Field theory of Ising percolating clusters

The clusters of up spins of a two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet undergo a second order percolative transition at temperatures above the Curie point. We show that in the scaling limit the percolation threshold is described by an integrable field theory and identify the non-perturbative mechanism which allows the percolative transition in absence of thermodynamic singularities. The analysis is extended to the Kertesz line along which the Coniglio-Klein droplets percolate in a positive magnetic field.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

Matrix elements of the operator T\bar{T} in integrable quantum field theory

Recently A. Zamolodchikov obtained a series of identities for the expectation values of the composite operator T\bar{T} constructed from the components of the energy-momentum tensor in two-dimensional quantum field theory. We show that if the theory is integrable the addition of a requirement of factorization at high energies can lead to the exact determination of the generic matrix element of this operator on the asymptotic states. The construction is performed explicitly in the Lee-Yang model.Comment: 22 pages, one reference adde

The composite operator T\bar{T} in sinh-Gordon and a series of massive minimal models

The composite operator T\bar{T}, obtained from the components of the energy-momentum tensor, enjoys a quite general characterization in two-dimensional quantum field theory also away from criticality. We use the form factor bootstrap supplemented by asymptotic conditions to determine its matrix elements in the sinh-Gordon model. The results extend to the breather sector of the sine-Gordon model and to the minimal models M_{2/(2N+3)} perturbed by the operator phi_{1,3}.Comment: 29 page

Phase separation and interface structure in two dimensions from field theory

We study phase separation in two dimensions in the scaling limit below criticality. The general form of the magnetization profile as the volume goes to infinity is determined exactly within the field theoretical framework which explicitly takes into account the topological nature of the elementary excitations. The result known for the Ising model from its lattice solution is recovered as a particular case. In the asymptotic infrared limit the interface behaves as a simple curve characterized by a gaussian passage probability density. The leading deviation, due to branching, from this behavior is also derived and its coefficient is determined for the Potts model. As a byproduct, for random percolation we obtain the asymptotic density profile of a spanning cluster conditioned to touch only the left half of the boundary.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures; published version, references adde

Universal amplitude ratios in the two-dimensional Ising model

We use the results of integrable field theory to determine the universal amplitude ratios in the two-dimensional Ising model. In particular, the exact values of the ratios involving amplitudes computed at nonzero magnetic field are provided.Comment: 9 pages; a factor 8/15 included in the amplitude A_c and the ratio R_A, typos correcte

Correlation spreading and properties of the quantum state in quench dynamics

The light cone spreading of correlations following a quantum quench is obtained from first principles. Fully taking into account quantum and interaction effects, the derivation shows how light cone dynamics does not require peculiar properties of the postquench state

Field theory of Ising percolating clusters

The clusters of up spins of a two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet undergo a second order percolative transition at temperatures above the Curie point. We show that in the scaling limit the percolation threshold is described by an integrable field theory and identify the non-perturbative mechanism which allows the percolative transition in absence of thermodynamic singularities. The analysis is extended to the Kertesz line along which the Coniglio-Klein droplets percolate in a positive magnetic field.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

Particles, conformal invariance and criticality in pure and disordered systems

The two-dimensional case occupies a special position in the theory of critical phenomena due to the exact results provided by lattice solutions and, directly in the continuum, by the infinite-dimensional character of the conformal algebra. However, some sectors of the theory, and most notably criticality in systems with quenched disorder and short range interactions, have appeared out of reach of exact methods and lacked the insight coming from analytical solutions. In this article we review recent progress achieved implementing conformal invariance within the particle description of field theory. The formalism yields exact unitarity equations whose solutions classify critical points with a given symmetry. It provides new insight in the case of pure systems, as well as the first exact access to criticality in presence of short range quenched disorder. Analytical mechanisms emerge that in the random case allow the superuniversality of some critical exponents and make explicit the softening of first order transitions by disorder.Comment: Invited Colloquium articl

Space of initial conditions and universality in nonequilibrium quantum dynamics

We study analytically the role of initial conditions in nonequilibrium quantum dynamics considering the one-dimensional ferromagnets in the regime of spontaneously broken symmetry. We analyze the expectation value of local operators for the infinite-dimensional space of initial conditions of domain wall type, generally intended as initial conditions spatially interpolating between two different ground states. At large times the unitary time evolution takes place inside a light cone produced by the spatial inhomogeneity of the initial condition. In the innermost part of the light cone the form of the space-time dependence is universal, in the sense that it is specified by data of the equilibrium universality class. The global limit shape in the variable $x/t$ changes with the initial condition. In systems with more than two ground states the tuning of an interaction parameter can induce a transition which is the nonequilibrium quantum analog of the interfacial wetting transition occurring in classical systems at equilibrium. We illustrate the general results through the examples of the Ising, Potts and Ashkin-Teller chains.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures. Published versio