The AdS/$\mathsf{C}$-$\mathsf{P}$-${\mathsf T}$ Correspondence

TL;DR

This paper explores how charge conjugation, parity, and time-reversal symmetries in ${ m N}=4$ SYM relate to bulk string symmetries in AdS/CFT, revealing their transformations under S-duality and introducing a defect with a gravitational dual.

Contribution

It identifies the bulk string theory realizations of ${ m C}$, ${ m P}$, and ${ m T}$ symmetries in ${ m N}=4$ SYM and introduces a new surface defect with a gravitational dual.

Findings

${ m P}$ and ${ m T}$ map to ${ m CP}$ and ${ m CT}$ under S-duality.

${ m C}$ and ${ m CPT}$ are invariant under S-duality.

A new codimension-two defect in ${ m N}=4$ SYM with a dual gravitational description.

Abstract

We study the realization of $\mathsf{C}$, $\mathsf{P}$, $\mathsf{T}$ in ${\cal N}=4$ SYM - corresponding to charge conjugation, parity, and time-reversal - and identify the $\mathsf{C}$, $\mathsf{P}$, $\mathsf{T}$ global symmetries of ${\cal N}=4$ SYM with bulk (gauge) symmetries of string theory on $AdS_5\times S^5$. The dual bulk transformations are symmetries of Type IIB string theory on $AdS_5\times S^5$ that combine string worldsheet symmetries, with geometric transformations acting on $AdS_5\times S^5$. We show that $\mathsf P$ and $\mathsf T$ map to $\mathsf{CP}$ and $\mathsf{CT}$ under $S$-duality (combined with an $SU(4)$ R-symmetry outer automorphism), while $\mathsf C$ and $ \mathsf{CPT}$ are invariant. We also define a chiral, codimension-two surface defect in ${\cal N}=4$ SYM associated with charge conjugation, and provide its bulk $AdS_5\times S^5$ dual gravitational description. We discuss the relation between symmetries on the string worldsheet and symmetries of target space string field theory, global vs gauge symmetries in quantum gravity, among related topics. Defects in ${\cal N}=4$ SYM and in quantum gravity play a central role in this work.