct the all loop effective action representing, for small couplings, simultaneously self and mutually interacting current algebra CFTs realized by WZW models. This non-trivially generalizes our previous works where such interactions were, at the linear level, not simultaneously present. For the two coupling case we prove integrability and calculate the coupled RG flow equations. We also consider non-Abelian T-duality type limits. Our models provide concrete realisations of integrable flows between exact CFTs and exhibit several new features which we discuss in detail., Comment: 33 pages, 4 figures, typos corrected in version 2, version published in Nucl. Phys. B

By employing CFT techniques, we show how to compute in the context of \lambda-deformations of current algebras and coset CFTs the exact in the deformation parameters C-function for a wide class of integrable theories that interpolate between a UV and an IR point. We explicitly consider RG flows for integrable deformations of left-right asymmetric current algebras and coset CFTs. In all cases, the derived exact C-functions obey all the properties asserted by Zamolodchikov's c-theorem in two-dimensions., Comment: v1: 1+15 pages, Latex, v2: PLB version, v3: Correcting a typo in footnote 6

Two-dimensional $\sigma$-models corresponding to coset CFTs of the type $ (\hat{\mathfrak{g}}_k\oplus \hat{\mathfrak{h}}_\ell )/ \hat{\mathfrak{h}}_{k+\ell}$ admit a zoom-in limit involving sending one of the levels, say $\ell$, to infinity. The result is the non-Abelian T-dual of the WZW model for the algebra $\hat{\mathfrak{g}}_k$ with respect to the vector action of the subalgebra $\mathfrak{h}$ of $ \mathfrak{g}$. We examine modular invariant partition functions in this context. Focusing on the case with $\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{h}=\mathfrak{su}(2)$ we apply the above limit to the branching functions and modular invariant partition function of the coset CFT, which as a whole is a delicate procedure. Our main concrete result is that such a limit is well defined and the resulting partition function is modular invariant., Comment: 33 pages, this version published in Nuclear Physics B

We show that the temperature and entropy of a BTZ black hole are invariant under T-duality to next to leading order in $M_\star^{-2}$, $M_\star$ being the scale suppressing higher-curvature/derivative terms in the Lagrangian. We work in the framework of a two-parameter family of theories exhibiting T-duality, which includes (but goes beyond) String Theory. Interestingly enough, the AdS/CFT correspondence enforces quantization conditions on these parameters. In the particular case of bosonic/heterotic string theory, our results extend those of a classical paper by Horowitz and Welch. For generic (albeit quantized) values of the parameters, it suggests that T-duality might be an interesting tool to constrain consistent low-energy effective actions while entailing physical equivalences outside String Theory. Moreover, it generates a new family of regular asymptotically flat black string solutions in three-dimensions., Comment: 18 pages; v2: references improved

We study the renormalization group equations of the fully anisotropic $\lambda$-deformed CFTs involving the direct product of two current algebras at different levels $k_{1,2}$ for general semi-simple groups. The exact, in the deformation parameters, $\beta$-function is found via the effective action of the quantum fluctuations around a classical background as well as from gravitational techniques. Furthermore, agreement with known results for symmetric couplings and/or for equal levels, is demonstrated. We study in detail the two coupling case arising by splitting the group into a subgroup and the corresponding coset manifold which consistency requires to be either a symmetric-space one or a non-symmetric Einstein-space., Comment: v1: 1+19 pages, Latex; v2: NPB version; v3: Mild simplifications of the conventions in section 2.1.2

We consider the backgrounds obtained by Abelian and non-Abelian T-duality applied on $AdS_5\times S^5$. We study geodesics, calculate Penrose limits and find the associated plane-wave geometries. We quantise the weakly coupled type-IIA string theory on these backgrounds. We study the BMN sector, finding operators that wrap the original quiver CFT. For the non-Abelian plane wave, we find a 'flow' in the frequencies. We report some progress to understand this, in terms of deconstruction of a higher dimensional field theory. We explore a relation with the plane-wave limit of the Janus solution, which we also provide., Comment: 57 pages, no figures

