Theory HEP Seminar

String Theory on Warped AdS₃ and Virasoro Resonances

Josh Lapan

KITP

We investigate aspects of holographic duals to time-like warped AdS₃ space-times — which include Gödel's universe — in string theory. Using worldsheet techniques similar to those that have been applied to AdS₃ backgrounds, we are able to identify space-time symmetry algebras that act on the dual boundary theory. In particular, we always find at least one Virasoro algebra with computable central charge. Interestingly, there exists a dense set of points in the moduli space of these models in which there is actually a second commuting Virasoro algebra, typically with different central charge than the first. We analyze the supersymmetry of the backgrounds, finding related enhancements, and comment on possible interpretations of these results. We also perform an asymptotic symmetry analysis at the level of supergravity, providing additional support for the worldsheet analysis.