An asymptotic bootstrap method and its applications to Hermitian matrix models

Abstract

We propose an asymptotic bootstrap method to evaluate moment integrals that arise in problems related to hermitian matrix models. These are normalized integrals of the form $a_n=\int^{\infty}_{-\infty} x^n \exp(-V(x)) dx$ where $V(x)$ is a polynomial of $x$. The method is applicable even when the coupling constants in $V(x)= x^{2\ell}/(2\ell) + g_{2\ell-2} x^{2\ell-2}/(2\ell-2) + \dots$ are complex. We prove that the method converges asymptotically exponentially fast on a cone region determined by the first subleading coupling $g_{2\ell-2}$, which must have a positive real part and an absolute value of the argument less than $π/{\ell}$. We use our method to study the phase structure of Hermitian matrix models by constructing the orthogonal polynomials associated to these measures.