We develop the idea of an effective conformal theory describing the low-lying spectrum of the dilatation operator in a CFT. Such an effective theory is useful when the spectrum contains a hierarchy in the dimension of operators, and a small parameter whose role is similar to that of 1/N in a large N gauge theory. These criteria insure that there is a regime where the dilatation operator is modified perturbatively. Global AdS is the natural framework for perturbations of the dilatation operator respecting conformal invariance, much as Minkowski space naturally describes Lorentz invariant perturbations of the Hamiltonian. Assuming that the lowest-dimension single-trace operator is a scalar, O, we consider the anomalous dimensions, gamma(n,l), of the double-trace operators of the form O (del^2)^n (del)^l O. Purely from the CFT we find that perturbative unitarity places a bound on these dimensions of |gamma(n,l)|<4. Non-renormalizable AdS interactions lead to violations of the bound at large values of n. We also consider the case that these interactions are generated by integrating out a heavy scalar field in AdS. We show that the presence of the heavy field "unitarizes" the growth in the anomalous dimensions, and leads to a resonance-like behavior in gamma(n,l) when n is close to the dimension of the CFT operator dual to the heavy field. Finally, we demonstrate that bulk flat-space S-matrix elements can be extracted from the large n behavior of the anomalous dimensions. This leads to a direct connection between the spectrum of anomalous dimensions in d-dimensional CFTs and flat-space S-matrix elements in d+1 dimensions. We comment on the emergence of flat-space locality from the CFT perspective.
Using the proposed AdS/CFT correspondence, we calculate the correlators of operators of conformal field theory at the boundary of AdS$_{d+1}$ corresponding to the sine-Gordon model in the bulk.
Various exact two-dimensional conformal field theories with AdS_{2d+1} target space are constructed. These models can be solved using bosonization techniques. Some examples are presented that can be used in building perturbative superstring theories with AdS backgrounds, including AdS_5.
Light-cone gauge formulation of fields in AdS space and conformal field theory in flat space adapted for the study of AdS/CFT correspondence is developed. Arbitrary spin mixed-symmetry fields in AdS space and arbitrary spin mixed-symmetry currents, shadows, and conformal fields in flat space are considered on an equal footing. For the massless and massive fields in AdS and the conformal fields in flat space, simple light-cone gauge actions leading to decoupled equations of motion are found. For the currents and shadows, simple expressions for all 2-point functions are also found. We demonstrat…
We show that the background field method applied to supergravity in adS space-time provides the path integral for the theory in the bulk with conformal symmetry associated with the isometry of the adS space. This in turn allows to establish the rigid conformal invariance of the generating functional for the supergravity correlators on the boundary.
Mixed-symmetry arbitrary spin massive, massless, and self-dual massive fields in AdS(5) are studied. Light-cone gauge actions for such fields leading to decoupled equations of motion are constructed. Light-cone gauge formulation of mixed-symmetry anomalous conformal currents and shadows in 4d flat space is also developed. AdS/CFT correspondence for normalizable and non-normalizable modes of mixed-symmetry AdS fields and the respective boundary mixed-symmetry anomalous conformal currents and shadows is studied. We demonstrate that the light-cone gauge action for massive mixed-symmetry AdS field…
We analyze the conformal invariance of submanifold observables associated with $k$-branes in the AdS/CFT correspondence. For odd $k$, the resulting observables are conformally invariant, and for even $k$, they transform with a conformal anomaly that is given by a local expression which we analyze in detail for $k=2$
It is proven that the pure spinor superstring in an AdS_5 x S^5 background remains conformally invariant at one loop level in the sigma model perturbation theory.
Bootstrap equations for conformal correlators that mimic the early theory of conformal bootstrap are written down in frames of the AdS/CFT approach. The simplified version of these equations, that may be justified if Schwinger-Keldysh formalism is used in AdS/CFT instead of conventional Feynman-Witten diagrams technique, permits to calculate values of conformal dimensions in the $O(N)$ symmetric model with conformal or composite Hubbard-Stratonovich field.
