English

Asymptotic W-symmetries in three-dimensional higher-spin gauge theories

High Energy Physics - Theory 2015-05-28 v1

Abstract

We discuss how to systematically compute the asymptotic symmetry algebras of generic three-dimensional bosonic higher-spin gauge theories in backgrounds that are asymptotically AdS. We apply these techniques to a one-parameter family of higher-spin gauge theories that can be considered as large N limits of SL(N) x SL(N) Chern-Simons theories, and we provide a closed formula for the structure constants of the resulting infinite-dimensional non-linear W-algebras. Along the way we provide a closed formula for the structure constants of all classical W_N algebras. In both examples the higher-spin generators of the W-algebras are Virasoro primaries. We eventually discuss how to relate our basis to a non-primary quadratic basis that was previously discussed in literature.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1107.0290,
  title  = {Asymptotic W-symmetries in three-dimensional higher-spin gauge theories},
  author = {Andrea Campoleoni and Stefan Fredenhagen and Stefan Pfenninger},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1107.0290},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

61 pages