AdS/CFT Take-Home Final due 8PM 18 Dec 2015

You may find the metric for AdSd+1 in Poincaré coordinates useful:

L2 L2
ds2 = 2 µ ν
ηM N dxM dxN ,


dz + η µν dx dx = (1)
z2 (xd )2

where η may be either the Minkowski metric or Kronecker delta, depending on the signature you
prefer. In the latter equation z = xd . The boundary is at z = 0 (with a single “point at infinity”
z = ∞). Notationally, we will use Greek indices µ to run over boundary coordinates and capital
Latin indices M to run over all AdS coordinates, unless otherwise specified.

1. [5 points] Klebanov-Witten Gauge Theory and AdS5 × T1,1

We recall that the AdS/CFT correspondence is more precisely a duality between string theory
(or its low-energy gravity theory) on the product of an AdS spacetime with an Einstein manifold
(with total dimension 10) with a CFT determined by the choice of Einstein manifold.
Klebanov and Witten have argued that the CFT dual to string theory on AdS5 ×T 1,1 is a U (N )×
U (N ) gauge theory with 4 scalar fields called A1 , A2 , B1 , B2 (and associated fermions). These
4 scalar fields each have conformal scaling dimension ∆ = 3/4. For small ’t Hooft coupling,
the conformal dimension of a product of operators is the sum of the individual dimensions, so
an operator schematically of the form Ok = Tr(AB)k has dimension 3k/2.
The operator Ok is dual to some scalar field in an AdS5 gravity theory. In this case, our gravity
theory is type IIB supergravity on AdS5 × T 1,1 , and the scalar fields in the AdS5 theory are
given by separating variables on the 10D fields. For example, the 10D
P dilaton field gives rise to a
tower of scalar fields in AdS5 through the decomposition φ(x, y) = Φa (x)Y a (y), where Y a (y)
is a harmonic function on T 1,1 (akin to a spherical harmonic). The masses of the scalar fields
in AdS5 are given by the eigenvalues of the appropriate T 1,1 Laplacian operator. In general,
a tensor field in 10D leads to an AdS5 scalar when all its indices are along T 1,1 . The angular
momentum quantum numbers of the harmonic functions are j, l, r, where j, l = 0, 1/2, 1, 3/2, · · ·
(and are both either integer or half-integer) and r ranges from −2 min(j, l) to 2 min(j, l) in steps
of two.
Now we get to the problem. The fields dual to Ok are a linear combination of the metric
trace δg a a and the 4-form Cabcd with angular momentum quantum
p numbers j = l = k/2 and
2 2
r = k. The mass eigenvalue is L m = H(j, l, r) + 16 − 8 H(j, l, r) + 4, where H(j, l, r) ≡
6[j(j + 1) + l(l + 1) − r2 /8]. Show that the dimension of Ok is still 3k/2 at large ’t Hooft
coupling. (This is actually unsurprising, since Ok is a special type of operator whose dimension
is protected from corrections.)

Solution: 2 2
p The key is that the mass of the AdS5 scalars is given by L m = H(k/2, k/2, k) +
16 − 8 H(k/2, k/2, k) + 4, where H(k/2, k/2, k) = 6[2(k/2)(k/2 + 1) − k 2 /8] = 9k 2 /4 + 6k.
Then we get
r  
2 2 9 2 9 2 9 2 9 2 3 3
L m = k +6k+16−8 k + 6k + 4 = k +6k+16−12k−16 = k −6k = k k−4 .
4 4 4 4 2 2
 The dimension of the dual operator, as we know from our notes, is (in a d-dimensional field
theory/AdSd+1 )
r r
d d2 2 2
9 2 3
∆+ = + +L m =2+ k − 6k + 4 = k .
2 4 4 2
That’s just what we want.

2. Gauge Theory on Branes at an Orientifold

In class, we’ve mentioned that N D-branes located at an orientifold fixed point (for reflection
~x → −~x in the directions orthogonal to the branes) have an SO(2N ) gauge group (for a
standard orientifold). Here, we will confirm this in a couple of ways.
(a) [2 points] First, we recall from class that the orientifold reflection takes a CP matrix
λ → γλT γ −1 . Find the condition on γ due to the fact that two reflections gives the
identity.
Solution: Two reflections takes

λ → γλT γ −1 → γ(γ −1 )T λγ T γ −1 .

Since this must = λ, we find γ T = γ. We already know that γ must be unitary to respect
the CP factor inner product.

