Lifshitz Holography with Isotropic Scale Invariance

Abstract

Is it possible for an anisotropic Lifshitz critical point to actually exhibit isotropic conformal invariance? We answer this question in the affirmative by constructing a concrete holographic realization. We study three-dimensional spin-3 higher-spin gauge theory with a z=2 Lifshitz ground state with non-trivial spin-3 background. We provide consistent boundary conditions and determine the associated asymptotic symmetry algebra. Surprisingly, we find that the algebra consists of two copies of the W_3 extended conformal algebra, which is the extended conformal algebra of an isotropic critical system. Moreover, the central charges are given by 3l/(2G). We consider the possible geometric interpretation of the theory in light of the higher spin gauge invariance and remark on the implications of the asymptotic symmetry analysis.

19 pp; v2: minor edits, new refs; v3: added footnote, minor rewordings, to appear in JHEP

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• Asymptotic symmetries of three-dimensional gravity coupled to higher-spin fields
• Nonlinear W(infinity) Algebra as Asymptotic Symmetry of Three-Dimensional Higher Spin Anti-de Sitter Gravity
• Topological Order and Conformal Quantum Critical Points
• Non-relativistic holography
• AdS and Lifshitz Black Holes in Conformal and Einstein-Weyl Gravities
• Lifshitz Gravity for Lifshitz Holography
• Pathologies in Asymptotically Lifshitz Spacetimes