On the bulk block expansion for a monodromy defect

Abstract

For a free--field flat monodromy defect, a formula for the finite part of the correlator is obtained as a double power series in $(1-x)$ and $(1-\ol x)$ where $x$ and $\ol x$ are lightcone coordinates. It takes the particular form of a series in $(1-x)$ with coefficients finite sums of hypergeometric functions of $1-\ol x$ and is identified with a bulk block expansion. A simple expression for the coefficient of the $(1-x)^n(1-\ol x)^m$ term is thereby found as an explicit function of the flux and dimension. Some typical examples are presented.A transformation allows the bulk block expansion to be written as an Appell $F_3$ function which has simplifying consequences.

9 pages. 1 figure Significant Appendix added deriving the block expansion as an Appell $F_3$ function. Minor errors corrected