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We explore constraints on (1+1)d unitary conformal field theory with an internal ZN global symmetry, by bounding the lightest symmetry-preserving scalar primary operator using the modular bootstrap. Among the other constraints we have found, we prove the existence of a ZN-symmetric relevant/marginal operator if N−1≤c≤9−N for N≤4, with the end points saturated by various Wess-Zumino-Witten models that can be embedded into (e8)1. Its existence implies that robust gapless fixed points are not possible in this range of c if only a ZN symmetry is imposed microscopically. We also obtain stronger, more refined bounds that depend on the ‘t Hooft anomaly of the ZN symmetry.

We study several exotic systems, including the X-cube model, on a flat three-torus with a twist in the $xy$-plane. The ground state degeneracy turns out to be a sensitive function of various geometrical parameters. Starting from a lattice, depending on how we take the continuum limit, we find different values of the ground state degeneracy. Yet, there is a natural continuum limit with a well-defined (though infinite) value of that degeneracy. We also uncover a surprising global symmetry in $2+1$ and $3+1$ dimensional systems. It originates from the underlying subsystem symmetry, but the way it is realized depends on the twist. In particular, in a preferred coordinate frame, the modular parameter of the twisted two-torus $\tau = \tau_1 + i \tau_2$ has rational $\tau_1 = k / m$. Then, in systems based on $U(1)\times U(1)$ subsystem symmetries, such as momentum and winding symmetries or electric and magnetic symmetries, the new symmetry is a projectively realized $\mathbb{Z}_m\times \mathbb{Z}_m$, which leads to an $m$-fold ground state degeneracy. In systems based on $\mathbb{Z}_N$ symmetries, like the X-cube model, each of these two $\mathbb{Z}_m$ factors is replaced by $\mathbb{Z}_{\gcd(N,m)}$., Comment: 61 pages, 3 figures

We extend our exploration of nonstandard continuum quantum field theories in 2+1 dimensions to 3+1 dimensions. These theories exhibit exotic global symmetries, a peculiar spectrum of charged states, unusual gauge symmetries, and surprising dualities. Many of the systems we study have a known lattice construction. In particular, one of them is a known gapless fracton model. The novelty here is in their continuum field theory description. In this paper, we focus on models with a global $U(1)$ symmetry and in a followup paper we will study models with a global $\mathbb{Z}_N$ symmetry., 74 pages. v3: significant changes

We discuss an isomorphism between the possible anomalies of $(d+1)$-dimensional quantum field theories with $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ unitary global symmetry, and those of $d$-dimensional quantum field theories with time-reversal symmetry $\mathsf{T}$. This correspondence is an instance of symmetry defect decoration. The worldvolume of a $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ symmetry defect is naturally invariant under $\mathsf{T},$ and bulk $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ anomalies descend to $\mathsf{T}$ anomalies on these defects. We illustrate this correspondence in detail for $(1+1)d$ bosonic systems where the bulk $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ anomaly leads to a Kramers degeneracy in the symmetry defect Hilbert space, and exhibit examples. We also discuss $(1+1)d$ fermion systems protected by $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ global symmetry where interactions lead to a $\mathbb{Z}_{8}$ classification of anomalies. Under the correspondence, this is directly related to the $\mathbb{Z}_{8}$ classification of $(0+1)d$ fermions protected by $\mathsf{T}$. Finally, we consider $(3+1)d$ bosonic systems with $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ symmetry where the possible anomalies are classified by $\mathbb{Z}_{2}\times \mathbb{Z}_{2}$. We construct topological field theories realizing these anomalies and show that their associated symmetry defects support anyons that can be either fermions or Kramers doublets., Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures

We continue the exploration of nonstandard continuum field theories related to fractons in 3+1 dimensions. Our theories exhibit exotic global and gauge symmetries, defects with restricted mobility, and interesting dualities. Depending on the model, the defects are the probe limits of either fractonic particles, strings, or strips. One of our models is the continuum limit of the plaquette Ising lattice model, which features an important role in the construction of the X-cube model., 68 pages, 3 figures, 7 tables

How many charged degrees of freedom are necessary to accommodate a certain amount of 't Hooft anomaly? Using the conformal bootstrap for the four-point function of flavor current multiplets, we show that in all $(3+1)\mathrm{D}$ superconformal field theories the 't Hooft anomaly of a continuous flavor symmetry is bounded from above by the $3/2$ power of the current two-point function coefficient, which can be thought of as a measure for the amount of charged degrees of freedom. We check our bounds against free fields and supersymmetric quantum chromodynamics in the conformal window.

