Three-Dimensional Extended Bargmann Supergravity

We show that three-dimensional General Relativity, augmented with two vector fields, allows for a non-relativistic limit, different from the standard limit leading to Newtonian gravity, that results into a well-defined action which is of the Chern-Simons type. We show that this three-dimensional `Extended Bargmann Gravity', after coupling to matter, leads to equations of motion allowing a wider class of background geometries than the ones that one encounters in Newtonian gravity. We give the supersymmetric generalization of these results and point out an important application in the context of calculating partition functions of non-relativistic field theories using localization techniques.Comment: 6 pages, v2: typo's corrected, reference updated, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Non-relativistic fields from arbitrary contracting backgrounds

We discuss a non-relativistic contraction of massive and massless field theories minimally coupled to gravity. Using the non-relativistic limiting procedure introduced in our previous work, we (re-)derive non-relativistic field theories of massive and massless spins 0 to 3/2 coupled to torsionless Newton-Cartan backgrounds. We elucidate the relativistic origin of the Newton-Cartan central charge gauge field $m_\mu$ and explain its relation to particle number conservation.Comment: 19 page

Newton-Cartan supergravity with torsion and Schr\"odinger supergravity

We derive a torsionfull version of three-dimensional N=2 Newton-Cartan supergravity using a non-relativistic notion of the superconformal tensor calculus. The "superconformal" theory that we start with is Schr\"odinger supergravity which we obtain by gauging the Schr\"odinger superalgebra. We present two non-relativistic N=2 matter multiplets that can be used as compensators in the superconformal calculus. They lead to two different off-shell formulations which, in analogy with the relativistic case, we call "old minimal" and "new minimal" Newton-Cartan supergravity. We find similarities but also point out some differences with respect to the relativistic case.Comment: 30 page

Newton-Cartan (super)gravity as a non-relativistic limit

We define a procedure that, starting from a relativistic theory of supergravity, leads to a consistent, non-relativistic version thereof. As a first application we use this limiting procedure to show how the Newton-Cartan formulation of non-relativistic gravity can be obtained from general relativity. Then we apply it in a supersymmetric case and derive a novel, non-relativistic, off-shell formulation of three-dimensional Newton-Cartan supergravity.Comment: 29 pages; v2: added comment about different NR gravities and more refs; v3: more refs, matches published versio

Torsional Newton-Cartan Geometry and the Schr\"odinger Algebra

We show that by gauging the Schr\"odinger algebra with critical exponent $z$ and imposing suitable curvature constraints, that make diffeomorphisms equivalent to time and space translations, one obtains a geometric structure known as (twistless) torsional Newton-Cartan geometry (TTNC). This is a version of torsional Newton-Cartan geometry (TNC) in which the timelike vielbein $\tau_\mu$ must be hypersurface orthogonal. For $z=2$ this version of TTNC geometry is very closely related to the one appearing in holographic duals of $z=2$ Lifshitz space-times based on Einstein gravity coupled to massive vector fields in the bulk. For $z\neq 2$ there is however an extra degree of freedom $b_0$ that does not appear in the holographic setup. We show that the result of the gauging procedure can be extended to include a St\"uckelberg scalar $\chi$ that shifts under the particle number generator of the Schr\"odinger algebra, as well as an extra special conformal symmetry that allows one to gauge away $b_0$. The resulting version of TTNC geometry is the one that appears in the holographic setup. This shows that Schr\"odinger symmetries play a crucial role in holography for Lifshitz space-times and that in fact the entire boundary geometry is dictated by local Schr\"odinger invariance. Finally we show how to extend the formalism to generic torsional Newton-Cartan geometries by relaxing the hypersurface orthogonality condition for the timelike vielbein $\tau_\mu$.Comment: v2: 38 pages, references adde

Logarithmic AdS Waves and Zwei-Dreibein Gravity

We show that the parameter space of Zwei-Dreibein Gravity (ZDG) in AdS3 exhibits critical points, where massive graviton modes coincide with pure gauge modes and new `logarithmic' modes appear, similar to what happens in New Massive Gravity. The existence of critical points is shown both at the linearized level, as well as by finding AdS wave solutions of the full non-linear theory, that behave as logarithmic modes towards the AdS boundary. In order to find these solutions explicitly, we give a reformulation of ZDG in terms of a single Dreibein, that involves an infinite number of derivatives. At the critical points, ZDG can be conjectured to be dual to a logarithmic conformal field theory with zero central charges, characterized by new anomalies whose conjectured values are calculated.Comment: 20 page

Dirac actions for D-branes on backgrounds with fluxes

The understanding of the fermionic sector of the worldvolume D-brane dynamics on a general background with fluxes is crucial in several branches of string theory, like for example the study of nonperturbative effects or the construction of realistic models living on D-branes. In this paper we derive a new simple Dirac-like form for the bilinear fermionic action for any Dp-brane in any supergravity background, which generalizes the usual Dirac action valid in absence of fluxes. A nonzero world-volume field strength deforms the usual Dirac operator in the action to a generalized non-canonical one. We show how the canonical form can be re-established by a redefinition of the world-volume geometry.Comment: 25 page