The Constraint Algebra of Topologically Massive AdS Gravity

Abstract

Three-dimensional topologically massive AdS gravity has a complicated constraint algebra, making it difficult to count nonperturbative degrees of freedom. I show that a new choice of variables greatly simplifies this algebra, and confirm that the theory contains a single propagating mode for all values of the mass parameter and the cosmological constant. As an added benefit, I rederive the central charges and conformal weights of the boundary conformal field theory from an explicit analysis of the asymptotic algebra of constraints.

18 pages; v2: new section on chirality of boundary theory, some minor clarifications and corrected typos, should roughly agree with version to appear in JHEP