We study the effective action for the integrable $\lambda$-deformation of the $G_{k_1} \times G_{k_2}/G_{k_1+k_2}$ coset CFTs. For unequal levels theses models do not fall into the general discussion of $\lambda$-deformations of CFTs corresponding to symmetric spaces and have many attractive features. We show that the perturbation is driven by parafermion bilinears and we revisit the derivation of their algebra. We uncover a non-trivial symmetry of these models parametric space, which has not encountered before in the literature. Using field theoretical methods and the effective action we compute the exact in the deformation parameter $\beta$-function and explicitly demonstrate the existence of a fixed point in the IR corresponding to the $G_{k_1-k_2} \times G_{k_2}/G_{k_1}$ coset CFTs. The same result is verified using gravitational methods for $G=SU(2)$. We examine various limiting cases previously considered in the literature and found agreement., Comment: 1+23 pages, Latex; v2: NPB version; v3: Correcting a typo in Eqs. (2.21), (2.22)

We explicitly construct families of integrable $\sigma$-model actions smoothly interpolating between exact CFTs. In the ultraviolet the theory is the direct product of two current algebras at levels $k_1$ and $k_2$. In the infrared and for the case of two deformation matrices the CFT involves a coset CFT, whereas for a single matrix deformation it is given by the ultraviolet direct product theories but at levels $k_1$ and $k_2-k_1$. For isotropic deformations we demonstrate integrability. In this case we also compute the exact beta-function for the deformation parameters using gravitational methods. This is shown to coincide with previous results obtained using perturbation theory and non-perturbative symmetries., Comment: 1+27 pages, text improvements, version published in JHEP

We prove that the doubly lambda-deformed sigma-models, which include integrable cases, are canonically equivalent to the sum of two single lambda-deformed models. This explains the equality of the exact beta-functions and current anomalous dimensions of the doubly lambda-deformed sigma-models to those of two single lambda-deformed models. Our proof is based upon agreement of their Hamiltonian densities and of their canonical structure. Subsequently, we show that it is possible to take a well defined non-Abelian type limit of the doubly-deformed action. Last, but not least, by extending the above, we construct multi-matrix integrable deformations of an arbitrary number of WZW models., Comment: 1+17 pages, Latex; v2: PLB version, v3: Correcting a typo in Eq.(3.7)

We study quantum aspects of the recently constructed doubly lambda-deformed sigma-models representing the effective action of two WZW models interacting via current bilinears. We show that although the exact beta-functions and current anomalous dimensions are identical to those of the lambda-deformed models, this is not true for the anomalous dimensions of generic primary field operators in accordance with the fact that the two models differ drastically. Our proofs involve CFT arguments, as well as effective sigma-model action and gravity calculations., Comment: 1+26 pages, Latex

We construct a new class of integrable $\sigma$-models based on current algebra theories for a general semisimple group $G$ by utilizing a left-right asymmetric gauging. Their action can be thought of as the all-loop effective action of two independent WZW models for $G$ both at level $k$, perturbed by current bilinears mixing the different WZW models. A non-perturbative symmetry in the couplings parametric space is revealed. We perform the Hamiltonian analysis of the action and demonstrate integrability in several cases. We extend our construction to deformations of $G/H$ CFTs and show integrability when $G/H$ is a symmetric space. Our method resembles that used for constructing the $\lambda$-deformed integrable $\sigma$-models, but the results are distinct and novel., Comment: 25 pages, minor typos corrected, published version

We compute the all-loop anomalous dimensions of current and primary field operators in deformed current algebra theories based on a general semi-simple group, but with different (large) levels for the left and right sectors. These theories, unlike their equal level counterparts, possess a new non-trivial fixed point in the IR. By computing the exact in $\lambda$ two- and three-point functions for these operators we deduce their OPEs and their equal-time commutators. Using these we argue on the nature of the CFT at the IR fixed point. The associated to the currents Poisson brackets are a two-parameter deformation of the canonical structure of the isotropic PCM., Comment: 1+27 pages, Latex, v2: Correcting a typo in Eqs. (3.1), (3.2), v3: Correcting a typo in Eq.(2.20)

The multiplicities of the decomposition of the product of an arbitrary number $n$ of spin $s$ states into irreducible $SU(2)$ representations are computed. Two complementary methods are presented, one based on random walks in representation space and another based on the partition function of the system in the presence of a magnetic field. The large-$n$ scaling limit of these multiplicities is derived, including nonperturbative corrections, and related to semiclassical features of the system. A physical application of these results to ferromagnetism is explicitly worked out. Generalizations involving several types of spins, as well as spin distributions, are also presented. The corresponding problem for (anti-)symmetric composition of spins is also considered and shown to obey remarkable duality and bosonization relations and exhibit qualitatively different large-$n$ scaling properties., Comment: 42 pages, 1 figure; Version published in Nuclear Physics B

