Asymptotic symmetries of three-dimensional gravity coupled to higher-spin fields

Aug, 2010
37 pages
Published in:
  • JHEP 11 (2010) 007
e-Print:
Report number:
  • AEI-2010-140

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Abstract: (arXiv)
We discuss the emergence of W-algebras as asymptotic symmetries of higher-spin gauge theories coupled to three-dimensional Einstein gravity with a negative cosmological constant. We focus on models involving a finite number of bosonic higher-spin fields, and especially on the example provided by the coupling of a spin-3 field to gravity. It is described by a SL(3) \times SL(3) Chern-Simons theory and its asymptotic symmetry algebra is given by two copies of the classical W_3-algebra with central charge the one computed by Brown and Henneaux in pure gravity with negative cosmological constant.
Note:
  • 38 pages/ version to be published in JHEP/ typos corrected in eqs. (2.9) and (2.54)
  • Field Theories in Lower Dimensions
  • Chern-Simons Theories
  • Conformal and W Symmetry
  • cosmological constant: negative
  • dimension: 3
  • gravitation: coupling
  • algebra: W
  • spin: high
  • SL(3)
  • Chern-Simons term