High Energy Theory Seminar

In this talk, I will share some interesting features of Casimir energy of conformal field theories (CFTs) with d>2 compactified on a 2d torus. Especially, I will derive its universal expansion in this thin torus limit using an effective field theory argument, which only consists of at most two perturbative terms, and the coefficient of the leading term shares similar properties of 2d central charge. I will also discuss how the torus provides richer observables for theories we are familiar on Euclidean space. As an example, I will introduce a "phase transition" that appears in the 3d Gross-Neveu CFT when we change the shape modulus of the torus. If time permits, I will comment on non-Abelian Chern-Simons matter CFTs at the weak coupling limit, where singlet constraint makes a more prominent difference on a torus.

The talk is in 469 Lauritsen Laboratory.

Contact theoryinfo@caltech.edu for Zoom information.