(b) [3 points] As it turns out, string oscillators are odd under the orientifold reflection, so the
allowed massless states, including the gauge bosons, must satisfy γλT γ −1 = −λ. In a basis
where γ is the identity, show that exp[iθλ] for some parameter θ is a 2N × 2N orthogonal
matrix, so the gauge bosons are proportional to generators of the orthogonal group.
Solution: In this basis, we have λ = −λT . Therefore, if we say O = exp[iθλ], we know
OT = exp[iθλT ] = exp[−iθλ] = O−1 . Hence O is orthogonal. That means λ is a generator
of SO(2N ), so that’s the gauge group.

(c) [3 points] Alternately, we know that a general symmetry transformation is λ → U λU †

(with U ∈ U (2N )). Using the basis of the previous part, show that the form of λ is
unchanged only if U is orthogonal.
Solution: We know we need λ = −λT , so any remaining symmetry transformation also
requires U λU † = −U ∗ λT U T . Left-multiplying by U † and right-multiplying by U tells us
that U T U = 1 (and the conjugate), which exactly implies that the remaining symmetries
are orthogonal.

3. [12 points] AdS Abelian Higgs 4-Point Function

Consider a CFT with a some complex scalar operator O that carries charge for a conserved
current J µ . The AdS duals of these operators are a complex scalar ψ and a vector AM with
action
Z  
d+1
p 1 MN M M

2 2
S = Sgravity ± d x |g| − FM N F − (∂M ψ − igAM ψ) ∂ ψ̄ + igA ψ̄ − m |ψ| ,
4
(2)

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where the overall sign depends on signature (Lorentzian vs Euclidean). This theory is used
widely in holographic superconductor models.
Write the correlator hŌ(x1 )O(x2 )Ō(x3 )O(x4 )i to order g 2 in terms of the scalar bulk-boundary
and bulk-bulk propagators K(z, x; y) and G(z, x; z 0 , x0 ) respectively and the vector bulk-boundary
and bulk-bulk propagators KM (z, x; y) and GM N (z, x; z 0 , x0 ). Do not substitute forms for the
propagators or attempt to evaluate any bulk integrals. You may also ignore boundary terms
in the action.

Solution: The correlator will be the functional derivative of the action evaluated on-shell with
respect to sources ψ̄0 (x1 ), ψ0 (x2 ), ψ̄0 (x3 ), ψ0 (x4 ). To find this, we start by finding the equations
of motion. We take a small shortcut by defining the covariant derivative Dψ = ∇ψ − igAψ,
since this integrates by parts (in all gauge invariant terms) and follows the product rule, etc,
just like a derivative. Then the equations of motion are
∇N F N M + ig(DM ψ̄)ψ − ig ψ̄DM ψ = 0
D 2 ψ − m2 ψ = 0 .
Integrating by parts and dropping boundary terms gives us (taking the Lorentzian sign for
definiteness)
Z  
p 1
S = · · · + dd+1 x |g| AM ∇N F N M + ψ̄D2 ψ − m2 |ψ|2
2
Z  
d+1
p ig M M


= · · · + d x |g| AM ψ̄D ψ − (D ψ̄)ψ .
2
Next, we recognize that a perturbative solution to the AM equation of motion in the presence
of boundary sources for ψ, ψ̄ (and no vector source) is
Z
AM (z, x) = 0+ig dd+1 x0 |g| GM N (z, x; z 0 , x0 ) ψ̄(z 0 , x0 )DN ψ(z 0 , x0 ) − (DN ψ̄(z 0 , x0 ))ψ(z 0 , x0 ) +· · · ,
p  

where the scalar fields are the classical solutions in the presence of sources
Z
ψ(z , x ) = dd y K(z 0 , x0 ; y)ψ0 (y) + · · ·
0 0

and conjugate. Now we can assemble everything together into the part of the action propor-
tional to ψ̄0 ψ0 ψ̄0 ψ0 ; note that only terms with partial derivatives on ψ in the on-shell action
contribute to this order. Then there are two ways to carry out the functional derivatives, so
we end up with
g2 dzdd x dz 0 dd x0 M N
Z Z
hŌ(x1 )O(x2 )Ō(x3 )O(x4 )i = − G (z, x; z 0 , x0 )
2 z d+1 z 0d+1
 
× K̄(z, x; x1 )∂M K(z, x; x2 ) − K(z, x; x2 )∂M K̄(z, x; x1 )
 
