Higher Spin Theories Research Articles

Rainbow vacua of colored higher-spin (A)dS3 gravity

We study the color-decoration of higher-spin (anti)-de Sitter gravity in three dimensions. We show that the rainbow vacua, which we found recently for the colored gravity theory, also pertain in the colored higher-spin theory. The color singlet spin-two plays the role of first fundamental form (metric). The difference is that when spontaneous breaking of color symmetry takes place, the Goldstone modes of massless spin-two combine with all other spins and become the maximal-depth partially massless fields of the highest spin in the theory, forming a Regge trajectory.

Extremal higher spin black holes

The gauge sector of three-dimensional higher spin gravities can be formulated as a Chern-Simons theory. In this context, a higher spin black hole corresponds to a flat connection with suitable holonomy (smoothness) conditions which are consistent with the properties of a generalized thermal ensemble. Building on these ideas, we discuss a definition of black hole extremality which is appropriate to the topological character of 3d higher spin theories. Our definition can be phrased in terms of the Jordan class of the holonomy around a non-contractible (angular) cycle, and we show that it is compatible with the zero-temperature limit of smooth black hole solutions. While this notion of extremality does not require supersymmetry, we exemplify its consequences in the context of sl(3|2) + sl(3|2) Chern-Simons theory and show that, as usual, not all extremal solutions preserve supersymmetries. Remarkably, we find in addition that the higher spin setup allows for non-extremal supersymmetric black hole solutions. Furthermore, we discuss our results from the perspective of the holographic duality between sl(3|2) + sl(3|2) Chern-Simons theory and two-dimensional CFTs with W_{(3|2)} symmetry, the simplest higher spin extension of the N=2 super-Virasoro algebra. In particular, we compute W_{(3|2)} BPS bounds at the full quantum level, and relate their semiclassical limit to extremal black hole or conical defect solutions in the 3d bulk. Along the way, we discuss the role of the spectral flow automorphism and provide a conjecture for the form of the semiclassical BPS bounds in general N=2 two-dimensional CFTs with extended symmetry algebras.

Quantum field theory with a preferred direction: The very special relativity framework

The theory of very special relativity (VSR) proposed by Cohen and Glashow contains an intrinsic preferred direction. Starting from the irreducible unitary representation of the inhomogeneous VSR group $ISIM(2)$, we present a rigorous construction of quantum field theory with a preferred direction. We find, although the particles and their quantum fields between the VSR and Lorentz sectors are physically different, they share many similarities. The massive spin-half and spin-one vector fields are local and satisfy the Dirac and Proca equations respectively. This result can be generalised to higher-spin field theories. By studying the Yukawa and standard gauge interactions, we obtain a qualitative understanding on the effects of the preferred direction. Its effect is manifest for polarised processes but are otherwise absent.

Wilson lines and holographic entanglement entropy in Galilean conformal field theories

In this paper we will present in more detail a construction using Wilson lines and the corresponding dual Galilean conformal field theory calculations for analytically determining holographic entanglement entropy for flat space in $2+1$ dimensions first presented in hep-th/1410.4089. In addition we will show how the construction using Wilson lines can be expanded to flat space higher-spin theories and determine the thermal entropy of (spin-3 charged) flat space cosmologies using this approach.

Thermofield duality for higher spin Rindler Gravity

We study the Thermo-field realization of the duality between the Rindler-AdS higher spin theory and $O(N)$ vector theory. The CFT represents a decoupled pair of free $O(N)$ vector field theories. It is shown how this decoupled domain CFT is capable of generating the connected Rindler-AdS background with the full set of Higher Spin fields.

Higher spin interactions in four-dimensions: Vasiliev versus Fronsdal

We consider four-dimensional higher-spin (HS) theory at the first nontrivial order corresponding to the cubic action. All HS interaction vertices are explicitly obtained from Vasiliev’s equations. In particular, we obtain the vertices that are not determined solely by the HS algebra structure constants. The dictionary between the Fronsdal fields and HS connections is found and the corrections to the Fronsdal equations are derived. These corrections turn out to involve derivatives of arbitrary order. We observe that the vertices not determined by the HS algebra produce naked infinities, when decomposed into the minimal derivative vertices and improvements. Therefore, standard methods can only be used to check a rather limited number of correlation functions within the HS AdS/CFT duality. A possible resolution of the puzzle is discussed.

Quantum corrections in higher spin theory

We review some recent results on computation of quantum corrections in conformal and massless higher spin theory.

