Universal Deformations
arXiv:2111.00078 · doi:10.21468/SciPostPhys.12.4.116
Abstract
QFTs with local topological operators feature unusual sectors called "universes," which are separated by infinite-tension domain walls. We show that such systems have relevant deformations with exactly-calculable effects. These deformations allow one to dial the vacuum energy densities of the universes. We describe applications of these deformations to confinement in 2d gauge theories, as well as a curious violation of the effective field theory naturalness principle.
28 pages, 5 figures. v3: various minor improvements to exposition