ABJM theory in Batalin-Vilkovisky formulation

We analyze the quantum ABJM theory on ${\cal N} = 1$ superspace in different gauges. We study the Batalin-Vilkovisky (BV) formulation for this model. By developing field/antifield dependent BRST transformation we establish connection between the two different solutions of the quantum master equation within the BV formulation.Comment: 9 pages, To appear in Physics Letters

Double Trace Flows and Holographic RG in dS/CFT correspondence

If there is a dS/CFT correspondence, time evolution in the bulk should translate to RG flows in the dual euclidean field theory. Consequently, although the dual field is expected to be non-unitary, its RG flows will carry an imprint of the unitary time evolution in the bulk. In this note we examine the prediction of holographic RG in de Sitter space for the flow of double and triple trace couplings in any proposed dual. We show quite generally that the correct form of the field theory beta functions for the double trace couplings is obtained from holography, provided one identifies the scale of the field theory with (i|T|) where T is the `time' in conformal coordinates. For dS(4), we find that with an appropriate choice of operator normalization, it is possible to have real n-point correlation functions as well as beta functions with real coefficients. This choice leads to an RG flow with an IR fixed point at negative coupling unlike in a unitary theory where the IR fixed point is at positive coupling. The proposed correspondence of Sp(N) vector models with de Sitter Vasiliev gravity provides a specific example of such a phenomenon. For dS(d+1) with even d, however, we find that no choice of operator normalization exists which ensures reality of coefficients of the beta-functions as well as absence of n-dependent phases for various n-point functions, as long as one assumes real coupling constants in the bulk Lagrangian.Comment: 18 pages, no figures; (v2) minor typos fixed, references adde

dS/CFT at uniform energy density and a de Sitter "bluewall"

We describe a class of spacetimes that are asymptotically de Sitter in the Poincare slicing. Assuming that a dS/CFT correspondence exists, we argue that these are gravity duals to a CFT on a circle leading to uniform energy-momentum density, and are equivalent to an analytic continuation of the Euclidean AdS black brane. These are solutions with a complex parameter which then gives a real energy-momentum density. We also discuss a related solution with the parameter continued to a real number, which we refer to as a de Sitter "bluewall". This spacetime has two asymptotic de Sitter universes and Cauchy horizons cloaking timelike singularities. We argue that the Cauchy horizons give rise to a blue-shift instability.Comment: Latex, 13pgs, 2 figs. v2: 14pgs, published version, some rephrasing of language in terms of Euclidean CFT on a circle, more elaborate discussion on blueshif

TIME DEPENDENT HOLOGRAPHY

One of the most important results emerging from string theory is the gauge gravity duality (AdS/CFT correspondence) which tells us that certain problems in particular gravitational backgrounds can be exactly mapped to a particular dual gauge theory a quantum theory very similar to the one explaining the interactions between fundamental subatomic particles. The chief merit of the duality is that a difficult problem in one theory can be mapped to a simpler and solvable problem in the other theory. The duality can be used both ways. Most of the current theoretical framework is suited to study equilibrium systems, or systems where time dependence is at most adiabatic. However in the real world, systems are almost always out of equilibrium. Generically these scenarios are described by quenches, where a parameter of the theory is made time dependent. In this dissertation I describe some of the work done in the context of studying quantum quench using the AdS/CFT correspondence. We recover certain universal scaling type of behavior as the quenching is done through a quantum critical point. Another question that has been explored in the dissertation is time dependence of the gravity theory. Present cosmological observations indicate that our universe is accelerating and is described by a spacetime called de-Sitter(dS). In 2011 there had been a speculation over a possible duality between de-Sitter gravity and a particular field theory (Euclidean SP(N) CFT). However a concrete realization of this proposition was still lacking. Here we explicitly derive the dS/CFT duality using well known methods in field theory. We discovered that the time dimension emerges naturally in the derivation. We also describe further applications and extensions of dS/CFT

Integrability Lost

It is known that classical string dynamics in pure AdS_5\times S^5 is integrable and plays an important role in solvability. This is a deep and central issue in holography. Here we investigate similar classical integrability for a more realistic confining background and provide a negative answer. The dynamics of a class of simple string configurations in AdS soliton background can be mapped to the dynamics of a set of non-linearly coupled oscillators. In a suitable limit of small fluctuations we discuss a quasi-periodic analytic solution of the system. However numerics indicates chaotic behavior as the fluctuations are not small. Integrability implies the existence of a regular foliation of the phase space by invariant manifolds. Our numerics shows how this nice foliation structure is eventually lost due to chaotic motion. We also verify a positive Lyapunov index for chaotic orbits. Our dynamics is roughly similar to other known non-integrable coupled oscillators systems like Henon-Heiles equations.Comment: Acknowledged grant

Modular crossings, OPE coefficients and black holes

In (1+1)-d CFTs, the 4-point function on the plane can be mapped to the pillow geometry and thereby crossing symmetry gets translated into a modular property. We use these modular features to derive a universal asymptotic formula for OPE coefficients in which one of the operators is averaged over heavy primaries. The coarse-grained heavy channel then reproduces features of the gravitational 2-to-2 S-matrix which has black holes as their intermediate states.Comment: 6 pages and a pillow; v3 : approximates published versio

Monstrous entanglement

The Monster CFT plays an important role in moonshine and is also conjectured to be the holographic dual to pure gravity in AdS3. We investigate the entanglement and Renyi entropies of this theory along with other extremal CFTs. The Renyi entropies of a single interval on the torus are evaluated using the short interval expansion. Each order in the expansion contains closed form expressions of the modular parameter. The leading terms in the q-series are shown to precisely agree with the universal corrections to Renyi entropies at low temperatures. Furthermore, these results are shown to match with bulk computations of Renyi entropy using the one-loop partition function on handlebodies. We also explore some features of Renyi entropies of two intervals on the plane.Comment: 41 pages, 4 figures; v2: typos corrected, approximates published versio