General results for higher spin Wilson lines and entanglement in Vasiliev theory

We develop tools for the efficient evaluation of Wilson lines in 3D higher spin gravity, and use these to compute entanglement entropy in the hs$[\lambda]$ Vasiliev theory that governs the bulk side of the duality proposal of Gaberdiel and Gopakumar. Our main technical advance is the determination of SL(N) Wilson lines for arbitrary $N$, which, in suitable cases, enables us to analytically continue to hs$[\lambda]$ via $N \rightarrow -\lambda$. We apply this result to compute various quantities of interest, including entanglement entropy expanded perturbatively in the background higher spin charge, chemical potential, and interval size. This includes a computation of entanglement entropy in the higher spin black hole of the Vasiliev theory. These results are consistent with conformal field theory calculations. We also provide an alternative derivation of the Wilson line, by showing how it arises naturally from earlier work on scalar correlators in higher spin theory. The general picture that emerges is consistent with the statement that the SL(N) Wilson line computes the semiclassical $W_N$ vacuum block, and our results provide an explicit result for this object.

Twistors and supertwistors for exceptional field theory

As a means of examining the section condition and its possible solutions and relaxations, we perform twistor transforms related to versions of exceptional field theory with Minkowski signature. The spinor parametrisation of the momenta naturally solves simultaneously both the mass-shell condition and the (weak) section condition. It is shown that the incidence relations for multi-particle twistors force them to share a common section, but not to be orthogonal. The supersymmetric extension contains additional scalar fermionic variables shown to be kappa-symmetry invariants. We speculate on some implications, among them a possible relation to higher spin theory.

Holography and quantum states in elliptic de Sitter space

We outline a program for interpreting the higher-spin dS/CFT model in terms of physics in the causal patch of a dS observer. The proposal is formulated in "elliptic" de Sitter space dS_4/Z_2, obtained by identifying antipodal points in dS_4. We discuss recent evidence that the higher-spin model is especially well-suited for this, since the antipodal symmetry of bulk solutions has a simple encoding on the boundary. For context, we test some other (free and interacting) theories for the same property. Next, we analyze the notion of quantum field states in the non-time-orientable dS_4/Z_2. We compare the physics seen by different observers, with the outcome depending on whether they share an arrow of time. Finally, we implement the marriage between higher-spin holography and observers in dS_4/Z_2, in the limit of free bulk fields. We succeed in deriving an observer's operator algebra and Hamiltonian from the CFT, but not her S-matrix. We speculate on the extension of this to interacting higher-spin theory.

On locality, holography and unfolding

We study the functional class and locality problems in the context of higher-spin theories and Vasiliev's equations. A locality criterion that is sufficient to make higher-spin theories well-defined as field theories on Anti-de-Sitter space is proposed. This criterion identifies admissible pseudo-local field redefinitions which preserve AdS/CFT correlation functions as we check in the 3d example. Implications of this analysis for known higher-spin theories are discussed. We also check that the cubic coupling coefficients previously fixed in 3d at the action level give the correct CFT correlation functions upon computing the corresponding Witten diagrams.

Higher spins and matter interacting in dimension three

The spectrum of Prokushkin--Vasiliev Theory is puzzling in light of the Gaberdiel--Gopakumar conjecture because it generically contains an additional sector besides higher-spin gauge and scalar fields. We find the unique truncation of the theory avoiding this problem to order 2 in perturbations around AdS$_3$. The second-order backreaction on the physical gauge sector induced by the scalars is computed explicitly. The cubic action for the physical fields is determined completely. We comment on a different higher-spin theory without such additional fields at $\lambda=1$.

Quartic AdS interactions in higher-spin gravity from Conformal Field Theory

Clarifying the locality properties of higher-spin gravity is a pressing task, but notoriously difficult due to the absence of a weakly-coupled flat regime. The simplest non-trivial case where this question can be addressed is the quartic self-interaction of the AdS scalar field present in the higher-spin multiplet. We investigate this issue in the context of the holographic duality between the minimal bosonic higher-spin theory on AdS$_4$ and the free $O\left(N\right)$ vector model in three dimensions. In particular, we determine the exact explicit form of the derivative expansion of the bulk scalar quartic vertex. The quartic vertex is obtained from the field theory four-point function of the operator dual to the bulk scalar, by making use of our previous results for the Witten diagrams of higher-spin exchanges. This is facilitated by establishing the conformal block expansions of both the boundary four-point function and the dual bulk Witten diagram amplitudes. We show that the vertex we find satisfies a generalised notion of locality.

Higher spin Lifshitz theories and the Korteweg-de Vries hierarchy

In this paper three dimensional higher spin theories in the Chern-Simons formulation with gauge algebra $sl(N,R)$ are investigated which have Lifshitz symmetry with scaling exponent $z$. We show that an explicit map exists for all $z$ and $N$ relating the Lifshitz Chern-Simons theory to the $(n,m)$ element of the KdV hierarchy. Furthermore we show that the map and hence the conserved charges are independent of $z$. We derive these result from the Drinfeld-Sokolov formalism of integrable systems.

