arXiv subjects

Phillip Szepietowski

Publications and source records attributed to Phillip Szepietowski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Quantum Corrections to Central Charges and Supersymmetric Casimir Energy in AdS$_3$/CFT$_2$

We study the Casimir energy of bulk fields in AdS$_3$ and its relation to subleading terms in the central charge of the dual CFT$_2$. Computing both sides of the standard CFT$_2$ relation $E=-c/12$ independently we show that this relation is not necessarily satisfied at the level of individual bulk supergravity states, but in theories with sufficient supersymmetry it is restored at the level of bulk supermultiplets. Assuming only $(0,2)$ supersymmetry (or more), we improve the situation by relating quantum corrections to the central charge and the supersymmetric Casimir energy which in turn is related to an index. These relations adapt recent progress on the AdS$_5$/CFT$_4$ correspondence to AdS$_3$/CFT$_2$ holography. We test our formula successfully in several examples, including the $(0,4)$ MSW theory describing classes of 4D black holes and the large $(4,4)$ theory that is interesting for higher spin holography. We also make predictions for the subleading central charges in several recently proposed $(2,2)$ dualities where the CFT$_2$ is not yet well-understood.

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arXiv2017

Tweaking one-loop determinants in AdS$_3$

We revisit the subject of one-loop determinants in AdS$_3$ gravity via the quasinormal mode method. Our goal is to evaluate a one-loop determinant with chiral boundary conditions for the metric field; chirality is achieved by imposing Dirichlet boundary conditions on certain components while others satisfy Neumann. Along the way, we give a generalization of the quasinormal mode method for stationary (non-static) thermal backgrounds, and propose a treatment for Neumann boundary conditions in this framework. We evaluate the graviton one-loop determinant on the Euclidean BTZ background with parity-violating boundary conditions (CSS), and find excellent agreement with the dual warped CFT. We also discuss a more general falloff in AdS$_3$ that is related to two dimensional quantum gravity in lightcone gauge. The behavior of the ghost fields under both sets of boundary conditions is novel and we discuss potential interpretations.

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arXiv2017

Correlation functions in theories with Lifshitz scaling

The 2+1 dimensional quantum Lifshitz model can be generalised to a class of higher dimensional free field theories that exhibit Lifshitz scaling. When the dynamical critical exponent equals the number of spatial dimensions, equal time correlation functions of scaling operators in the generalised quantum Lifshitz model are given by a d-dimensional higher-derivative conformal field theory. Autocorrelation functions in the generalised quantum Lifshitz model in any number of dimensions can on the other hand be expressed in terms of autocorrelation functions of a two-dimensional conformal field theory. This also holds for autocorrelation functions in a strongly coupled Lifshitz field theory with a holographic dual of Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton type. The map to a two-dimensional conformal field theory extends to autocorrelation functions in thermal states and out- of-equilbrium states preserving symmetry under spatial translations and rotations in both types of Lifshitz models. Furthermore, the spectrum of quasinormal modes of scalar field perturbations in Lifshitz black hole backgrounds can be obtained analytically at low spatial momenta and exhibits a linear dispersion relation at z = d. At high momentum, the mode spectrum can be obtained in a WKB approximation and displays very different behaviour compared to holographic duals of conformal field theories. This has implications for thermalisation in strongly coupled Lifshitz field theories with z > 1.

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arXiv2016

Computing black hole partition functions from quasinormal modes

We propose a method of computing one-loop determinants in black hole spacetimes (with emphasis on asymptotically anti-de Sitter black holes) that may be used for numerics when completely-analytic results are unattainable. The method utilizes the expression for one-loop determinants in terms of quasinormal frequencies determined by Denef, Hartnoll and Sachdev in \cite{Denef:2009kn}. A numerical evaluation must face the fact that the sum over the quasinormal modes, indexed by momentum and overtone numbers, is divergent. A necessary ingredient is then a regularization scheme to handle the divergent contributions of individual fixed-momentum sectors to the partition function. To this end, we formulate an effective two-dimensional problem in which a natural refinement of standard heat kernel techniques can be used to account for contributions to the partition function at fixed momentum. We test our method in a concrete case by reproducing the scalar one-loop determinant in the BTZ black hole background. We then discuss the application of such techniques to more complicated spacetimes.

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arXiv2015

$c-a$ from the $N=1$ superconformal index

We present a prescription for obtaining the difference of the central charges, c-a, of a four dimensional superconformal quantum field theory from its single-trace index. The formula is derived from a one-loop holographic computation, but is expected to be valid independent of holography. We demonstrate the prescription with several holographic and non-holographic examples. As an application of our formula, we show the AdS/CFT matching of c-a for arbitrary toric quiver CFTs without adjoint matter that are dual to smooth Sasaki-Einstein 5-manifolds.