× K̄(z 0 , x0 ; x3 )∂N K(z 0 , x0 ; x4 ) − K(z 0 , x0 ; x4 )∂N K̄(z 0 , x0 ; x3 )
 
+ K̄(z, x; x3 )∂M K(z, x; x2 ) − K(z, x; x2 )∂M K̄(z, x; x3 )
 
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
× K̄(z , x ; x1 )∂N K(z , x ; x4 ) − K(z , x ; x4 )∂N K̄(z , x ; x1 )

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4. The Bulk-Boundary Vector Propagator adapted from McGreevy
Witten (see our reading from hep-th/9802150) gave a clever derivation of the scalar bulk-
boundary propagator in the AdS Poincaré coordinates. In this problem, you will find the
bulk-boundary propagator for a vector field AM in AdS. You may set the AdS scale L = 1 and
work in either signature.
(a) [5 points] Assuming that the vector field in question has the usual Lagrange density
−(1/4)FM N F M N , write the equation of motion for Aµ that is a function of z only. Then
find the solution that vanishes as z → 0 for all values of xµ . Assume that Az = 0 and that
Aµ is proportional to some constant vector µ .
Solution: We saw on assignment 1 that this action can be written as
Z Z
1 d+1
p MN 1
S=− d x |g| FM N F =± F ∧ ?F ,
4 2
with the sign depending on the signature. Either way, the equation of motion in form
language is d ? F = 0. Now, with these conditions, the only non-vanishing compo-
nent is Fzµ = −Fµz = ∂z Aµ . Therefore, the nontrivial component of the EOM is the
(zµ1 · · · µd−1 ) component, which is (up to overall sign)
 
∂z z −(d+1) z 4 νµ1 ···µd−1 ∂z Aν = 0 ,

where  is the flat space antisymmetric tensor. All in all, we have

d−3
∂z2 Aν − ∂ z Aν = 0 .
z
The solution is a power law Aµ ∝ µ z ∆ with ∆ = 0 or ∆ = d−2. Only the second solution
vanishes everywhere at z = 0. This solution is a bit easier if you look at assignment 2.

(b) [10 points] The bulk-boundary propagator for a vector field satisfies the vector equation
of motion at every point xM in the bulk and is ∝ ν δ d (x − y) for z → 0, where y µ is a
specified boundary point and ν is a fixed polarization vector. Your solution from part
(a) is therefore the bulk-boundary propagator when the boundary point is the point at
infinity. Use Witten’s inversion trick and translation invariance in the y µ to find the general
bulk-boundary propagator up to an overall normalization constant for a given polarization
vector ν . Hint: remember that AM is a vector and must transform as such under the
inversion diffeomorphism.

Solution: From the Witten article, a diffeomorphism transforming xM → x̄M , where

xM = x̄M /(ηN P x̄N x̄P ) identifies the point z = ∞ with the boundary origin x̄M = 0,
and it is an isometry of AdS. So, if we carry out this isometry, we need to replace the
functional dependence on z in our previous solution and contract AM (∂xM /∂ x̄N ). On
homework 2, we worked out

∂xM 2x̄M x̄N

 
1 M
= δ − , x̄ · x̄ ≡ ηM N x̄M x̄N , x̄N ≡ ηN P x̄P .
∂ x̄N x̄ · x̄ N x̄ · x̄

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 Therefore, the vector bulk-boundary propagator is (dropping the bar for convenience)
 z d−2 1  2xν xM

ν
KM (z, x; 0) = C δ − ν ,
x·x x·x M x·x

where C is some normalization constant. Due to translation invariance in the boundary

theory, we find the general propagator (written separately for the different components)

z d−1
Kz (z, x; y) = −2C (x − y)λ λ
(z 2 + ηµν (x − y)µ (x − y)ν )d
z d−2 2(x − y)µ (x − y)ν
 
ν
Kµ (z, x; y) = C 2 δµ − 2 ν .
(z + ηµν xµ (x − y)ν )d−1 (z + ηµν (x − y)µ (x − y)ν )

