English

Free-field construction of Carrollian $W_N$-algebras

High Energy Physics - Theory 2026-03-11 v3

Abstract

We study Carrollian contractions of WNW_N-algebras from a free-field perspective. Using a contraction of the Miura transformation, we obtain explicit free-field realizations of the resulting Carrollian WNW_N-algebras. At the classical level, they are isomorphic to the Galilean WNW_N-algebras. In the quantum case, we distinguish between two Carrollian constructions: a flipped Carrollian contraction, where the time direction is reversed in one sector, and a symmetric contraction. The flipped construction yields a quantum algebra isomorphic to the Galilean one, whereas the symmetric construction produces a distinct quantum Carrollian WNW_N-algebra whose basic structure constants are identical to those of the classical Carrollian WNW_N-algebra. These algebras provide a natural framework for studying extended symmetries in Carrollian conformal field theories, motivated by recent developments in flat space holography. Our construction provides tools for developing the representation theory of Carrollian (and Galilean) WNW_N-algebras using free-field techniques.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2509.14441,
  title  = {Free-field construction of Carrollian $W_N$-algebras},
  author = {Stefan Fredenhagen and Lucas Hörl},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.14441},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

28 pages, 1 figure