TTbar and Holography

Abstract

In recent years, there have been two independent but related developments in the study of irrelevant deformations in two dimensional quantum field theories (QFTs). The first development is the deformation of a two dimensional QFT by the determinant of the energy momentum stress tensor, commonly referred to as $T{\bar T}$ deformation. The second development is in two dimensional holographic field theories which are dual to string theory in asymptotically Anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetimes. In this latter development, the deformation is commonly referred to as single-trace $T{\bar T}$ deformation. The single-trace $T{\bar T}$ deformation corresponds in the bulk to a string background that interpolates between AdS spacetime in the infrared (IR) and a linear dilaton spacetime (vacuum of little string theory (LST)) in the ultraviolet (UV). It serves as a useful tool and guide to better understand and explore holography in asymptotically AdS and non-AdS spacetimes in a controlled setting. In particular, it is useful to gain insights into holography in flat spacetimes. The dissertation is devoted to the study of single-trace $T{\bar T}$ deformation and its single-trace generalizations in theories with $U(1)$ currents, namely $J\bar T$ and $T\bar J$ deformations, in the context of gauge/gravity duality. In the dissertation I present new results in the study of holography in asymptotically non-AdS spacetimes. I discuss two point correlation functions in single-trace $T{\bar T}$ deformation, and entanglement entropy and entropic $c$-function in single-trace $T{\bar T}$, $J\bar T$ and $T\bar J$ deformations.