$T\bar{T}$-like Flows in Non-linear Electrodynamic Theories and S-duality

Abstract

We investigate the $T\bar{T}$-like flows for non-linear electrodynamic theories in $D(=2n)$-dimensional spacetime. Our analysis is restricted to the deformation problem of the classical free action by employing the proposed $T\bar{T}$ operator from a simple integration technique. We show that this flow equation is compatible with $T\bar{T}$ deformation of a scalar field theory in $D=2$ and of a non-linear Born-Infeld type theory in $D=4$ dimensions. However, our computation discloses that this kind of $T\bar{T}$ flow in higher dimensions is essentially different from deformation that has been derived from the AdS/CFT interpretations. Indeed, the gravity that may be exist as a holographic dual theory of this kind of effective Born-Infeld action is not necessarily an AdS space. As an illustrative investigation in $D=4$, we shall also show that our construction for the $T\bar{T}$ operator preserves the original $SL(2,R)$ symmetry of a non-supersymmetric Born-Infeld theory, as well as $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric model. It is shown that the corresponding $SL(2,R)$ invariant action fixes the relationship between the $T\bar{T}$ operator and quadratic form of the energy-momentum tensor in $D=4$.

24 pages, Minor corrections and new references, Accepted for publication in JHEP