Exact Correlators from Conformal Ward Identities in Momentum Space and the Perturbative TJJTJJ Vertex

We present a general study of 3-point functions of conformal field theory in momentum space, following a reconstruction method for tensor correlators, based on the solution of the conformal Ward identities (CWI' s), introduced in recent works by Bzowski, McFadden and Skenderis (BMS). We investigate and detail the structure of the CWI's, their non-perturbative solutions and the transition to momentum space, comparing them to perturbation theory by taking QED as an example. We then proceed with an analysis of the $TJJ$ correlator, presenting independent and detailed re-derivations of the conformal equations in the reconstruction method of BMS, originally formulated using a minimal tensor basis in the transverse traceless sector. A careful comparison with a second basis introduced in previous studies shows that this correlator is affected by one anomaly pole in the graviton (T) line, induced by renormalization. The result shows that the origin of the anomaly, in this correlator, should be necessarily attributed to the exchange of a massless effective degree of freedom. Our results are then exemplified in massless QED at one-loop in $d$-dimensions, expressed in terms of perturbative master integrals. An independent analysis of the Fuchsian character of the solutions, which bypasses the 3K integrals, is also presented. We show that the combination of field theories at one-loop - with a specific field content of degenerate massless scalar and fermions - is sufficient to generate the complete non-perturbative solution, in agreement with a previous study in coordinate space. The result shows that free conformal field theories, in specific dimensions, arrested at one-loop, reproduce the general result for the $TJJ$. Analytical checks of this correspondence are presented in $d=3,4$ and $5$ spacetime dimensions[..].Comment: 79 pages, 3 Figures. Final version, with changes in section 8. Accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics

The Generalized Hypergeometric Structure of the Ward Identities of CFT's in Momentum Space in d>2d > 2

We review the emergence of hypergeometric structures (of $F_4$ Appell functions) from the conformal Ward identities (CWIs) in conformal field theories (CFTs) in dimensions $d > 2$. We illustrate the case of scalar 3- and 4-point functions. 3-point functions are associated to hypergeometric systems with 4 independent solutions. For symmetric correlators they can be expressed in terms of a single 3K integral - functions of quadratic ratios of momenta - which is a parametric integral of three modified Bessel $K$ functions. In the case of scalar 4-point functions, by requiring the correlator to be conformal invariant in coordinate space as well as in some dual variables (i.e. dual conformal invariant), its explicit expression is also given by a 3K integral, or as a linear combination of Appell functions which are now quartic ratios of momenta. Similar expressions have been obtained in the past in the computation of an infinite class of planar ladder (Feynman) diagrams in perturbation theory, which, however, do not share the same (dual conformal/conformal) symmetry of our solutions. We then discuss some hypergeometric functions of 3 variables, which define 8 particular solutions of the CWIs and correspond to Lauricella functions. They can also be combined in terms of 4K integral and appear in an asymptotic description of the scalar 4-point function, in special kinematical limits.Comment: 31 pages, 1 figure. Invited contribution to appear in: Axioms (MDPI) "Geometric Analysis and Mathematical Physics" Ed. Sorin Dragomir, revised final version, typos correcte

Conformal Ward Identities and the Coupling of QED and QCD to Gravity

We present a general study of 3-point functions of conformal field theory (CFT) in momentum space, following a reconstruction method for tensor correlators, based on the solution of the conformal Ward identities (CWIs), introduced in recent works. We investigate and detail the structure of the CWIs and their non-perturbative solutions, and compare them to perturbation theory, taking QED and QCD as examples. Exact solutions of CFT's in the flat background limit in momentum space are matched by the perturbative realizations in free field theories, showing that the origin the conformal anomaly is related to efffective scalar interactions, generated by the renormalization of the longitudinal components of the corresponding operators.Comment: 5 pages. Proceedings of the Workshop QCD@work 2018, 25-28 June 2018, Matera, Ital

Exact Correlators from Conformal Ward Identities in Momentum Space and Perturbative Realizations

The general solution of the conformal Ward identities (CWI's) in momentum space, and their matching to perturbation theory, allows to uncover some specific characteristics of the breaking of conformal symmetry, induced by the anomaly. It allows to compare perturbative features of the 1-particle irreducible (1PI, nonlocal) anomaly action with the prediction of a similar (but exact) nonlocal action identified by the CWI's. The two predictions can be exactly matched at the level of 3-point functions. The analysis of the $TJJ$ and $TTT$ shows that both approaches - based either on 1PI or on the exact solutions of the CWI's - predict massless (dynamical) scalar exchanges in 3-point functions as the signature of the conformal anomaly. In a local formulation such 1PI actions exhibit a ghost in the spectrum which may induce ghost condensation. We also discuss alternative approaches, which take to Wess-Zumino forms of the action with an asymptotic dilaton, which should be considered phenomenological alternatives to the exact nonlocal action. If derived by a Weyl gauging, they also include a ghost in the spectrum. The two formulations, nonlocal and of WZ type, can be unified under the assumption that they describe the same anomaly phenomenon at two separate (UV/IR) ends of the renormalization group flow, possibly separated by a vacuum rearrangement at an intermediate scale. A similar analysis is presented for an $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. We comment on the possibile cosmological implications of such quasi Nambu-Goldstone modes as ultralight dilatons and axions.Comment: 48 pages, 12 figures, (typos corrected) Proceedings of the Corfu Summer Institute 2018 "School and Workshops on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity" 1-27 September 2018 Corfu, Greec

Gravitational coupling of QED and QCD: 3- and 4- point functions in momentum space