We discuss nonstandard continuum quantum field theories in 2+1 dimensions. They exhibit exotic global symmetries, a subtle spectrum of charged excitations, and dualities similar to dualities of systems in 1+1 dimensions. These continuum models represent the low-energy limits of certain known lattice systems. One key aspect of these continuum field theories is the important role played by discontinuous field configurations. In two companion papers, we will present 3+1-dimensional versions of these systems. In particular, we will discuss continuum quantum field theories of some models of fractons., 62 pages. v4: additions about robustness

We show that every compact, unitary two-dimensional CFT with an abelian conserved current has vanishing twist gap for charged primary fields with respect to the $\mathfrak{u}(1)\times$Virasoro algebra. This means that either the chiral algebra is enhanced by a charged primary field with zero twist or there is an infinite family of charged primary fields that accumulate to zero twist., Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, v2: minor changes

We discuss symmetry fractionalization of the Lorentz group in (2+1)$d$ non-spin quantum field theory (QFT), and its implications for dualities. We prove that two inequivalent non-spin QFTs are dual as spin QFTs if and only if they are related by a Lorentz symmetry fractionalization with respect to an anomalous $\mathbb{Z}_2$ one-form symmetry. Moreover, if the framing anomalies of two non-spin QFTs differ by a multiple of 8, then they are dual as spin QFTs if and only if they are also dual as non-spin QFTs. Applications to summing over the spin structures, time-reversal symmetry, and level/rank dualities are explored. The Lorentz symmetry fractionalization naturally arises in Chern-Simons matter dualities that obey certain spin/charge relations, and is instrumental for the dualities to hold when viewed as non-spin theories., 29 pages, 3 figures. v2 appendix added and section 4.2 expanded

Following our earlier analyses of nonstandard continuum quantum field theories, we study here gapped systems in 3+1 dimensions, which exhibit fractonic behavior. In particular, we present three dual field theory descriptions of the low-energy physics of the X-cube model. A key aspect of our constructions is the use of discontinuous fields in the continuum field theory. Spacetime is continuous, but the fields are not., Comment: 46 pages. v3: minor changes

We study two-dimensional (4, 4) superconformal field theories of central charge c = 6, corresponding to nonlinear sigma models on K3 surfaces, using the superconformal bootstrap. This is made possible through a surprising relation between the BPS N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 superconformal blocks with c = 6 and bosonic Virasoro conformal blocks with c = 28, and an exact result on the moduli dependence of a certain integrated BPS 4-point function. Nontrivial bounds on the non-BPS spectrum in the K3 CFT are obtained as functions of the CFT moduli, that interpolate between the free orbifold points and singular CFT points. We observe directly from the CFT perspective the signature of a continuous spectrum above a gap at the singular moduli, and find numerically an upper bound on this gap that is saturated by the A 1 N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 cigar CFT. We also derive an analytic upper bound on the first nonzero eigenvalue of the scalar Laplacian on K3 in the large volume regime, that depends on the K3 moduli data. As two byproducts, we find an exact equivalence between a class of BPS N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 superconformal blocks and Virasoro conformal blocks in two dimensions, and an upper bound on the four-point functions of operators of sufficiently low scaling dimension in three and four dimensional CFTs.