Light-cone formulation of conformal field theory in space-time of arbitrary dimension is developed. Conformal fundamental and shadow fields with arbitrary conformal dimension and arbitrary spin are studied. Representation of conformal algebra generators on space of conformal fundamental and shadow fields in terms of spin operators which enter in light-cone gauge formulation of field dynamics in AdS space is found. As an example of application of light-cone formalism we discuss AdS/CFT correspondence for massive arbitrary spin AdS fields and corresponding boundary CFT fields at the level of two…
The AdS/CFT transformation relates two nonlinear realizations of (super)conformal groups: their realization in the appropriate field theories in Minkowski space with a Goldstone dilaton field and their realization as (super)isometry groups of AdS (super)spaces. It exists already at the classical level and maps the field variables and space-time coordinates of the given (super)conformal field theory in $d$-dimensional Minkowski space ${\cal M}_d$ on the variables of a scalar codimension one (super)brane in AdS$_{d+1}$ in a static gauge, the dilaton being mapped on the transverse AdS brane coord…
We compute the conformal anomalies of boundary CFTs for scalar and fermionic fields propagating in AdS spacetime at one-loop. The coefficients are quantized, with values related to the mass-spectra for Kaluza-Klein compactifications of Supergravity on AdS5xS5 and AdS7xS4. Our approach interprets the boundary partition function of fields propagating on AdS spacetime in terms of wave-functionals that satisfy the functional Schrodinger equation.
Construction of a five dimensional conformal supergravity (D=5 CSG) is attempted by applying the AdS/CFT correspondence to the F(4) AdS supergravity in six dimensions. As a first step, local transformation laws of D=5 CSG have been established, from which the Weyl weights of the various fields in D=5 can be predicted.
Conformal deformations manifest in the AdS/CFT correspondence as boundary conditions on the AdS field. Heretofore, double-trace deformations have been the primary focus in this context. To better understand multitrace deformations, we revisit the relationship between the generating AdS partition function for a free bulk theory and the boundary CFT partition function subject to arbitrary conformal deformations. The procedure leads us to a formalism that constructs bulk fields from boundary operators. Using this formalism, we independently replicate the holographic RG flow narrative to go on to …
The full list of conserved conformal higher spin currents built from massless scalar and spinor fields is presented. It is shown that, analogously to the relationship between usual conformal and AdS symmetries, the set of the conformal higher spin symmetry parameters associated with the conformal conserved currents in d dimensions is in the one-to-one correspondence with the result of the dimensional reduction of the usual (i.e., non-conformal) higher spin symmetry parameters in d+1 dimensions.
We use the correspondence between scalar field theory on AdS and induced conformal field theory on its boundary to calculate correlation functions of logarithmic conformal field theory in arbitrary dimensions.Our calculations utilize the newly proposed method of nilpotent weights.We derive expressions for the four point function assuming a generic interaction term
We study the relation between the large Nc limit of four dimensional N=2,1,0 conformal field theories and supergravity on orbifolds of AdS_5xS^5. We analyze the Kaluza-Klein states of the supergravity theory and relate them to the spectrum of (chiral) primary operators of the (super) conformal field theories.
We present a detailed analysis of a scalar conformal four-point function obtained from AdS/CFT correspondence. We study the scalar exchange graphs in AdS and discuss their analytic properties. Using methods of conformal partial wave analysis, we present a general procedure to study conformal four-point functions in terms of exchanges of scalar and tensor fields. The logarithmic terms in the four-point functions are connected to the anomalous dimensions of the exchanged fields. Comparison of the results from AdS graphs with the conformal partial wave analysis, suggests a possible general form f…
We discuss general multidimensional axion-dilatonic AdS gravity which may correspond to bosonic sector of Gibbons-Green-Perry (compactified) IIB supergravity with RR-scalar (axion). Using AdS/CFT correspondence the 4d conformal anomaly on axion-dilaton-gravitational background is found from SG side. It is shown that for IIB SG with axion such conformal anomaly coincides with the one obtained from QFT calculation in ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory conformally coupled with ${\cal N}=4$ conformal SG. Brief discussion on possibility to apply these results for gauged SGs is also presented.
