The Spectrum of Strings on Warped AdS_3 x S^3

TL;DR

This paper investigates a marginal deformation of string theory on warped AdS_3 x S^3, revealing a spectral flow relation to the undeformed theory and providing an exact spectrum of massive strings.

Contribution

It introduces an exact spectrum formula for strings on the deformed background and explores the nonlocal spectral flow relation to the original theory.

Findings

Exact spectrum formula for massive strings on warped AdS_3 x S^3

Identification of a nonlocal spectral flow relating deformed and undeformed theories

Partial understanding of the dual CFT with reduced symmetry

Abstract

String theory on NS-NS AdS_3 x S^3 admits an exactly marginal deformation which breaks the SL(2,R)_R x SL(2,R)_L isometry of AdS_3 down to SL(2,R)_R x U(1)_L. The holographic dual is an exotic and only partially understood type of two-dimensional CFT with a reduced unbroken global conformal symmetry group. In this paper we study the deformed theory on the string worldsheet. It is found to be related by a spectral flow which is nonlocal in spacetime to the undeformed worldsheet theory. An exact formula for the spectrum of massive strings is presented.