Gauging Conformal Algebras with Relations between the Generators

We investigate the gauging of conformal algebras with relations between the generators. We treat the $W_{5/2}$--algebra as a specific example. We show that the gauge-algebra is in general reducible with an infinite number of stages. We show how to construct the BV-extended action, and hence the classical BRST charge. An important conclusion is that this can always be done in terms of the generators of the $W$--algebra only, that is, independent of the realisation. The present treatment is still purely classical, but already enables us to learn more about reducible gauge algebras and the BV-formalism.Comment: 10 pages, LaTex, This paper is based on proceedings for the Sixth Seminar on Quantum Gravity, Moscow, 12-17 June '95 and the Conference on Gauge theories, Applied Supersymmetry and Quantum Gravity, Leuven, 10-14 July '9

Lifshitz quasinormal modes and relaxation from holography

We obtain relaxation times for field theories with Lifshitz scaling and with holographic duals Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton gravity theories. This is done by computing quasinormal modes of a bulk scalar field in the presence of Lifshitz black branes. We determine the relation between relaxation time and dynamical exponent z, for various values of boundary dimension d and operator scaling dimension. It is found that for d>z+1, at zero momenta, the modes are non-overdamped, whereas for d<=z+1 the system is always overdamped. For d=z+1 and zero momenta, we present analytical results.Comment: 16 pages and 5 figure

Static supersymmetric black holes in AdS_4 with spherical symmetry

We elaborate further on the static supersymmetric AdS_4 black holes found in arXiv:0911.4926, investigating thoroughly the BPS constraints for spherical symmetry in N = 2 gauged supergravity in the presence of Fayet-Iliopoulos terms. We find Killing spinors that preserve two of the original eight supercharges and investigate the conditions for genuine black holes free of naked singularities. The existence of a horizon is intimately related with the requirement that the scalars are not constant, but given in terms of harmonic functions in analogy to the attractor flow in ungauged supergravity. The black hole charges depend on the choice of the electromagnetic gauging, with only magnetic charges for purely electric gaugings. Finally we show how these black holes can be embedded in N = 8 supergravity and thus in M-theory.Comment: 28 pages; v2 minor change

Lifshitz entanglement entropy from holographic cMERA

We study entanglement entropy in free Lifshitz scalar field theories holographically by employing the metrics proposed by Nozaki, Ryu and Takayanagi in \cite{Nozaki:2012zj} obtained from a continuous multi-scale entanglement renormalisation ansatz (cMERA). In these geometries we compute the minimal surface areas governing the entanglement entropy as functions of the dynamical exponent $z$ and we exhibit a transition from an area law to a volume law analytically in the limit of large $z$. We move on to explore the effects of a massive deformation, obtaining results for any $z$ in arbitrary dimension. We then trigger a renormalisation group flow between a Lifshitz theory and a conformal theory and observe a monotonic decrease in entanglement entropy along this flow. We focus on strip regions but also consider a disc in the undeformed theory.Comment: 17 pages, v2: references added and improved discussions, v3: published versio

Phase transitions of magnetic AdS4 black holes with scalar hair

We determine the thermodynamic properties of a class of spherically symmetric and static black holes in AdS4 with magnetic charges and scalar hair. These black holes are solutions in 4d N=2 gauged supergravity that can arise from eleven-dimensional supergravity compactified on S^7. At zero temperature, they preserve supersymmetry and hence are stable. At non-zero temperatures, we explore in detail the canonical ensemble and stability of solutions and find a first order phase transition between small and large hairy black holes. The transition emerges as a liquid-gas phase transition in the dual three-dimensional field theory on R x S^2 with magnetic flux through S^2.Comment: 5 pages, v2: misprints corrected and references added, published versio

Fivebrane Instanton Corrections to the Universal Hypermultiplet

We analyze the Neveu-Schwarz fivebrane instanton in type IIA string theory compactifications on rigid Calabi-Yau threefolds, in the low-energy supergravity approximation. It there appears as a finite action solution to the Euclidean equations of motion of a double-tensor multiplet (dual to the universal hypermultiplet) coupled to N=2, D=4 supergravity. We determine the bosonic and fermionic zero modes, and the single-centered instanton measure on the moduli space of collective coordinates. The results are then used to compute, in the semiclassical approximation, correlation functions that nonperturbatively correct the universal hypermultiplet moduli space geometry of the low-energy effective action. We find that only the Ramond-Ramond sector receives corrections, and we discuss the breaking of isometries due to instantons.Comment: 48 pages, v2: improved version with some correction

Instanton Effects in Three-Dimensional Supersymmetric Gauge Theories with Matter

Using standard field theory techniques we compute perturbative and instanton contributions to the Coulomb branch of three-dimensional supersymmetric QCD with N=2 and N=4 supersymmetry and gauge group SU(2). For the N=4 theory with one massless flavor, we confirm the proposal of Seiberg and Witten that the Coulomb branch is the double-cover of the centered moduli space of two BPS monopoles constructed by Atiyah and Hitchin. Introducing a hypermultiplet mass term, we show that the asymptotic metric on the Coulomb branch coincides with the metric on Dancer's deformation of the monopole moduli space. For the N=2 theory with $N_f$ flavors, we compute the one-loop corrections to the metric and complex structure on the Coulomb branch. We then determine the superpotential including one-loop effects around the instanton background. These calculations provide an explicit check of several results previously obtained by symmetry and holomorphy arguments.Comment: 24 pages, Late

Entanglement Entropy in Lifshitz Theories

We discuss and compute entanglement entropy (EE) in (1+1)-dimensional free Lifshitz scalar field theories with arbitrary dynamical exponents. We consider both the subinterval and periodic sublattices in the discretized theory as subsystems. In both cases, we are able to analytically demonstrate that the EE grows linearly as a function of the dynamical exponent. Furthermore, for the subinterval case, we determine that as the dynamical exponent increases, there is a crossover from an area law to a volume law. Lastly, we deform Lifshitz field theories with certain relevant operators and show that the EE decreases from the ultraviolet to the infrared fixed point, giving evidence for a possible c-theorem for deformed Lifshitz theories.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures; v2: Clarified discussions in Subsection 3.3 and appendix; v3: Major extension of results, including an analytic computation of subinterval entanglement in massless scalar Lifshitz theories; v4: Added footnote 4 for clarification, version to appear in SciPos

Hyperkahler Cones and Orthogonal Wolf Spaces

We construct the hyperkahler cones corresponding to the Quaternion-Kahler orthogonal Wolf spaces SO(n+4)/(SO(n)xSO(4)) and their non-compact versions, which appear in hypermultiplet couplings to N=2 supergravity. The geometry is completely encoded by a single function, the hyperkahler potential, which we compute from an SU(2) hyperkahler quotient of flat space. We derive the Killing vectors and moment maps for the SO(n+4) isometry group on the hyperkahler cone. For the non-compact case, the isometry group SO(n,4) contains n+2 abelian isometries which can be used to find a dual description in terms of n tensor multiplets and one double-tensor multiplet. Finally, using a representation of the hyperkahler quotient via quiver diagrams, we deduce the existence of a new eight dimensional ALE space.Comment: 19 pages, Latex, 2 figures (references added