Correlation functions in theories with Lifshitz scaling

• Published in: Journal of High Energy Physics
• Main Authors: Keränen, Ville, Sybesma, Watse, Szepietowski, Phillip, Thorlacius, Larus
• Other Authors: Raunvísindastofnun (HÍ), Science Institute (UI), Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ), School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI), Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Nature 2017
• Subjects: AdS-CFT correspondence; Conformal field theory; Holography; Condensed matter physics; Skammtafræði; Svarthol (stjörnufræði); Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/325; https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP05(2017)033

The 2+1 dimensional quantum Lifshitz model can be generalised to a class of higher dimensional free field theories that exhibit Lifshitz scaling. When the dynamical critical exponent equals the number of spatial dimensions, equal time correlation functions of scaling operators in the generalised quantum Lifshitz model are given by a d-dimensional higher-derivative conformal field theory. Autocorrelation functions in the generalised quantum Lifshitz model in any number of dimensions can on the other hand be expressed in terms of autocorrelation functions of a two-dimensional conformal field theory. This also holds for autocorrelation functions in a strongly coupled Lifshitz field theory with a holographic dual of Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton type. The map to a two-dimensional conformal field theory extends to autocorrelation functions in thermal states and out-of-equilbrium states preserving symmetry under spatial translations and rotations in both types of Lifshitz models. Furthermore, the spectrum of quasinormal modes of scalar field perturbations in Lifshitz black hole backgrounds can be obtained analytically at low spatial momenta and exhibits a linear dispersion relation at z = d. At high momentum, the mode spectrum can be obtained in a WKB approximation and displays very different behaviour compared to holographic duals of conformal field theories. This has implications for thermalisation in strongly coupled Lifshitz field theories with z > 1. Icelandic Research Fund grant 163422-051 University of Iceland Research Fund Swedish Research Council 621-2014-5838 Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) under the VICI grant 680-47-603 Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) Peer Reviewed