Unitarity in three-dimensional flat space higher spin theories
Mar 20, 201437 pages
Published in:
- JHEP 07 (2014) 015
- Published: 2014
e-Print:
- 1403.5297 [hep-th]
Report number:
- TUW-14-05
View in:
Citations per year
Abstract: (Springer)
We investigate generic flat-space higher spin theories in three dimensions and find a no-go result, given certain assumptions that we spell out. Namely, it is only possible to have at most two out of the following three properties: unitarity, flat space, non-trivial higher spin states. Interestingly, unitarity provides an (algebra-dependent) upper bound on the central charge, like c = 42 for the Galilean W 4 2 − 1 − 1 algebra. We extend this no-go result to rule out unitary “multi-graviton” theories in flat space. We also provide an example circumventing the no-go result: Vasiliev-type flat space higher spin theory based on hs(1) can be unitary and simultaneously allow for non-trivial higher-spin states in the dual field theory.Note:
- 34 pp, v2: added two paragraphs in section 5.3 + minor changes
- Higher Spin Gravity
- Higher Spin Symmetry
- Chern-Simons Theories
- Conformal and W Symmetry
- spin: high
- dimension: 3
- unitarity
- central charge
- duality
- Galilei
References(64)
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