We compute the 2- and 3-point functions of currents and primary fields of $\lambda$-deformed integrable $\sigma$-models characterized also by an integer $k$. Our results apply for any semisimple group $G$, for all values of the deformation parameter $\lambda$ and up to order $1/k$. We deduce the OPEs and equal-time commutators of all currents and primaries. We derive the currents' Poisson brackets which assume Rajeev's deformation of the canonical structure of the isotropic PCM, the underlying structure of the integrable $\lambda$-deformed $\sigma$-models. We also present analogous results in two limiting cases of special interest, namely for the non-Abelian T-dual of the PCM and for the pseudodual model., Comment: 30 pages plus appendices; v2: few minor changes, NPB version

We calculate the all-loop anomalous dimensions of current operators in $\lambda$-deformed $\sigma$-models. For the isotropic integrable deformation and for a semi-simple group $G$ we compute the anomalous dimensions using two different methods. In the first we use the all-loop effective action and in the second we employ perturbation theory along with the Callan-Symanzik equation and in conjunction with a duality-type symmetry shared by these models. Furthermore, using CFT techniques we compute the all-loop anomalous dimensions of bilinear currents for the isotropic deformation case and a general $G$. Finally we work out the cases of anisotropic $SU(2)$ and the two coupling, corresponding to the symmetric coset $G/H$ and a subgroup $H$, splitting of a group $G$., Comment: 1+26 pages, Latex; v2: minor corrections; v3: few minor changes, NPB version; v4: clarifications in section 2.1

We construct two-parameter families of integrable $\lambda$-deformations of two-dimensional field theories. These interpolate between a CFT (a WZW/gauged WZW model) and the non-Abelian T-dual of a principal chiral model on a group/symmetric coset space. In examples based on the $SU(2)$ WZW model and the $SU(2)/U(1)$ exact coset CFT, we show that these deformations are related to bi-Yang-Baxter generalisations of $\eta$-deformations via Poisson-Lie T-duality and analytic continuation. We illustrate the quantum behaviour of our models under RG flow. As a byproduct we demonstrate that the bi-Yang-Baxter $\sigma$-model for a general group is one-loop renormalisable., Comment: 33 pages, Latex, v2: 35 pages, Latex, clarifying comments, v3: few minor changes, NPB version

We examine integrable $\lambda$-deformations of $SO(n+1)/SO(n)$ coset CFTs and their analytic continuations. We provide an interpretation of the deformation as a squashing of the corresponding coset $\sigma$-model's target space. We realise the $\lambda$-deformation for $n=5$ case as a solution to supergravity supported by non-vanishing five-form and dilaton. This interpolates between the coset CFT $SO(4,2)/SO(4,1)\times SO(6)/SO(5)$ constructed as a gauged WZW model and the non-Abelian T-dual of the $AdS_5\times S^5$ spacetime., Comment: 30 pages; v2 journal version with note added

The all-loop anisotropic Thirring model interpolates between the WZW model and the non-Abelian T-dual of the anisotropic principal chiral model. We focus on the SU(2) case and we prove that it is classically integrable by providing its Lax pair formulation. We derive its underlying symmetry current algebra and use it to show that the Poisson brackets of the spatial part of the Lax pair, assume the Maillet form. In this way we procure the corresponding r and s matrices which provide non-trivial solutions to the modified Yang-Baxter equation., Comment: 1+17 pages, Latex, v2: few minor changes, PLB version, v3: Correcting an erroneous mistake on the diagonalizability of the coupling matrix, v4: We corrected the multiplicative factor in 2.16

We examine a recently proposed class of integrable deformations to two-dimensional conformal field theories. These {\lambda}-deformations interpolate between a WZW model and the non-Abelian T-dual of a Principal Chiral Model on a group G or, between a G/H gauged WZW model and the non-Abelian T-dual of the geometric coset G/H. {\lambda}-deformations have been conjectured to represent quantum group q-deformations for the case where the deformation parameter is a root of unity. In this work we show how such deformations can be given an embedding as full string backgrounds whose target spaces satisfy the equations of type-II supergravity. One illustrative example is a deformation of the Sl(2,R)/U(1) black-hole CFT. A further example interpolates between the $\frac{SU(2)\times SU(2)}{SU(2)}\times\frac{SL(2,R)\times SL(2,R)}{SL(2,R)} \times U(1)^4$ gauged WZW model and the non-Abelian T-dual of $AdS_3\times S^3\times T^4$ supported with Ramond flux., Comment: 35 pages, 1 figure