Title: A Monotonicity Theorem for Two-dimensional Boundaries and Defects
Speaker: Andrew O’Bannon, University of Oxford
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Time: 12:00pm – 01:00pm
Place: Seminar Room 313, Simons Center
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Abstract: I will propose a proof for a monotonicity theorem, or c-theorem, for a three-dimensional Conformal Field Theory (CFT) on a space with a boundary, and for a two-dimensional defect coupled to a higher-dimensional CFT. The proof is applicable only to renormalization group flows that are localized at the boundary or defect, such that the bulk theory remains conformal along the flow, and that preserve locality and reflection positivity, as well as Euclidean invariance along the defect. The method of proof is a generalization of KomargodskiâÂÂs proof of ZamolodchikovâÂÂs c-theorem. The key ingredient is an external âÂÂdilatonâ field introduced to match Weyl anomalies between the ultra-violet (UV) and infra-red (IR) fixed points. Reflection positivity in the dilatonâÂÂs effective action guarantees that a certain coefficient in the boundary/defect Weyl anomaly must take a value in the UV that is larger than (or equal to) the value in the IR. This boundary/defect c-theorem may have important implications for many theoretical and experimental systems, ranging from graphene to branes in string theory and M-theory.