The Effective Field Theory Origin of the Fuzzy Sphere Method

Abstract

Fuzzy sphere Hamiltonians for (2+1)D conformal field theories are usually written directly on the lowest Landau level. We introduce a framework organizing them as descendants of local ``mother theories'' on $S^2\times\mathbb R$. We start with the example of Ising mother theory built from two charged Dirac fermions coupled to a real mediator $ϕ$. Integrating out $ϕ$ and the higher Landau levels produces the fuzzy Hamiltonian, while integrating out the fermions gives a conventional local $ϕ$ effective field theory flowing to the Ising point. Mild modifications of the same theory reach the Gaussian point (tricritical route) and the Lee-Yang continuation. Exploring the space of mother theories, we next promote $ϕ$ to a complex field $Φ$ and construct a new example, whose descendant is an easy-plane ferromagnet on the fuzzy sphere. Its spontaneous symmetry breaking phase gives a pseudo-Goldstone relativistic scalar, similar to the model introduced by Y.-C. He, while its critical point is non-relativistic, providing the first example of $z=2$ scaling on the fuzzy sphere. Remarkably, it admits exact one-magnon solutions, and the $z=2$ critical point can be found analytically. We then outline a rich landscape of further applications of our approach.