The Constraint Algebra of Topologically Massive AdS Gravity

TL;DR

This paper simplifies the constraint algebra of topologically massive AdS gravity using new variables, confirming it has one propagating mode and deriving boundary CFT properties.

Contribution

Introduces a new variable choice that simplifies the constraint algebra and explicitly derives boundary conformal data in topologically massive AdS gravity.

Findings

The theory has a single propagating mode for all parameters.

The constraint algebra is greatly simplified.

Central charges and conformal weights are explicitly derived.

Abstract

Three-dimensional topologically massive AdS gravity has a complicated constraint algebra, making it difficult to count nonperturbative degrees of freedom. I show that a new choice of variables greatly simplifies this algebra, and confirm that the theory contains a single propagating mode for all values of the mass parameter and the cosmological constant. As an added benefit, I rederive the central charges and conformal weights of the boundary conformal field theory from an explicit analysis of the asymptotic algebra of constraints.