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arXiv · 1704.08667

Higher spins on AdS$_{3}$ from the worldsheet

Kevin Ferreira·Matthias R. Gaberdiel·Juan I. Jottar
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Abstract

It was recently shown that the CFT dual of string theory on ${\rm AdS}_3 \times {\rm S}^3 \times T^4$, the symmetric orbifold of $T^4$, contains a closed higher spin subsector. Via holography, this makes precise the sense in which tensionless string theory on this background contains a Vasiliev higher spin theory. In this paper we study this phenomenon directly from the worldsheet. Using the WZW description of the background with pure NS-NS flux, we identify the states that make up the leading Regge trajectory and show that they fit into the even spin ${\cal N}=4$ Vasiliev higher spin theory. We also show that these higher spin states do not become massless, except for the somewhat singular case of level $k=1$ where the theory contains a stringy tower of massless higher spin fields coming from the long string sector.

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Kevin Ferreira, Matthias R. Gaberdiel, Juan I. Jottar. 2017-04-27. Higher spins on AdS$_{3}$ from the worldsheet. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep07(2017)131

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