We study the implications of 't Hooft anomaly (i.e. obstruction to gauging) on conformal field theory, focusing on the case when the global symmetry is $\mathbb{Z_2}$. Using the modular bootstrap, universal bounds on (1+1)-dimensional bosonic conformal field theories with an internal $\mathbb{Z_2}$ global symmetry are derived. The bootstrap bounds depend dramatically on the 't Hooft anomaly. In particular, there is a universal upper bound on the lightest $\mathbb{Z_2}$ odd operator if the symmetry is anomalous, but there is no bound if the symmetry is non-anomalous. In the non-anomalous case, we find that the lightest $\mathbb{Z_2}$ odd state and the defect ground state cannot both be arbitrarily heavy. We also consider theories with a $U(1)$ global symmetry, and comment that there is no bound on the lightest $U(1)$ charged operator if the symmetry is non-anomalous., 49+16 pages, 19 figures, 1 table; v2: minor clarifications; v3: typos fixed

We investigate the non-BPS realm of 3d ${\cal N} = 4$ superconformal field theory by uniting the non-perturbative methods of the conformal bootstrap and supersymmetric localization, and utilizing special features of 3d ${\cal N} = 4$ theories such as mirror symmetry and a protected sector described by topological quantum mechanics (TQM). Supersymmetric localization allows for the exact determination of the conformal and flavor central charges, and the latter can be fed into the mini-bootstrap of the TQM to solve for a subset of the OPE data. We examine the implications of the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ mirror action for the SCFT single- and mixed-branch crossing equations for the moment map operators, and apply numerical bootstrap to obtain universal constraints on OPE data for given flavor symmetry groups. A key ingredient in applying the bootstrap analysis is the determination of the mixed-branch superconformal blocks. Among other results, we show that the simplest known self-mirror theory with $SU(2) \times SU(2)$ flavor symmetry saturates our bootstrap bounds, which allows us to extract the non-BPS data and examine the self-mirror $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry thereof., Comment: 50+27 pages, 6 figures, 7 tables. v2: typos corrected, references added. v3: a brief summary added, minor notations changed, SciPost published version

We study light-ray operators constructed from the energy-momentum tensor in $d$-dimensional Lorentzian conformal field theory. These include in particular the average null energy operator. The commutators of parallel light-ray operators on a codimension one light-sheet form an infinite-dimensional algebra. We determine this light-ray algebra and find that the $d$-dimensional (generalized) BMS algebra, including both the supertranslation and the superrotation, is a subalgebra. We verify this algebra in correlation functions of free scalar field theory. We also determine the infinite-dimensional algebra of light-ray operators built from non-abelian spin-one conserved currents., 25 pages

It has long been clear that the conformal bootstrap is associated with a rich geometry. In this paper we undertake a systematic exploration of this geometric structure as an object of study in its own right. We study conformal blocks for the minimal SL(2,R) symmetry present in conformal field theories in all dimensions. Unitarity demands that the Taylor coefficients of the four-point function lie inside a polytope U determined by the operator spectrum, while crossing demands they lie on a plane X. The conformal bootstrap is then geometrically interpreted as demanding a non-empty intersection of U and X. We find that the conformal blocks enjoy a surprising positive determinant property. This implies that U is an example of a famous polytope -- the cyclic polytope. The face structure of cyclic polytopes is completely understood. This lets us fully characterize the intersection U and X by a simple combinatorial rule, leading to a number of new exact statements about the spectrum and four-point function in any conformal field theory., 49 pages, 22 figures v2. Plot of Delta1 Delta2 corrected, references and more detailed discussion on projection of polytopes added

We show that the fermionization of the Monster CFT with respect to $\mathbb{Z}_{2A}$ is the tensor product of a free fermion and the Baby Monster CFT. The chiral fermion parity of the free fermion implies that the Monster CFT is self-dual under the $\mathbb{Z}_{2A}$ orbifold, i.e. it enjoys the Kramers-Wannier duality. The Kramers-Wannier duality defect extends the Monster group to a larger category of topological defect lines that contains an Ising subcategory. We introduce the defect McKay-Thompson series defined as the Monster partition function twisted by the duality defect, and find that the coefficients can be decomposed into the dimensions of the (projective) irreducible representations of the Baby Monster group. We further prove that the defect McKay-Thompson series is invariant under the genus-zero congruence subgroup $16D^0$ of $PSL(2,\mathbb{Z})$., 26+9 pages, 7 figure, 4 tables

