Strings on warped AdS$_3$ via $T\bar{J}$ deformations

Abstract

We study a toy model of the Kerr/CFT correspondence using string theory on AdS$_3 \times S^3$. We propose a single trace irrelevant deformation of the dual CFT generated by a vertex operator with spacetime dimensions (2,1). This operator shares the same quantum numbers as the integrable $T\bar{J}$ deformation of two-dimensional CFTs where $\bar{J}$ is a chiral $U(1)$ current. We show that the deformation is marginal on the worldsheet and that the target spacetime is deformed to null warped AdS$_3$ upon dimensional reduction. We also calculate the spectrum of the deformed theory on the cylinder and compare it to the field theory analysis of $T\bar{J}$-deformed CFTs.

17 pages; v2: typos corrected and references added; v3: minor improvements, clarifications and references added, matches published version