We argue that the Anti-de-Sitter (AdS) geometry in d+1 dimensions naturally emerges from an arbitrary conformal field theory in d dimensions using the free flow equation. We first show that an induced metric defined from the flowed field generally corresponds to the quantum information metric, called the Bures or Helstrom metric, if the flowed field is normalized appropriately. We next verify that the induced metric computed explicitly with the free flow equation always becomes the AdS metric when the theory is conformal. We finally prove that the conformal symmetry in d dimensions converts to…
Holographic Renormalization Group (RG) in nine dimensions is considered. The d8 holographic conformal anomaly is found. It should correspond to d8 CFT in AdS_9/CFT_8 correspondence. The comparison of holographic and QFT anomalies in d8 de Sitter space is done. It may give the indication for rigorous AdS_9/CFT_8 correspondence proposal.
We review a formalism of superstring quantization with manifest six-dimensional spacetime supersymmetry, and apply it to AdS_3 x S^3 backgrounds with Ramond-Ramond flux. The resulting description is a conformal field theory based on a sigma model whose target space is a certain supergroup SU'(2|2).
We compute the heat kernel for the Laplacians of symmetric transverse traceless fields of arbitrary spin on the $AdS$ background in even number of dimensions using the group theoretic approach introduced in \cite{Gopakumar:2011qs} and apply it on the partition function of six dimensional conformal gravity. The obtained partition function consists of the Einstein gravity, conformal ghost and two modes that contain mass.
An outline of the conformality approach to the gauge hierarchy is given including the use of non-abelian orbifolds to give unified models of the left-right type.
It is demonstrated that the near-horizon geometry of general non-extremal black holes can be described by a portion of AdS space. We show that the reason why hidden conformal symmetries near horizons of general non-extremal black holes are achieved in previous works is that the near-horizon geometries have been equivalently taken as these AdS segments rather than simply the Rindler space.
We use the correspondence between scalar field theory on $AdS_{d+1}$ and a conformal field theory on $R^d$ to calculate the 3- and 4-point functions of the latter. The classical scalar field theory action is evaluated at tree level.
We obtain three and four dimensional conformal field theories with less than maximal supersymmetry by using their supergravity duals. These supergravity theories are type II on $AdS_5 \times CP^2$, IIA on $AdS_4 \times CP^3$, IIB on $AdS_5 \times S^5/Z_k$ and D=11 supergravity on $AdS_4 \times S^7/Z_k$. They are obtained from the spherically compactified ten and eleven dimensional theories by either Hopf reduction or by winding the U(1) fiber over the base.
We present two examples of non-trivial field theories which are scale invariant, but not conformally invariant. This is done by placing certain field theories, which are conformally invariant in flat space, onto curved backgrounds of a specific type. We define this using the AdS/CFT correspondence, which relates the physics of gravity in asymptotically Anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetimes to that of a conformal field theory (CFT) in one dimension fewer. The AdS rotating (Kerr) black holes in five and seven dimensions provide us with the examples, since by the correspondence we are able to define an…
We analyze the conformal limit of the matrix model describing flux backgrounds of two dimensional type 0A string theory. This limit is believed to be dual to an AdS(2) background of type 0A string theory. We show that the spectrum of this limit is identical to that of a free fermion on AdS(2), suggesting that there are no closed string excitations in this background.
Trace anomaly for dilaton coupled conformal theories on curved background with non-zero dilaton is found from supergravity side as an IR effect using AdS/CFT correspondence. For $d=2$ it coincides with the conformal anomaly for dilaton coupled scalar (up to total derivative term which is known to be ambiguous). In four-dimensional case we get conformal anomaly for ${\cal N}=4$ super YM theory interacting with conformal supergravity. In the same way the calculation of dilaton dependent conformal anomaly in higher dimensions seems to be much easier than using standard QFT methods.
