Discretely Holomorphic Parafermions in Lattice Z(N) Models

We construct lattice parafermions - local products of order and disorder operators - in nearest-neighbor Z(N) models on regular isotropic planar lattices, and show that they are discretely holomorphic, that is they satisfy discrete Cauchy-Riemann equations, precisely at the critical Fateev-Zamolodchikov (FZ) integrable points. We generalize our analysis to models with anisotropic interactions, showing that, as long as the lattice is correctly embedded in the plane, such discretely holomorphic parafermions exist for particular values of the couplings which we identify as the anisotropic FZ points. These results extend to more general inhomogeneous lattice models as long as the covering lattice admits a rhombic embedding in the plane.Comment: v2: minor corrections; v3: published version - minor corrections and reference adde

Morphogen Gradient from a Noisy Source

We investigate the effect of time-dependent noise on the shape of a morphogen gradient in a developing embryo. Perturbation theory is used to calculate the deviations from deterministic behavior in a simple reaction-diffusion model of robust gradient formation, and the results are confirmed by numerical simulation. It is shown that such deviations can disrupt robustness for sufficiently high noise levels, and the implications of these findings for more complex models of gradient-shaping pathways are discussed.Comment: Four pages, three figure

Local defect in a magnet with long-range interactions

We investigate a single defect coupling to the square of the order parameter in a nearly critical magnet with long-range spatial interactions of the form $r^{-(d+\sigma)}$, focusing on magnetic droplets nucleated at the defect while the bulk system is in the paramagnetic phase. Because of the long-range interaction, the droplet develops a power-law tail which is energetically unfavorable. However, as long as $\sigma>0$, the tail contribution to the droplet free energy is subleading in the limit of large droplets; and the free energy becomes identical to the case of short-range interactions. We also study the droplet quantum dynamics with and without dissipation; and we discuss the consequences of our results for defects in itinerant quantum ferromagnets.Comment: 8 pages, 5 eps figures, final version, as publishe

Corner contribution to percolation cluster numbers

We study the number of clusters in two-dimensional (2d) critical percolation, N_Gamma, which intersect a given subset of bonds, Gamma. In the simplest case, when Gamma is a simple closed curve, N_Gamma is related to the entanglement entropy of the critical diluted quantum Ising model, in which Gamma represents the boundary between the subsystem and the environment. Due to corners in Gamma there are universal logarithmic corrections to N_Gamma, which are calculated in the continuum limit through conformal invariance, making use of the Cardy-Peschel formula. The exact formulas are confirmed by large scale Monte Carlo simulations. These results are extended to anisotropic percolation where they confirm a result of discrete holomorphicity.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure

Sewing Constraints and Non-Orientable Open Strings

We extend to non-orientable surfaces previous work on sewing constraints in Conformal Field Theory. A new constraint, related to the real projective plane, is described and is used to illustrate the correspondence with a previous construction of open-string spectra.Comment: phyzzx, 11 pages and 4 figures, ROM2F-93/3

Quantum and classical localisation and the Manhattan lattice

We consider a network model, embedded on the Manhattan lattice, of a quantum localisation problem belonging to symmetry class C. This arises in the context of quasiparticle dynamics in disordered spin-singlet superconductors which are invariant under spin rotations but not under time reversal. A mapping exists between problems belonging to this symmetry class and certain classical random walks which are self-avoiding and have attractive interactions; we exploit this equivalence, using a study of the classical random walks to gain information about the corresponding quantum problem. In a field-theoretic approach, we show that the interactions may flow to one of two possible strong coupling regimes separated by a transition: however, using Monte Carlo simulations we show that the walks are in fact always compact two-dimensional objects with a well-defined one-dimensional surface, indicating that the corresponding quantum system is localised.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Reflection Scattering Matrix of the Ising Model in a Random Boundary Magnetic Field

The physical properties induced by a quenched surface magnetic field in the Ising model are investigated by means of boundary quantum field theory in replica space. Exact boundary scattering amplitudes are proposed and used to study the averaged quenched correlation functions.Comment: 37 pages (Latex), including 16 figures, one reference adde

Interacting Electrons and Localized Spins: Exact Results from Conformal Field Theory

We give a brief review of the Kondo effect in a one-dimensional interacting electron system, and present exact results for the impurity thermodynamic response based on conformal field theory.Comment: 6 pages LaTeX. To appear in the Proceedings of the 1995 Schladming Winter School on Low-Dimensional Models in Statistical Physics and Quantum Field Theor

Frustration of decoherence in YY-shaped superconducting Josephson networks

We examine the possibility that pertinent impurities in a condensed matter system may help in designing quantum devices with enhanced coherent behaviors. For this purpose, we analyze a field theory model describing Y- shaped superconducting Josephson networks. We show that a new finite coupling stable infrared fixed point emerges in its phase diagram; we then explicitly evidence that, when engineered to operate near by this new fixed point, Y-shaped networks support two-level quantum systems, for which the entanglement with the environment is frustrated. We briefly address the potential relevance of this result for engineering finite-size superconducting devices with enhanced quantum coherence. Our approach uses boundary conformal field theory since it naturally allows for a field-theoretical treatment of the phase slips (instantons), describing the quantum tunneling between degenerate levels.Comment: 11 pages, 5 .eps figures; several changes in the presentation and in the figures, upgraded reference

Form factors of the homogeneous sine-Gordon models

We provide general determinant formulae for all n-particle form factors related to the trace of the energy momentum tensor and the analogue of the order and disorder operator in the $SU(3)_2$-homogeneous Sine-Gordon model. We employ the form factors related to the trace of the energy momentum tensor in the application of the c-theorem and find perfect agreement with the physical picture recently obtained by means of the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz. For finite resonance parameter we recover the expected WZNW-coset central charge and for infinite resonance parameter the theory decouples into two free fermions