Conformal symmetry has important consequences for strong interactions at short distances and provides powerful tools for practical calculations. Even if the Lagrangians of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and Electrodynamics (QED) are invariant under conformal transformations, this symmetry is broken by quantum corrections. The signature of the symmetry breaking is encoded in the presence of massless poles in correlators involving stress-energy tensors. We present a general study of the correlation functions $\langle TJJ\rangle$ and $\langle TTJJ\rangle$ of conformal field theory (CFT) in the flat background limit in momentum space, following a reconstruction method for tensor correlators. Furthermore, our analysis also focuses on studying the dimensional degeneracies of the tensor structures related to these correlators.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, QCD@work 2022 conference proceedin

Renormalization, Conformal Ward Identities and the Origin of a Conformal Anomaly Pole

We investigate the emergence of a conformal anomaly pole in conformal field theories in the case of the $TJJ$ correlator. We show how it comes to be generated in dimensional renormalization, using a basis of 13 form factors (the $F$-basis), where only one of them requires renormalization $(F_{13})$, extending previous studies. We then combine recent results on the structure of the non-perturbative solutions of the conformal Ward identities (CWI's) for the $TJJ$ in momentum space, expressed in terms of a minimal set of 4 form factors ($A-$ basis), with the properties of the $F$-basis, and show how the singular behaviour of the corresponding form factors in both basis can be related. The result proves the centrality of such massless effective interactions induced by the anomaly, which have recently found realization in solid state, in the theory of topological insulators and of Weyl semimetals. This pattern is confirmed in massless abelian and nonabelian theories (QED and QCD) investigated at one-loop.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, few typos corrections, final version accepted for publication in Physics Letters

The General 3-Graviton Vertex (TTTTTT) of Conformal Field Theories in Momentum Space in d=4d=4

We present a study of the correlation function of three stress-energy tensors in $d$ dimensions using free field theory realizations, and compare them to the exact solutions of their conformal Ward identities (CWI's) obtained by a general approach in momentum space. The identification of the corresponding form factors is performed within a reconstruction method, based on the identification of the transverse traceless components $(A_i)$ of the same correlator. The solutions of the primary CWI' s are found by exploiting the universality of the Fuchsian indices of the conformal operators and a re-arrangement of the corresponding inhomogenous hypergeometric systems. We confirm the number of constants in the solution of the primary CWI's of previous analysis. In our comparison with perturbation theory, we discuss scalar, fermion and spin 1 exchanges at 1-loop in dimensional regularization. Explicit checks in $d=3$ and $d=5$ prove the consistency of this correspondence. By matching the 3 constants of the CFT solution with the 3 free field theory sectors available in d=4, the general solutions of the conformal constraints is expressed just in terms of ordinary scalar 2- and 3-point functions $(B_0,C_0)$. We show how the renormalized $d=4$ TTT vertex separates naturally into the sum of a traceless and an anomaly part, the latter determined by the anomaly functional and generated by the renormalization of the correlator in dimensional regularization. The result confirms the emergence of anomaly poles and effective massless exchanges as a specific signature of conformal anomalies in momentum space, directly connected to the renormalization of the corresponding gravitational vertices, generalizing the behaviour found for the $TJJ$ vertex in previous works.Comment: 71 pages, 5 figures. Final version with corrected typos. Accepted for publication on Nucl. Phys.

Einstein Gauss-Bonnet Theories as Ordinary, Wess-Zumino Conformal Anomaly Actions

Recently, the possibility of evading Lovelock's theorem at $d=4$, via a singular redefinition of the dimensionless coupling of the Gauss-Bonnet term, has been very extensively discussed in the cosmological context. The term is added as a quadratic contribution of the curvature tensor to the Einstein-Hilbert action, originating theories of "Einstein Gauss-Bonnet" (EGB) type. We point out that the action obtained by the dimensional regularization procedure, implemented with the extraction of a single conformal factor, correspond just to an ordinary Wess-Zumino anomaly action, even though it is deprived of the contribution from the Weyl tensor. We also show that a purely gravitational version of the EGB theory can be generated by allowing a finite renormalization of the Gauss-Bonnet topological contribution at $d= 4 + \epsilon$, as pointed out by Mazur and Mottola. The result is an effective action which is quadratic, rather then quartic, in the dilaton field, and scale free, compared to the previous derivations. The dilaton, in this case can be removed from the spectrum, leaving a pure gravitational theory, which is nonlocal. We comment on the physical meaning of the two types of actions, which may be used to describe such topological terms both below and above the conformal breaking scale

Electroweak Corrections to Photon Scattering, Polarization and Lensing in a Gravitational Background and the Near Horizon Limit

We investigate the semiclassical approach to the lensing of photons in a spherically symmetric gravitational background, starting from Born level and include in our analysis the radiative corrections obtained from the electroweak theory for the graviton/photon/photon vertex. In this approach, the cross section is related to the angular variation of the impact parameter ($b$), which is then solved for $b$ as a function of the angle of deflection, and measured in horizon units ($b_h\equiv b/(2 G M)$). Exact numerical solutions for the angular deflection are presented. The numerical analysis shows that perturbation theory in a weak background agrees with the classical Einstein formula for the deflection already at distances of the order of $20$ horizon units ($\sim 20\, b_h$) and it is optimal in the description both of very strong and weak lensings. We show that the electroweak corrections to the cross section are sizeable, becoming very significant for high energy gamma rays. Our analysis covers in energy most of the photon spectrum, from the cosmic microwave background up to very high energy gamma rays, and scatterings with any value of the photon impact parameter. We also study the helicity-flip photon amplitude, which is of $O(\alpha^2)$ in the weak coupling $\alpha$, and its massless fermion limit, which involves the exchange of a conformal anomaly pole. The corresponding cross section is proportional to the Born level result and brings to a simple renormalization of Einsten's formula.Comment: 38 pages, 18 figures. Revised final version, accepted on JHE