We calculate the holographic conformal anomaly and brane Newton potential when bulk is 5d AdS BH. It is shown that such anomaly is the same as in the case of pure AdS or (asymptotically) dS bulk spaces, i.e. it is (bulk) metric independent one. While Newton potential on the static brane in AdS BH is different from the one in pure AdS space, the gravity trapping still occurs for two branes system. This indicates to metric independence of gravity localization.
Galilean conformal algebra (GCA) is an Inonu-Wigner (IW) contraction of a conformal algebra, while Newton-Hooke string algebra is an IW contraction of an AdS algebra which is the isometry of an AdS space. It is shown that the GCA is a boundary realization of the Newton-Hooke string algebra in the bulk AdS. The string lies along the direction transverse to the boundary, and the worldsheet is AdS_2. The one-dimensional conformal symmetry so(2,1) and rotational symmetry so(d) contained in the GCA are realized as the symmetry on the AdS_2 string worldsheet and rotational symmetry in the space tran…
Exploring the role of conformal theories of gravity in string theory, we show that the minimal (N=2) gauged supergravities in five dimensions induce the multiplets and transformations of N=1 four dimensional conformal supergravity on the spacetime boundary. N=1 Poincare supergravity can be induced by explicitly breaking the conformal invariance via a radial cutoff in the 5d space. The AdS/CFT correspondence relates the maximal gauged supergravity in five dimensions to N=4 super Yang-Mills on the 4d spacetime boundary. In this context we show that the conformal anomaly of the gauge theory induc…
The large N behavior of Matrix theory is discussed on the basis of the previously proposed generalized conformal symmetry. The concept of `oblique' AdS/CFT correspondence, in which the conformal symmetry involves both the space-time coordinates and the string coupling constant, is proposed. Based on the explicit predictions for two-point correlators, possible implications for the Matrix-theory conjecture are discussed.
We show that the very near horizon region of nonextreme black holes, which can be described by horizon CFTs, are related to $AdS_2$ Rindler spaces. The latter are $AdS_2$ black holes with specific masses and can be described by states of either $D=1$ or $D=2$ CFTs. The central charges of these CFTs and the conformal weights of their states that correspond to the nonextreme black holes exactly match those predicted by the horizon CFTs, providing supporting evidence for this description.
A 0+1-dimensional candidate theory for the CFT$_1$ dual to AdS$_2$ is discussed. The quantum mechanical system does not have a ground state that is invariant under the three generators of the conformal group. Nevertheless, we show that there are operators in the theory that are not primary, but whose "non-primary character" conspires with the "non-invariance of the vacuum" to give precisely the correlation functions in a conformally invariant theory.
A quantum field theory on Anti-de-Sitter space can be constructed from a conformal field theory on its boundary Minkowski space by an inversion of the holographic mapping. To do this the conformal field theory must satisfy certain constraints. The structure of operator product expansions is carried over to AdS space. We show that this method yields a higher spin field theory HS(4) from the minimal conformal O(N) sigma model in three dimensions. For these models AdS/CFT correspondence is hereby proved to second order in the coupling constant.
Non-supersymmetric d=4 gauge theories which arise from superstring duality on a manifold $AdS_5 \times S_5/Z_p$ are cataloged for a range $2 \leq p \leq 41$. A number have vanishing two-loop gauge β-function, a necessary but not sufficient condition to be a conformal field theory.
