Zero modes of local operators in 2d CFT on a cylinder

TL;DR

This paper provides a detailed method for calculating zero modes of local operators in 2d CFTs on a cylinder, facilitating studies of ETH in highly excited states, with explicit formulas and examples.

Contribution

It introduces a pedagogical approach to compute zero modes analytically and with computer algebra, including explicit expressions for low-dimension operators and the quantum KdV generator Q7.

Findings

Explicit formulas for zero modes of local operators up to dimension eight.

A derivation of the quantum KdV generator Q7 in terms of Virasoro generators.

Methodology applicable for quantitative ETH studies at finite central charge.

Abstract

Studies of Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis (ETH) in two-dimensional CFTs call for calculation of the expectation values of local operators in highly excited energy eigenstates. This can be done efficiently by representing zero modes of these operators in terms of the Virasoro algebra generators. In this paper we present a pedagogical introduction explaining how this calculation can be performed analytically or using computer algebra. We illustrate the computation of zero modes by a number of examples and list explicit expressions for all local operators from the vacuum family with the dimension of less or equal than eight. Finally, we derive an explicit expression for the quantum KdV generator $Q_7$ in terms of the Virasoro algebra generators. The obtained results can be used for quantitative studies of ETH at finite value of central charge.