Numerical Signatures of Conformal Field Theory

Speaker: Pranay Patil

When: September 13, 2017 (Wed), 02:00PM to 03:00PM (add to my calendar)
Location: SCI 352

This event is part of the Preliminary Oral Exam.

Abstract: Conformal Field theory has important consequences for quantum phase transitions and dynamical response of lattice models and as it is not always possible to analytically determine if a lattice model has a low energy conformal description, we need to find numerical signatures which can reliably help us identify a CFT. Here we look at how entanglement entropy and correlation functions fare as candidates for CFT signatures using some examples of established CFTs such as the 2d classical Ising model and 1d Heisenberg chain. We also explore some interesting properties of the 1d Heisenberg chain using these numerics.

Dissertation committee: Anders Sandvik, Claudio Chamon, Emanuel Katz, Alex Sushkov

Pranay