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arXiv2015

High-Temperature Expansion of Supersymmetric Partition Functions

Di Pietro and Komargodski have recently demonstrated a four-dimensional counterpart of Cardy's formula, which gives the leading high-temperature ($β\rightarrow{0}$) behavior of supersymmetric partition functions $Z^{SUSY}(β)$. Focusing on superconformal theories, we elaborate on the subleading contributions to their formula when applied to free chiral and U(1) vector multiplets. In particular, we see that the high-temperature expansion of $\ln Z^{SUSY}(β)$ terminates at order $β^0$. We also demonstrate how their formula must be modified when applied to SU($N$) toric quiver gauge theories in the planar ($N\rightarrow\infty$) limit. Our method for regularizing the one-loop determinants of chiral and vector multiplets helps to clarify the relation between the 4d $\mathcal{N} = 1$ superconformal index and its corresponding supersymmetric partition function obtained by path-integration.

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arXiv2015

Central charges from the $\mathcal{N} = 1$ superconformal index

We present prescriptions for obtaining the central charges, $a$ and $c$, of a four dimensional superconformal quantum field theory from the superconformal index. At infinite $N$, for holographic theories dual to Sasaki-Einstein 5-manifolds the prescriptions give the $\mathcal{O}(1)$ parts of the central charges. This allows us, among other things, to show the exact AdS/CFT matching of $a$ and $c$ for arbitrary toric quiver CFTs without adjoint matter that are dual to smooth Sasaki-Einstein 5-manifolds. In addition, we include evidence from non-holographic theories for the applicability of these results outside of a holographic setting and away from the large-$N$ limit.

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arXiv2014

The shortened KK spectrum of IIB supergravity on Y^{p,q}

We examine the shortened KK spectrum of IIB supergravity compactified on Y^{p,q} and conjecture that the spectrum we have obtained is complete. The (untwisted) shortened spectrum on S^5/Z_{2p} and T^{1,1}/Z_p are obtained as special cases when p=q and q=0, respectively. Knowledge of the shortened spectrum allows us to compute the superconformal index of these theories and to find agreement with earlier calculations from the dual field theories. We also employ the shortened spectrum to perform a 1/N^2 test of AdS/CFT by holographically reproducing the difference of the central charges, c-a=p/8, of the dual CFTs.

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arXiv2014

Gravitino and other spin-3/2 quasinormal modes in Schwarzschild-AdS spacetime

We investigate quasinormal mode frequencies $ω_n$ of gravitinos and generic massive spin-3/2 fields in a Schwarzschild-AdS$_D$ background in spacetime dimension $D>3$, in the black brane (large black hole) limit appropriate to many applications of the AdS/CFT correspondence. First, we find asymptotic formulas for $ω_n$ in the limit of large overtone number $n$. Asymptotically, $ω_n \simeq n Δω+ O(\ln n) + O(n^0)$, where $Δω$ is a known constant, and here we compute the $O(\ln n)$ and $O(n^0)$ corrections to the leading $O(n)$ behavior. Then we compare to numerical calculations of exact quasinormal mode frequencies. Along the way, we also improve the reach and accuracy of an earlier, similar analysis of spin-1/2 fields.

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arXiv2013

1/N^2 corrections to the holographic Weyl anomaly

We compute the O(1) contribution to holographic c-a for IIB supergravity on AdS_5 x S^5/Z_n and on AdS_5 x T^{1,1}/Z_n. In both cases, we find agreement with the dual field theory results, thus providing 1/N^2 checks of AdS/CFT with reduced supersymmetry. Since the holographic computation involves a sum over shortened multiplets in the KK tower, we provide some details on the S^5 and T^{1,1} spectra in a form that is convenient when considering their Z_n orbifolds. The computation for the even Z_n orbifolds of S^5 includes a sum over the multiplets in the twisted sector that is essential for obtaining agreement with the dual field theory.

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arXiv2013

Spin 1/2 quasinormal mode frequencies in Schwarzschild-AdS spacetime

We find the asymptotic formula for quasinormal mode frequencies omega_n of the Dirac equation in a Schwarzschild-AdS_D background in space-time dimension D > 3, in the large black-hole limit appropriate to many applications of the AdS/CFT correspondence. By asymptotic, we mean large overtone number n with everything else held fixed, and we find the O(n^0) correction to the known leading O(n) behavior of omega_n. The result has the schematic form omega_n =~ n Delta(omega) + A ln(n) + B, where Delta(omega) and A are constants and B depends logarithmically on the (D-2)-dimensional spatial momentum k parallel to the horizon. We show that the asymptotic result agrees well with exact quasinormal mode frequencies computed numerically.

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arXiv2013

The spectrum of IIB supergravity on AdS_5 x S^5/Z_3 and a 1/N^2 test of AdS/CFT

We present the complete Kaluza-Klein spectrum resulting from the compactification of IIB supergravity on S^5/Z_3. Knowledge of this spectrum allows us to perform a holographic computation of the difference of central charges c-a of the dual SU(N)^3 quiver gauge theory. We find the numerical value c-a=3/16, in exact agreement with the field theory result.

