arXiv subjects

Alexandre Homrich

Publications and source records attributed to Alexandre Homrich.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Imprints of asymptotic freedom on confining strings

We consider the Polyakov loop correlator in the confining phase of large $N$ Yang-Mills theory in three and four dimensions. It can be computed by summing over the exchange of closed flux tubes winding around the thermal cycle. At short separations, the leading divergence is controlled by perturbation theory. Combining these two facts allows us to determine the asymptotic spectral density of string states contributing to the correlator. This sharply relates the weakly-coupled UV of the gauge theory to the dynamics of highly energetic flux tubes. Then, in a toy integrable setting, we explore how this can bound the scattering data of the Goldstone modes on top of a long string. We derive a bound on the asymptotic behavior of the reflection amplitude of Goldstones against the flux tube boundary sourced by the Polyakov line, and rule out an asymptotically linear phase shift for the S-matrix. Along the way, we discuss how causality can impose bounds on thermodynamic quantities, and show how the positivity of time delays follows from unitarity and analyticity of $2d$ massless elastic S-matrices. We include a review on reflection amplitudes, and their computation in the theory of long effective strings.

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arXiv2024

Bootstrapping the 3d Ising Stress Tensor

We compute observables of the critical 3d Ising model to high precision by applying the numerical conformal bootstrap to mixed correlators of the leading scalar operators $\sigma$ and $\epsilon$, and the stress tensor $T_{\mu\nu}$. We obtain new precise determinations of scaling dimensions $(\Delta_\sigma, \Delta_\epsilon) = (0.518148806(24), 1.41262528(29))$ as well as OPE coefficients involving $\sigma$, $\epsilon$, and $T_{\mu\nu}$. We also describe several improvements made along the way to algorithms and software tools for the numerical bootstrap.

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arXiv2024

Light-Ray Wave Functions and Integrability

Using integrability, we construct (to leading order in perturbation theory) the explicit form of twist-three light-ray operators in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM. This construction allows us to directly compute analytically continued CFT data at complex spin. We derive analytically the "magic'' decoupling zeroes previously observed numerically. Using the Baxter equation, we also show that certain Regge trajectories merge together into a single unifying Riemann surface. Perhaps more surprisingly, we find that this unification of Regge trajectories is not unique. If we organize twist-three operators differently into what we call "cousin trajectories'' we find infinitely more possible continuations. We speculate about which of these remarkable features of twist-three operators might generalize to other operators, other regimes and other theories.

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arXiv2024

Multiparticle Flux Tube S-matrix Bootstrap

We introduce the notion of branon jets, states of collinear flux tube excitations. We argue for the analyticity, crossing and unitarity of the multi-particle scattering of these jets and, through the S-matrix bootstrap, place bounds on a set of finite energy multi-particle sum rules. Such bounds define a matrioska of sorts with a smaller and smaller allowed regions as we impose more constraints. The Yang-Mills flux tube, as well as other interesting flux tube theories recently studied through lattice simulations, lie inside a tiny island hundreds of times smaller than the most general space of allowed two-dimensional theories.

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arXiv2022

Complex Spin: The Missing Zeroes and Newton's Dark Magic

Conformal Regge theory predicts the existence of analytically continued CFT data for complex spin. How could this work when there are so many more operators with large spin compared to small spin? Using planar N=4 SYM as a testground we find a simple physical picture. Operators do organize themselves into analytic families but the continuation of the higher families have zeroes in their structure OPE constants for lower integer spins. They thus decouple. Newton's interpolation series technique is perfectly suited to this physical problem and will allow us to explore the right complex spin half-plane.

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arXiv2022

Structure Constants in $\mathcal{N} = 4$ SYM and Separation of Variables

We propose a new framework for computing three-point functions in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills where these correlators take the form of multiple integrals of Separation of Variables type. We test this formalism at weak coupling at leading and next-to-leading orders in a non-compact SL(2) sector of the theory and all the way to next-to-next-to-leading orders for a compact SU(2) sector. We find evidence that wrapping effects can also be incorporated.

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arXiv2022

Spinning Hexagons

We reduce the computation of three point function of three spinning operators with arbitrary polarizations to a statistical mechanics problem via the hexagon formalism. The central building block of these correlation functions is the hexagon partition function. We explore its analytic structure and use it to generate perturbative data for spinning three point functions. For certain polarizations and any coupling, we express the full asymptotic three point function in determinant form. With the integrability approach established we open the ground to study the large spin limit where dualities with null Wilson loops and integrable pentagons must appear.

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arXiv2021

The Wilson Loop -- Large Spin OPE Dictionary

We work out the map between null polygonal hexagonal Wilson loops and spinning three point functions in large $N$ conformal gauge theories by mapping the variables describing the two different physical quantities and by working out the precise normalization factors entering this duality. By fixing all the kinematics we open the ground for a precise study of the dynamics underlying these dualities -- most notably through integrability in the case of planar maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory.

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arXiv2020

Dual S-matrix Bootstrap I: 2D Theory

Using duality in optimization theory we formulate a dual approach to the S-matrix bootstrap that provides rigorous bounds to 2D QFT observables as a consequence of unitarity, crossing symmetry and analyticity of the scattering matrix. We then explain how to optimize such bounds numerically, and prove that they provide the same bounds obtained from the usual primal formulation of the S-matrix Bootstrap, at least once convergence is attained from both perspectives. These techniques are then applied to the study of a gapped system with two stable particles of different masses, which serves as a toy model for bootstrapping popular physical systems.

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arXiv2019

SUSY S-matrix Bootstrap and Friends

We consider the 2D S-matrix bootstrap in the presence of supersymmetry, $\mathbb{Z}_2$ and $\mathbb{Z}_4$ symmetry. At the boundary of the allowed S-matrix space we encounter well known integrable models such as the supersymmetric sine-Gordon and restricted sine-Gordon models, novel elliptic deformations thereof, as well as a two parameter family of $\mathbb{Z}_4$ elliptic S-matrices previously proposed by Zamolodchikov. We highlight an intricate web of relations between these various S-matrices.

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arXiv2019

The S-matrix Bootstrap IV: Multiple Amplitudes

We explore the space of consistent three-particle couplings in $\mathbb Z_2$-symmetric two-dimensional QFTs using two first-principles approaches. Our first approach relies solely on unitarity, analyticity and crossing symmetry of the two-to-two scattering amplitudes and extends the techniques of [arXiv:1607.06110] to a multi-amplitude setup. Our second approach is based on placing QFTs in AdS to get upper bounds on couplings with the numerical conformal bootstrap, and is a multi-correlator version of [arXiv:1607.06109]. The space of allowed couplings that we carve out is rich in features, some of which we can link to amplitudes in integrable theories with a $\mathbb Z_2$ symmetry, e.g., the three-state Potts and tricritical Ising field theories. Along a specific line our maximal coupling agrees with that of a new exact S-matrix that corresponds to an elliptic deformation of the supersymmetric Sine-Gordon model which preserves unitarity and solves the Yang-Baxter equation.

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