We study (1+1)-dimensional non-linear sigma models whose target space is the flag manifold $U(N)\over U(N_1)\times U(N_2)\cdots U(N_m)$, with a specific focus on the special case $U(N)/U(1)^{N}$. These generalize the well-known $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ model. The general flag model exhibits several new elements that are not present in the special case of the $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ model. It depends on more parameters, its global symmetry can be larger, and its 't Hooft anomalies can be more subtle. Our discussion based on symmetry and anomaly suggests that for certain choices of the integers $N_I$ and for specific values of the parameters the model is gapless in the IR and is described by an $SU(N)_1$ WZW model. Some of the techniques we present can also be applied to other cases., Comment: 59 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, typos fixed, references added

Motivated by M-theory compactification on elliptic Calabi-Yau threefolds, we present a correspondence between networks of small resolutions for singular elliptic fibrations and Coulomb branches of five-dimensional N=1 gauge theories. While resolutions correspond to subchambers of the Coulomb branch, partial resolutions correspond to higher codimension loci at which the Coulomb branch intersects the Coulomb-Higgs branches. Flops between different resolutions are identified with reflections on the Coulomb branch. Physics aside, this correspondence provides an interesting link between elliptic fibrations and representation theory., 55 pages, 18 figures, section added

Recently, spin-one wavefunctions in four dimensions that are conformal primaries of the Lorentz group SL(2,C) were constructed. We compute low-point, tree-level gluon scattering amplitudes in the space of these conformal primary wavefunctions. The answers have the same conformal covariance as correlators of spin-one primaries in a 2d CFT. The BCFW recursion relation between three- and four-point gluon amplitudes is recast into this conformal basis., 27 pages

We investigate superconformal surface defects in four-dimensional N=2 superconformal theories. Each such defect gives rise to a module of the associated chiral algebra and the surface defect Schur index is the character of this module. Various natural chiral algebra operations such as Drinfeld-Sokolov reduction and spectral flow can be interpreted as constructions involving four-dimensional surface defects. We compute the index of these defects in the free hypermultiplet theory and Argyres-Douglas theories, using both infrared techniques involving BPS states, as well as renormalization group flows onto Higgs branches. In each case we find perfect agreement with the predicted characters., 52 pages, 1 table

We find a simple relation between two-dimensional BPS N=2 superconformal blocks and bosonic Virasoro conformal blocks, which allows us to analyze the crossing equations for BPS 4-point functions in unitary (2,2) superconformal theories numerically with semidefinite programming. We constrain gaps in the non-BPS spectrum through the operator product expansion of BPS operators, in ways that depend on the moduli of exactly marginal deformations through chiral ring coefficients. In some cases, our bounds on the spectral gaps are observed to be saturated by free theories, by N=2 Liouville theory, and by certain Landau-Ginzburg models., Comment: 56 pages, 14 figures

We conjecture a formula for the Schur index of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ theories coupled to $(2,2)$ surface defects in terms of the $2d$-$4d$ BPS spectrum in the Coulomb phase of the theory. The key ingredient in our conjecture is a refined $2d$-$4d$ wall-crossing invariant, which we also formulate. Our result intertwines recent conjectures expressing the four-dimensional Schur index in terms of infrared BPS particles, with the Cecotti-Vafa formula for limits of the elliptic genus in terms of two-dimensional BPS solitons. We extend our discussion to framed $2d$-$4d$ BPS states, and use this to demonstrate a general relationship between surface defect indices and line defect indices. We illustrate our results in the example of $SU(2)$ super Yang-Mills coupled to the $\mathbb{CP}^1$ sigma model defect., 50 pages, 1 figure