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arXiv2013

Tidal stretching of gravitons into classical strings: application to jet quenching with AdS/CFT

Previous work has shown that the standard supergravity approximation can break down when using AdS/CFT duality to study certain top-down formulations of the jet stopping problem in strongly-coupled N=4 super-Yang-Mills (SYM) plasmas, depending on the virtuality of the source of the "jet." In this paper, we identify the nature of this breakdown: High-momentum gravitons in the gravitational dual get stretched into relatively large classical string loops by tidal forces associated with the black brane. These stringy excitations of the graviton are not contained in the supergravity approximation, but we show that the jet stopping problem can nonetheless still be solved by drawing on various string-theory methods (the eikonal approximation, the Penrose limit, string quantization in pp-wave backgrounds) to obtain a probability distribution for the late-time classical string loops. In extreme cases, we find that the gravitons are stretched into very long folded strings which are qualitatively similar to the folded classical strings originally used by Gubser, Gulotta, Pufu and Rocha to model the jet stopping problem. This makes a connection in certain cases between the different methods that have been used to study jet stopping with AdS/CFT and gives a specific example of a precise N=4 SYM problem that generates such strings in the gravity description.

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arXiv2012

Comments on a-maximization from gauged supergravity

In this paper we study the holographic dual to a-maximization in five-dimensional N = 2 gauged supergravity. In particular, we apply the procedure described by Tachikawa to specific examples consisting of holographic duals to gauge theories arising as the IR limit of N M5-branes wrapping a Riemann surface. A key element of this analysis is a consistent truncation of seven-dimensional N = 4 SO(5) gauged supergravity reduced on a Riemann surface. We demonstrate the consistency of this truncation and match to a sector of five-dimensional matter-coupled N = 2 gauged supergravity. We determine the U(1)_R symmetry and central charge of these theories and find agreement with the literature. The final results provide a nontrivial illustration of the holographic interpretation of a-maximization.

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arXiv2012

On the Temperature Dependence of the Shear Viscosity and Holography

We examine the structure of the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio eta/s in holographic theories of gravity coupled to a scalar field, in the presence of higher derivative corrections. Thanks to a non-trivial scalar field profile, eta/s in this setup generically runs as a function of temperature. In particular, its temperature behavior is dictated by the shape of the scalar potential and of the scalar couplings to the higher derivative terms. We consider a number of dilatonic setups, but focus mostly on phenomenological models that are QCD-like. We determine the geometric conditions needed to identify local and global minima for eta/s as a function of temperature, which translate to restrictions on the signs and ranges of the higher derivative couplings. Finally, such restrictions lead to an holographic argument for the existence of a global minimum for eta/s in these models, at or above the deconfinement transition.

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arXiv2012

Supersymmetry of consistent massive truncations of IIB supergravity

We discuss the supersymmetry and fermionic sector of the recently obtained consistent truncations of IIB supergravity containing massive modes. In particular, we present the general form of the five-dimensional N = 4 supersymmetry transformations and equations of motion for the fermions arising in the reduction of IIB theory on T^{1,1} which contains all modes invariant under the SU(2) x SU(2) isometry group. The N = 4 reduction can be further truncated to two different N = 2 sub-sectors. For each of these, we present the N = 2 fermionic supersymmetry transformations and corresponding superpotentials. As an application, we obtain the explicit Killing spinors of the Klebanov-Strassler solution and comment on the relation to the ansatz of Papadopoulos and Tseytlin. We also demonstrate the applicability of consistent truncations on squashed Sasaki-Einstein manifolds to a class of flux compactifications, focusing on a recent solution describing the geometry of gaugino condensation on wrapped D7 branes and which possesses dynamic SU(2) structure.

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arXiv2012

Coupling dependence of jet quenching in hot strongly-coupled gauge theories

Previous top-down studies of jet stopping in strongly-coupled QCD-like plasmas with gravity duals have been in the infinite 't Hooft coupling limit lambda -> infinity. They have found that, though a wide range of jet stopping distances are possible depending on initial conditions, the maximum jet stopping distance l_max scales with energy as E^(1/3) at large energy. But it has always been unclear whether the large-coupling and high-energy limits commute. In this paper, we use the string alpha' expansion in AdS-CFT to study the corrections to the lambda=infinity result in powers of 1/lambda. For the particular type of "jets" that we study, we find that (i) the naive expansion in 1/lambda breaks down for certain initial conditions but (ii) the relative corrections to the maximum stopping distance are small when 1/lambda is small. More specifically, we find that the expansion in 1/lambda is well behaved for jets whose stopping distance l_stop is in the range lambda^(-1/6) l_max << l_stop <~ l_max, but the expansion breaks down (and the fate of lambda=infinity results is uncertain) for jets created in such a way that l_stop << lambda^(-1/6) l_max. The analysis requires assessing the effects of all higher-derivative corrections to the supergravity action for the gravity dual.

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arXiv2012

On N = 2 Truncations of IIB on T^{1,1}

We study the N=4 gauged supergravity theory which arises from the consistent truncation of IIB supergravity on the coset T^{1,1}. We analyze three N=2 subsectors and in particular we clarify the relationship between true superpotentials for gauged supergravity and certain fake superpotentials which have been widely used in the literature. We derive a superpotential for the general reduction of type I supergravity on T^{1,1} and this together with a certain solution generating symmetry is tantamount to a superpotential for the baryonic branch of the Klebanov-Strassler solution.

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