The momentum-space conformal bootstrap in 2d

Abstract

A new bootstrap equation in 2-dimensional conformal field theory is derived starting from the momentum-space representation of the correlation functions. Since Wightman functions are not crossing-symmetric, the analyticity properties of the commutator are leveraged instead to obtain a relation between two distinct operator product expansions. The procedure requires evaluating a 4-point function with two light-like momenta. The result is an asymmetric equation valid for arbitrary theories in 1d and 2d. The new crossing equation admits two simple projections onto orthogonal bases of Jacobi polynomials, reproducing known sets of analytic functionals. One of these, with zeros at double-twist dimensions, was known only as a contour integral. The closed-form expression found in this work is new. We provide a few examples of applications of the new crossing equation.