3D gravity, Chern–Simons and higher spins: A mini introduction

We give a review on (a) elements of (2+1)-dimensional gravity, (b) some aspects of its relation to Chern–Simons theory, (c) its generalization to couple higher spins, and (d) cosmic singularity resolution as an application in the context of flat space higher spin theory. A knowledge of the Einstein–Hilbert action, classical non-Abelian gauge theory and some (negotiable amount of) maturity are the only pre-requisites.

Holographic chiral induced W-gravities

We study boundary conditions for 3-dimensional higher spin gravity that admit asymptotic symmetry algebras expected of 2-dimensional induced higher spin theories in the light-cone gauge. For the higher spin theory based on $$ sl\left(3,\mathbb{R}\right)\oplus sl\left(3,\mathbb{R}\right) $$ algebra, our boundary conditions give rise to one copy of classical W 3 and a copy of $$ sl\left(3,\mathbb{R}\right) $$ or su(1, 2) Kac-Moody as the asymptotic symmetry algebra. We propose that the higher spin theories with these boundary conditions describe appropriate chiral induced W-gravity theories on the boundary. We also consider boundary conditions of spin-3 higher spin gravity that admit a u(1) ⊕ u(1) current algebra.

Group manifold approach to higher spin theory

We consider the group manifold approach to higher spin theory. The deformed local higher spin transformation is realized as the diffeomorphism transformation in the group manifold $\textbf{M}$. With the suitable rheonomy condition and the torsion constraint imposed, the unfolded equation can be obtained from the Bianchi identity, by solving which, fields in $\textbf{M}$ are determined by the multiplet at one point, or equivalently, by $(W^{[a(s-1),b(0)]}_{\mu},H)$ in $AdS_{4}\subset \textbf{M}$. Although the space is extended to $\textbf{M}$ to get the geometrical formulation, the dynamical degrees of freedom are still in $AdS_{4}$. The $4d$ equations of motion for $(W^{[a(s-1),b(0)]}_{\mu},H)$ are obtained by plugging the rheonomy condition into the Bianchi identity. The proper rheonomy condition allowing for the maximum on-shell degrees of freedom is given by Vasiliev equation. We also discuss the theory with the global higher spin symmetry, which is in parallel with the WZ model in supersymmetry.

Higgsing the stringy higher spin symmetry

It has recently been argued that the symmetric orbifold theory of $$ {\mathbb{T}}^4 $$ is dual to string theory on AdS3 × S3 × $$ {\mathbb{T}}^4 $$ at the tensionless point. At this point in moduli space, the theory possesses a very large symmetry algebra that includes, in particular, a $$ \mathcal{W} $$ ∞ algebra capturing the gauge fields of a dual higher spin theory. Using conformal perturbation theory, we study the behaviour of the symmetry generators of the symmetric orbifold theory under the deformation that corresponds to switching on the string tension. We show that the generators fall nicely into Regge trajectories, with the higher spin fields corresponding to the leading Regge trajectory. We also estimate the form of the Regge trajectories for large spin, and find evidence for the familiar logarithmic behaviour, thereby suggesting that the symmetric orbifold theory is dual to an AdS background with pure RR flux.

Higgs phenomenon for higher spin fields on AdS3

In a previous work, a marginal deformation of 2d coset type model with $$ \mathcal{N}=3 $$ superconformal symmetry was studied, and it was interpreted as a change of boundary conditions for bulk fields in the dual higher spin theory. The deformation breaks generic higher spin gauge symmetry, and the generated mass of a spin 2 field was computed. The deformation might be related to the introduction of finite string tension in a superstring theory. In this paper, we extend the analysis and compute the masses of generic higher spin fields at the leading order of 1/c (c is the CFT central charge) but at the full order of the deformation parameter. We find that the masses are not generated for so(3) R singlet higher spin fields at this order and the spectrum is the Regge-like one for so(3) R triplet higher spin-charged fields.

Gauge fields and infinite chains of dualities

We show that the particle states of Maxwell’s theory, in D dimensions, can be represented in an infinite number of ways by using different gauge fields. Using this result we formulate the dynamics in terms of an infinite set of duality relations which are first order in space-time derivatives. We derive a similar result for the three form in eleven dimensions where such a possibility was first observed in the context of E 11. We also give an action formulation for some of the gauge fields. In this paper we give a pedagogical account of the Lorentz and gauge covariant formulation of the irreducible representations of the Poincare group, used previously in higher spin theories, as this plays a key role in our constructions. It is clear that our results can be generalised to any particle.