5. Confinement in the AdS Soliton

Consider the so-called AdS soliton geometry, which has metric
dz 2
 
2 1 2 2 4 4 2
ds = 2 −dt + d~x + + (1 − z /z0 )dχ (3)
z 1 − z 4 /z04
in 5D (we have set the AdS scale L = 1). The χ direction must have periodicity πz0 to avoid
a conical singularity at z = z0 , and the geometry ends at z = z0 — no larger values of z exist.
In this problem, we consider the Wilson loop formed by a “quark line” at x = −r/2 and an
“anti-quark line” at x = +r/2, both extending a very large extent T in time. In pure AdS
(1), the value of this Wilson line is ln W = −T V (r) ∝ 1/r, where V is the quark/anti-quark
potential. Calculate the Wilson line in the AdS soliton background by using its dual as the
action of a string worlsheet “hanging” from the line on the boundary, as follows.
(a) [8 points] The Nambu-Goto action for the string worldsheet is
Z p
S = (1/2πα0 ) dτ dσ det gM N ∂a X M ∂b X n (4)

(converting to Euclidean signature). Take the worlsheet directions to be τ = t, σ = x with

z also a function of x. Noting that the t integral is trivial, take x to be a Euclidean time
direction and prove that (∂x z)2 = (z̄ 4 /z 4 − 1)(1 − z 4 /z04 ), where z̄ is the maximum value
of z(x).
Solution: With this configuration, the induced worldsheet metric is
(∂x z)2
 
2 1 2 1
ds = 2 dt + 2 1 + dx2 .
z z 1 − z 4 /z04
The Lagrangian density does not depend on t, so we have
s
(∂x z)2
Z
T 1
S= 0
dx 2 1 + .
2πα z 1 − z 4 /z04
If we treat x as a time coordinate, the Hamiltonian density H is
2πα0 1 1
H =− 2q
T z 1 + (∂x z)
2

1−z 4 /z04

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 and is conserved. Now, at the maximum value z(x) = z̄, we know ∂x z = 0, so −2πα0 H/T =
1/z̄ 2 . Solving, we find (∂x z)2 = (z̄ 4 /z 4 − 1)(1 − z 4 /z04 ).

(b) [8 points] Assume r  z0 . Argue in this case that z̄ ≈ z0 and that z(x) ≈ z̄ except in a
small region of length δx ∼ z0 near x = ±r/2.
Solution: If we integrate the differential equation for z, we get the solution
z(x) z(x)/z̄
y2
Z Z
r dz
x+ = p = z̄ dy p
2 0 (z̄ 4 /z 4 − 1)(1 − z 4 /z04 ) 0 (1 − y 4 )(1 − y 4 z̄ 4 /z04 )

near the left endpoint. (The LHS is r/2 − x with the same RHS near the right endpoint.)
By symmetry, z(x = 0) = z̄, so the above gives us an implicit defintion of z̄ in terms
of r. In particular, when r  z0 ≥ z̄ (since z > z0 does not exist), the y integral with
upper limit of 1 must become very large. We can see in fact that the integral diverges
like − ln(1 − y) near y = 1 when z̄ = z0 , so we see that the integral gets large for z̄ ≈ z0 .
In fact, if we substitute z̄ = z0 in the integral, we can solve it to find
     
δx 1 z(x) 1 z(x) 1 −1 z(x)
= − ln 1 − + ln 1 + − tan .
z̄ 4 z̄ 4 z̄ 2 z̄

Suppose z(x) = 0.99z̄. Then we have in this approximation

δx 1 1 π
≈ ln(10) + ln(2) − ≈ 0.93 ,
z̄ 2 4 8
which means z(x) ≈ z̄ ≈ z0 except in a small region near the endpoints. (I will accept
many variations on that argument, as long as they are sound.)
(c) [8 points] Using the previous two parts of the problem, show that the quark/anti-quark
potential is given approximately by r/2πα0 z02 (once it is appropriately renormalized). This
is what we expect in a confining phase of a gauge theory. Hint: Having a good physical
idea of the shape of the string worldsheet is important, so sketch it if you need to.
Solution: The conserved quantity we found lets us write
s
(∂x z)2 z̄ 2
1+ = ,
1 − z 4 /z04 z2

so we can write
z̄ 2
Z
1
V (r) = S/T = dx .
2πα0 z4
To renormalize this potential, we are supposed to subtract off the action of the worldsheets
with x = ±r/2 constant for all values of z. On the other hand, we have learned from
the second part of the problem that the extremal worldsheet hanging from the Wilson
line goes from z = 0 to ∼ z0 very quickly at the endpoints and is basically constant
in between. Therefore, to a good approximation, the Wilson line is composed of the
two “constant x” worldsheet segments connected by a segment at constant z = z0 for
−r/2 < x < r/2 (ie, two vertical parts and a horizontal part). The renormalization just
subtracts the divergent “vertical” parts. This leaves V (r) ∼ r/2πα0 z02 .

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