We study solutions of the Klein-Gordon, Maxwell, and linearized Einstein equations in $\mathbb{R}^{1,d+1}$ that transform as $d$-dimensional conformal primaries under the Lorentz group $SO(1,d+1)$. Such solutions, called conformal primary wavefunctions, are labeled by a conformal dimension $\Delta$ and a point in $\mathbb{R}^d$, rather than an on-shell $(d+2)$-dimensional momentum. We show that the continuum of scalar conformal primary wavefunctions on the principal continuous series $\Delta\in \frac d2+ i\mathbb{R}$ of $SO(1,d+1)$ spans a complete set of normalizable solutions to the wave equation. In the massless case, with or without spin, the transition from momentum space to conformal primary wavefunctions is implemented by a Mellin transform. As a consequence of this construction, scattering amplitudes in this basis transform covariantly under $SO(1,d+1)$ as $d$-dimensional conformal correlators., Comment: 37 pages, 4 tables

We study general properties of the conformal basis, the space of wavefunctions in $(d+2)$-dimensional Minkowski space that are primaries of the Lorentz group $SO(1,d+1)$. Scattering amplitudes written in this basis have the same symmetry as $d$-dimensional conformal correlators. We translate the optical theorem, which is a direct consequence of unitarity, into the conformal basis. In the particular case of a tree-level exchange diagram, the optical theorem takes the form of a conformal block decomposition on the principal continuous series, with OPE coefficients being the three-point coupling written in the same basis. We further discuss the relation between the massless conformal basis and the bulk point singularity in AdS/CFT. Some three- and four-point amplitudes in (2+1) dimensions are explicitly computed in this basis to demonstrate these results., Comment: 31 pages, 3 figures

The four-dimensional (4D) Lorentz group $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$ acts as the two-dimensional (2D) global conformal group on the celestial sphere at infinity where asymptotic 4D scattering states are specified. Consequent similarities of 4D flat space amplitudes and 2D correlators on the conformal sphere are obscured by the fact that the former are usually expressed in terms of asymptotic wavefunctions which transform simply under spacetime translations rather than the Lorentz $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$. In this paper we construct on-shell massive scalar wavefunctions in 4D Minkowski space that transform as $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$ conformal primaries. Scattering amplitudes of these wavefunctions are $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$ covariant by construction. For certain mass relations, we show explicitly that their three-point amplitude reduces to the known unique form of a 2D CFT primary three-point function and compute the coefficient. The computation proceeds naturally via Witten-like diagrams on a hyperbolic slicing of Minkowski space and has a holographic flavor., Comment: 13 pages

We conjecture a precise relationship between the Schur limit of the superconformal index of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ field theories, which counts local operators, and the spectrum of BPS particles on the Coulomb branch. We verify this conjecture for the special case of free field theories, $\mathcal{N}=2$ QED, and $SU(2)$ gauge theory coupled to fundamental matter. Assuming the validity of our proposal, we compute the Schur index of all Argyres-Douglas theories. Our answers match expectations from the connection of Schur operators with two-dimensional chiral algebras. Based on our results we propose that the chiral algebra of the generalized Argyres-Douglas theory $(A_{k-1},A_{N-1})$ with $k$ and $N$ coprime, is the vacuum sector of the $(k,k+N)$ $W_{k}$ minimal model, and that the Schur index is the associated vacuum character., Comment: 46 pages, 12 figures. v2: revisions to section 1, references added

We study tree level scattering amplitudes of four massless states in the double scaled little string theory, and compare them to perturbative loop amplitudes in six-dimensional super-Yang-Mills theory. The little string amplitudes are computed from correlators in the cigar coset CFT and in N = 2 minimal models. The results are expressed in terms of integrals of conformal blocks and evaluated numerically in the α ′ expansion. We find striking agreements with up to 2-loop scattering amplitudes of massless gluons in 6D SU(k) SYM at a ℤ [subscript k] invariant point on the Coulomb branch. We comment on the issue of UV divergence at higher loop orders in the gauge theory and discuss the implication of our results., National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award PHY-0847457), Harvard University (Fundamental Laws Initiative Fund)