We develop a new method for decomposing Witten diagrams into conformal blocks. The steps involved are elementary, requiring no explicit integration, and operate directly in position space. Central to this construction is an appealingly simple answer to the question: what object in AdS computes a conformal block? The answer is a "geodesic Witten diagram," which is essentially an ordinary exchange Witten diagram, except that the cubic vertices are not integrated over all of AdS, but only over bulk geodesics connecting the boundary operators. In particular, we consider the case of four-point func…
The Schwinger-Dyson equations for Green functions and 3-vertexes in planar approximation used 50 years ago in the earlier theory of conformal bootstrap are written in frames of the AdS/CFT correspondence. The technique of "Wightman-Witten" diagrams is used in calculations of the bubble bulk diagrams that permitted to obtain the values of conformal dimensions of primary operators in two models of the interacting bulk scalar fields which conformal dimensions obey "extremal" relation. Simple expressions for the four-point tree "Wightman-Witten" correlators of these primary operators are obtained …
The effects of conformal anomaly on the thermodynamics of black holes are investigated in this Letter from the perspective of $P-V$ criticality of AdS black holes. Treating the cosmological constant as thermodynamic pressure, we extend the recent research to the extended phase space. Firstly, we study the $P$-$V$ criticality of the uncharged AdS black holes with conformal anomaly and find that conformal anomaly does not influence whether there exists Van der Waals like critical behavior. Secondly, we investigate the $P$-$V$ criticality of the charged cases and find that conformal anomaly influ…
Projecting on a suitable subset of coordinates, a picture is constructed in which the conformal boundary of $AdS_5\times S^5$ and that of the plane wave resulting in the Penrose limit are located at the same line. In a second line of arguments all $AdS_5\times S^5$ and plane wave geodesics are constructed in their integrated form. Performing the Penrose limit, the approach of null geodesics reaching the conformal boundary of $AdS_5\times S^5$ to that of the plane wave is studied in detail. At each point these null geodesics of $AdS_5\times S^5$ form a cone which degenerates in the limit.
The higher spin interaction currents for the conformally coupled scalar in $AdS_{4}$ space for both regular and irregular boundary condition corresponding to the free and interacting critical point of the boundary O(N) sigma model are constructed. The explicit form of the linearized interaction of the scalar and spin two and four gauge fields in the $AdS_{D}$ space using Noether's procedure for the corresponding spin two and four linearized gauge and generalized Weyl transformations are obtained.
We revisit the calculation of holographic correlators in $AdS_3$. We develop new methods to evaluate exchange Witten diagrams, resolving some technical difficulties that prevent a straightforward application of the methods used in higher dimensions. We perform detailed calculations in the $AdS_3 \times S^3 \times K3$ background. We find strong evidence that four-point tree-level correlators of KK modes of the tensor multiplets enjoy a hidden 6d conformal symmetry. The correlators can all be packaged into a single generating function, related to the 6d flat space superamplitude. This generalize…
A simple generating procedure for Lagrangians of conformal gauge fields of mixed-symmetry type is presented. The construction originates from the analysis of the near-boundary behaviour of the associated AdS gauge fields using the ambient space approach to leading boundary values. Manifestly ambient form of the Lagrangian is also obtained. As an illustration we apply the procedure to the simplest mixed-symmetry conformal gauge field, described by the two-row Young diagram, and derive the explicit component form of the respective Lagrangian.
We study a new contraction of a d+1 dimensional relativistic conformal algebra where n+1 directions remain unchanged. For n=0,1 the resultant algebras admit infinite dimensional extension containing one and two copies of Virasoro algebra, respectively. For n> 1 the obtained algebra is finite dimensional containing an so(2,n+1) subalgebra. The gravity dual is provided by taking a Newton-Cartan like limit of the Einstein's equations of AdS space which singles out an AdS_{n+2} spacetime. The infinite dimensional extension of n=0,1 cases may be understood from the fact that the dual gravities cont…
The role of conformal anomaly in AdS/CFT and related issues is clarified. The comparison of holographic and QFT conformal anomalies (with account of brane quantum gravity contribution) indicates on the possibility for brane quantum gravity to occur within AdS/CFT set-up. 3d quantum induced inflationary (or hyperbolic) brane-world is shown to be realized in frames of AdS3/CFT2 correspondence where the role of 2d brane cosmological constant is played by effective tension due to two-dimensional conformal anomaly. The dynamical equations to describe 4d FRW-Universe with account of quantum effects …
A conformal field theory on the boundary of three-dimensional asymptotic anti-de Sitter spaces which appear as near horizon geometry of D-brane bound states is discussed. It is shown that partition functions of gravitational instantons appear as high and low temperature limits of the partition function of the conformal field theory. The result reproduces phase transition between the anti-de Sitter space and the BTZ black hole in the bulk gravity.
