RG Flow from ${\varphi }^4$ Theory to the 2D Ising Model

Abstract

We study 1+1 dimensional ${\varphi }^4$ theory using the recently proposed method of conformal truncation. Starting in the UV CFT of free field theory, we construct a complete basis of states with definite conformal Casimir, $\mathcal{C}$. We use these states to express the Hamiltonian of the full interacting theory in lightcone quantization. After truncating to states with $\mathcal{C}\le {\mathcal{C}}_{\max }$, we numerically diagonalize the Hamiltonian at strong coupling and study the resulting IR dynamics. We compute non-perturbative spectral densities of several local operators, which are equivalent to real-time, infinite-volume correlation functions. These spectral densities, which include the Zamolodchikov $C$-function along the full RG flow, are calculable at any value of the coupling. Near criticality, our numerical results reproduce correlation functions in the 2D Ising model.

Comments: 31+12 pages