String Theory on AdS Orbifolds

TL;DR

This paper studies string theory on $AdS_3$ orbifolds with conical singularities, analyzing the spectrum, supersymmetry preservation, and the resulting spacetime symmetry algebra.

Contribution

It provides a detailed spectrum analysis of $Z_N$ orbifolds of $AdS_3$, including twisted sectors and fractional spectral flow, highlighting preserved supersymmetry and spacetime symmetries.

Findings

Supersymmetry is preserved when the orbifold includes a twist of $S^3$.

A moduli space of vacua exists from blowup modes of the orbifold singularity.

The spectrum includes twisted sectors and states from fractional spectral flow.

Abstract

We consider worldsheet string theory on $Z_N$ orbifolds of $AdS_3$ associated with conical singularities. If the orbifold action includes a similar twist of $S^3$, supersymmetry is preserved, and there is a moduli space of vacua arising from blowup modes of the orbifold singularity. We exhibit the spectrum, including the properties of twisted sectors and states obtained by fractional spectral flow. A subalgebra of the spacetime superconformal symmetry remains intact after the $Z_N$ quotient, and serves as the spacetime symmetry algebra of the orbifold.