We explore the extent to which a local string theory dynamics in anti-de Sitter space can be determined from its proposed Conformal Field Theory (CFT) description. Free fields in the bulk are constructed from the CFT operators, but difficulties are encountered when one attempts to incorporate interactions. We also discuss general features of black hole dynamics as seen from the CFT perspective. In particular, we argue that the singularity of AdS_3 black holes is resolved in the CFT description.
By applying the conformal SO(2,4) transformations to the folded rotating string configuration with two spins given by a certain limit from the helical string solution in AdS_3 x S^1, we construct new string solutions whose energy-spin relations are characterized by the boost parameter. When two SO(2,4) transformations are performed with two boost parameters suitably chosen, the straight folded rotating string solution with one spin in AdS_3 is transformed in the long string limit into the long spiky string solution whose expression is given from the helical string solution in AdS_3 by making a…
We study black hole solutions in extended gravities with higher-order curvature terms, including conformal and Einstein-Weyl gravities. In addition to the usual AdS vacuum, the theories admit Lifshitz and Schrödinger vacua. The AdS black hole in conformal gravity contains an additional parameter over and above the mass, which may be interpreted as a massive spin-2 hair. By considering the first law of thermodynamics, we find that it is necessary to introduce an associated additional intensive/extensive pair of thermodynamic quantities. We also obtain new Liftshitz black holes in conformal grav…
In the framework of gauge invariant approach involving Stueckelberg and auxiliary fields, totally symmetric arbitrary spin anomalous conformal current and shadow field in flat space-time of dimension greater than or equal to four are studied. Gauge invariant differential constraints for such anomalous conformal current and shadow field and realization of global conformal symmetries are obtained. Gauge invariant two-point vertex of the arbitrary spin anomalous shadow field is also obtained. In Stueckelberg gauge frame, the two-point gauge invariant vertex becomes the standard two-point vertex o…
We explicitly calculate the induced gravity theory at the boundary of an asymptotically Anti-de Sitter five dimensional Einstein gravity. We also display the action that encodes the dynamics of radial diffeomorphisms. It is found that the induced theory is a four dimensional conformal gravity plus a scalar field. This calculation confirms some previous results found by a different approach.
We consider the conformal field theory which is dual to the Taub-Bolt-AdS spacetime. It is shown that the Cardy-Verlinde formula for the entropy of the conformal field theory agrees precisely with the entropy of the Taub-Bolt-AdS spacetime, at high temperatures. This result may be viewed as providing a conformal field theory interpretation of Taub-Bolt-AdS entropy.
We study the discrete light cone quantization of Kerr-AdS_{d+3} black holes with a plane wave boundary. The resulting backgrounds are conjectured to be dual of non-relativist conformal quantum mechanical theories in d spatial dimensions at finite temperature and finite chemical potential. This includes the discrete light cone quantization of Kerr-AdS_4 and Kerr-AdS_6 black holes. These are conjectured to be dual of non-relativistic conformal quantum mechanical theories in one and three spatial dimensions, respectively, which are defined on plane wave backgrounds. We also consider the case of t…
The conformal extensions of three kinds of special relativity with ISO(1,3)/SO(1,4)/SO(2,3) invariance on Mink/dS/AdS space, respectively, are realized on an SO(2,4)/Z_2 invariant projective null cone [N] as the (projective) boundary of the 5-d AdS-space. The relations among the conformal Mink/dS/AdS spaces, the motions of light signals and the conformal field theories on them can be given. Thus, there should be a triality for these conformal issues and the conjectured AdS/CFT correspondence.
We present a derivation of the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy from conformal field theories. In particular we consider a six-dimensional string configuration with background metric AdS_3 * S^3 near the horizon. In addition we introduce momentum modes along the string, corresponding to a Banados-Teitelboim-Zanelli (BTZ) black hole in the anti-de Sitter (AdS) space-time, and a Taub-NUT soliton in the transverse Euclidean space, projecting out a discrete subgroub of S^3. This spherical part is described by a SU(2)/Z(m) Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) model. The AdS_3 space-time, on the other hand, is determ…
