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Light-ray operators in conformal field theory

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arxiv 1805.00098 v3 pith:EGOU44Q7 submitted 2018-04-30 hep-th math-phmath.MP

Light-ray operators in conformal field theory

classification hep-th math-phmath.MP
keywords light-rayoperatorsgeneralizeconformalnullspinanecarbitrary
verification ladder T0 review T1 audit T2 compute T3 formal T4 reserved
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We argue that every CFT contains light-ray operators labeled by a continuous spin J. When J is a positive integer, light-ray operators become integrals of local operators over a null line. However for non-integer J, light-ray operators are genuinely nonlocal and give the analytic continuation of CFT data in spin described by Caron-Huot. A key role in our construction is played by a novel set of intrinsically Lorentzian integral transforms that generalize the shadow transform. Matrix elements of light-ray operators can be computed via the integral of a double-commutator against a conformal block. This gives a simple derivation of Caron-Huot's Lorentzian OPE inversion formula and lets us generalize it to arbitrary four-point functions. Furthermore, we show that light-ray operators enter the Regge limit of CFT correlators, and generalize conformal Regge theory to arbitrary four-point functions. The average null energy operator is an important example of a light-ray operator. Using our construction, we find a new proof of the average null energy condition (ANEC), and furthermore generalize the ANEC to continuous spin.

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