In this work we launch a systematic theory of superconformal blocks for four-point functions of arbitrary supermultiplets. Our results apply to a large class of superconformal field theories including 4-dimensional models with any number N of supersymmetries. The central new ingredient is a universal construction of the relevant Casimir differential equations. In order to find these equations, we model superconformal blocks as functions on the supergroup and pick a distinguished set of coordinates. The latter are chosen so that the superconformal Casimir operator can be written as a perturbation of the Casimir operator for spinning bosonic blocks by a fermionic (nilpotent) term. Solutions to the associated eigenvalue problem can be obtained through a quantum mechanical perturbation theory that truncates at some finite order so that all results are exact. We illustrate the general theory at the example of d = 1 dimensional theories with N = 2 supersymmetry for which we recover known superblocks. The paper concludes with an outlook to 4-dimensional blocks with N = 1 supersymmetry.

The construction of conformal blocks for the analysis of multipoint correlation functions with N > 4 local field insertions is an important open problem in higher dimensional conformal field theory. This is the first in a series of papers in which we address this challenge, following and extending our short announcement in [1]. According to Dolan and Osborn, conformal blocks can be determined from the set of differential eigenvalue equations that they satisfy. We construct a complete set of commuting differential operators that characterize multipoint conformal blocks for any number N of points in any dimension and for any choice of OPE channel through the relation with Gaudin integrable models we uncovered in [1]. For 5-point conformal blocks, there exist five such operators which are worked out smoothly in the dimension d.

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The decomposition of correlation functions into conformal blocks is an indispensable tool in conformal field theory. For spinning correlators, non-trivial tensor structures are needed to mediate between the conformal blocks, which are functions of cross ratios only, and the correlation functions that depend on insertion points in the d-dimensional Euclidean space. Here we develop an entirely group theoretic approach to tensor structures, based on the Cartan decomposition of the conformal group. It provides us with a new universal formula for tensor structures and thereby a systematic derivation of crossing equations. Our approach applies to a ‘gauge’ in which the conformal blocks are wave functions of Calogero-Sutherland models rather than solutions of the more standard Casimir equations. Through this ab initio construction of tensor structures we complete the Calogero-Sutherland approach to conformal correlators, at least for four-point functions of local operators in non-supersymmetric models. An extension to defects and superconformal symmetry is possible.

Crossing symmetry provides a powerful tool to access the non-perturbative dynamics of conformal and superconformal field theories. Here we develop the mathematical formalism that allows to construct the crossing equations for arbitrary four-point functions in theories with superconformal symmetry of type I, including all superconformal field the- ories in d = 4 dimensions. Our advance relies on a supergroup theoretic construction of tensor structures that generalizes an approach which was put forward in [1] for bosonic theories. When combined with our recent construction of the relevant superblocks, we are able to derive the crossing symmetry constraint in particular for four-point functions of arbitrary long multiplets in all 4-dimensional superconformal field theories.

We develop a group theoretical formalism to study correlation functions in defect conformal field theory, with multiple insertions of bulk and defect fields. This formalism is applied to construct the defect conformal blocks for three-point functions of scalar fields. Starting from a configuration with one bulk and one defect field, for which the correlation function is determined by conformal symmetry, we explore two possibilities, adding either one additional defect or bulk field. In both cases it is possible to express the blocks in terms of classical hypergeometric functions, though the case of two bulk and one defect field requires Appell’s function F4.

It was recently shown that multi-point conformal blocks in higher dimensional conformal field theory can be considered as joint eigenfunctions for a system of commuting differential operators. The latter arise as Hamiltonians of a Gaudin integrable system. In this work we address the reduced fourth order differential operators that measure the choice of 3-point tensor structures for all vertices of 3- and 4-dimensional comb channel conformal blocks. These vertices come associated with a single cross ratio. Remarkably, we identify the vertex operators as Hamiltonians of a crystallographic elliptic Calogero-Moser-Sutherland model that was discovered originally by Etingof, Felder, Ma and Veselov. Our construction is based on a further development of the embedding space formalism for mixed-symmetry tensor fields. The results thereby also apply to comb channel vertices of 5- and 6-point functions in arbitrary dimension.

We continue the exploration of multipoint scalar comb channel blocks for conformal field theories in 3D and 4D. The central goal here is to construct novel comb channel cross ratios that are well adapted to perform projections onto all intermediate primary fields. More concretely, our new set of cross ratios includes three for each intermediate mixed symmetry tensor exchange. These variables are designed such that the associated power series expansion coincides with the sum over descendants. The leading term of this expansion is argued to factorise into a product of lower point blocks. We establish this remarkable factorisation property by studying the limiting behaviour of the Gaudin Hamiltonians that are used to characterise multipoint conformal blocks. For six points we can map the eigenvalue equations for the limiting Gaudin differential operators to Casimir equations of spinning four-point blocks.