blocks_3d: Software for general 3d conformal blocks

3 Nov 2020  ·  Rajeev S. Erramilli, Luca V. Iliesiu, Petr Kravchuk, Walter Landry, David Poland, David Simmons-Duffin ·

We introduce the software blocks_3d for computing four-point conformal blocks of operators with arbitrary Lorentz representations in 3d CFTs. It uses Zamolodchikov-like recursion relations to numerically compute derivatives of blocks around a crossing-symmetric configuration. It is implemented as a heavily optimized, multithreaded, C++ application. We give performance benchmarks for correlators containing scalars, fermions, and stress tensors. As an example application, we recompute bootstrap bounds on four-point functions of fermions and study whether a previously observed sharp jump can be explained using the "fake primary" effect. We conclude that the fake primary effect cannot fully explain the jump and the possible existence of a "dead-end" CFT near the jump merits further study.

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