An AdS_3 Dual for Minimal Model CFTs

TL;DR

This paper proposes a duality between 2D W_N minimal models in the large N limit and higher spin theories on AdS_3, demonstrating spectrum matching and RG flow agreement, extending AdS/CFT correspondence to new models.

Contribution

It introduces a new AdS_3 dual for 2D minimal models, including detailed spectrum matching and RG flow correspondence, expanding the scope of higher spin holography.

Findings

Spectra of dual theories match precisely for all 't Hooft couplings.

RG flows in 2D CFT agree with gravity predictions.

Dual bulk contains higher spin fields and two scalars with mass related to coupling.

Abstract

We propose a duality between the 2d W_N minimal models in the large N 't Hooft limit, and a family of higher spin theories on AdS_3. The 2d CFTs can be described as WZW coset models, and include, for N=2, the usual Virasoro unitary series. The dual bulk theory contains, in addition to the massless higher spin fields, two complex scalars (of equal mass). The mass is directly related to the 't Hooft coupling constant of the dual CFT. We give convincing evidence that the spectra of the two theories match precisely for all values of the 't Hooft coupling. We also show that the RG flows in the 2d CFT agree exactly with the usual AdS/CFT prediction of the gravity theory. Our proposal is in many ways analogous to the Klebanov-Polyakov conjecture for an AdS_4 dual for the singlet sector of large N vector models.