Conformal symmetry
In mathematical physics, the conformal symmetry of spacetime is expressed by an extension of the
Poincaré group, known as the conformal group; in layman's terms, it refers to the fact that
stretching, compressing or otherwise distorting spacetime preserves the angles between lines or
curves that exist within spacetime.
Conformal symmetry encompasses special conformal transformations and dilations. In three
spatial plus one time dimensions, conformal symmetry has 15 degrees of freedom: ten for the
Poincaré group, four for special conformal transformations, and one for a dilation.
Harry Bateman and Ebenezer Cunningham were the first to study the conformal symmetry of
Maxwell's equations. They called a generic expression of conformal symmetry a spherical wave
transformation. General relativity in two spacetime dimensions also enjoys conformal symmetry.[1]
Generators
The Lie algebra of the conformal group has the following representation:[2]
where are the Lorentz generators, generates translations, generates scaling
transformations (also known as dilatations or dilations) and generates the special conformal
transformations.
Commutation relations
The commutation relations are as follows:[2]
other commutators vanish. Here is the Minkowski metric tensor.
Additionally, is a scalar and is a covariant vector under the Lorentz transformations.
The special conformal transformations are given by[3]
where is a parameter describing the transformation. This special conformal transformation can
also be written as , where
which shows that it consists of an inversion, followed by a translation, followed by a second
inversion.
A coordinate grid prior to a special conformal
transformation
The same grid after a special conformal
transformation
In two-dimensional spacetime, the transformations of the conformal group are the conformal
transformations. There are infinitely many of them.
In more than two dimensions, Euclidean conformal transformations map circles to circles, and
hyperspheres to hyperspheres with a straight line considered a degenerate circle and a hyperplane a
degenerate hypercircle.
In more than two Lorentzian dimensions, conformal transformations map null rays to null rays and
light cones to light cones, with a null hyperplane being a degenerate light cone.
Applications
Conformal field theory
In relativistic quantum field theories, the possibility of symmetries is strictly restricted by Coleman–
Mandula theorem under physically reasonable assumptions. The largest possible global symmetry
group of a non-supersymmetric interacting field theory is a direct product of the conformal group
with an internal group.[4] Such theories are known as conformal field theories.
Second-order phase transitions
One particular application is to critical phenomena in systems with local interactions. Fluctuations
in such systems are conformally invariant at the critical point. That allows for classification of
universality classes of phase transitions in terms of conformal field theories.
Conformal invariance is also present in two-dimensional turbulence at high Reynolds number.[5]
High-energy physics
Many theories studied in high-energy physics admit conformal symmetry due to it typically being
implied by local scale invariance. A famous example is d=4, N=4 supersymmetric Yang–Mills theory
due its relevance for AdS/CFT correspondence. Also, the worldsheet in string theory is described by
a two-dimensional conformal field theory coupled to two-dimensional gravity.
Mathematical proofs of conformal invariance in lattice
models
Physicists have found that many lattice models become conformally invariant in the critical limit.
However, mathematical proofs of these results have only appeared much later, and only in some
cases.
In 2010, the mathematician Stanislav Smirnov was awarded the Fields medal "for the proof of
conformal invariance of percolation and the planar Ising model in statistical physics".[6]
In 2020, the mathematician Hugo Duminil-Copin and his collaborators proved that rotational
invariance exists at the boundary between phases in many physical systems.[7][8]
See also
Conformal map
Conformal group
Coleman–Mandula theorem
Renormalization group
Scale invariance
Superconformal algebra
Conformal Killing equation
References
1. "gravity - What makes General Relativity conformal variant?" (https://physics.stackexchange.co
m/q/131305) . Physics Stack Exchange. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
2. Di Francesco, Mathieu & Sénéchal 1997, p. 98.
3. Di Francesco, Mathieu & Sénéchal 1997, p. 97.
4. Juan Maldacena; Alexander Zhiboedov (2013). "Constraining conformal field theories with a
higher spin symmetry" (http://inspirehep.net/search?p=recid:1079967&of=hd) . Journal of
Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. 46 (21): 214011. arXiv:1112.1016 (https://arxiv.org/ab
s/1112.1016) . Bibcode:2013JPhA...46u4011M (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013JPh
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5. Denis Bernard; Guido Boffetta; Antonio Celani; Gregory Falkovich (2006). "Conformal invariance
in two-dimensional turbulence" (https://www.nature.com/articles/nphys217) . Nature Physics.
2 (2): 124–128. arXiv:nlin/0602017 (https://arxiv.org/abs/nlin/0602017) .
doi:10.1038/nphys217 (https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fnphys217) .
6. Rehmeyer, Julie (19 August 2010). "Stanislav Smirnov profile" (https://web.archive.org/web/20
120307020115/http://www.icm2010.org.in/wp-content/icmfiles/uploads/Stanislav_Smirnov_p
rofile1.pdf) (PDF). International Congress of Mathematicians. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.icm2010.org.in/wp-content/icmfiles/uploads/Stanislav_Smirnov_profile1.pdf) (PDF)
on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
7. "Mathematicians Prove Symmetry of Phase Transitions" (https://www.wired.com/story/mathe
maticians-prove-symmetry-of-phase-transitions/) . Wired. ISSN 1059-1028 (https://search.wor
ldcat.org/issn/1059-1028) . Retrieved 2021-07-14.
8. Duminil-Copin, Hugo; Kozlowski, Karol Kajetan; Krachun, Dmitry; Manolescu, Ioan; Oulamara,
Mendes (2020-12-21). "Rotational invariance in critical planar lattice models".
arXiv:2012.11672 (https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.11672) [math.PR (https://arxiv.org/archive/mat
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