We investigate aspects of holographic duals to time-like warped AdS_3 space-times--which include Gödel's universe--in string theory. Using worldsheet techniques similar to those that have been applied to AdS_3 backgrounds, we are able to identify space-time symmetry algebras that act on the dual boundary theory. In particular, we always find at least one Virasoro algebra with computable central charge. Interestingly, there exists a dense set of points in the moduli space of these models in which there is actually a second commuting Virasoro algebra, typically with different central charge than the first. We analyze the supersymmetry of the backgrounds, finding related enhancements, and comment on possible interpretations of these results. We also perform an asymptotic symmetry analysis at the level of supergravity, providing additional support for the worldsheet analysis.

We establish that boundary degrees of freedom associated with a generic codimension one null surface in D-dimensional pure Einstein gravity naturally admit a thermodynamical description. We expect the null surface thermodynamics to universally follow as a result of the diffeomorphism invariance of the theory, not relying on other special features of the null surface or the gravity theory. Using standard surface charge analysis and covariant phase-space method, we formulate laws of null surface thermodynamics which are local equations over an arbitrary null surface paralleling local versions of the zeroth- and first laws and the Gibbs-Duhem equation. This thermodynamical system is generally an open system and can be closed only when there is no flux of gravitons through the null surface. Our analysis extends the usual black hole thermodynamics to a universal feature of any area element on a generic null surface. We discuss the relevance of our study for the membrane paradigm and black hole microstates.

We propose a renormalization group flow with emergent supersymmetry in two dimensions from a non-Lagrangian theory. The ultraviolet theory does not have supersymmetry while the infrared theory does. The flow is constrained analytically by topological defect lines including a new spin constraint, and further supported by numerics from the truncated conformal space approach.

In this paper, we extend our previous work to construct (0, 2) Toda-like mirrors to A/2-twisted theories on more general spaces, as part of a program of understanding (0,2) mirror symmetry. Specifically, we propose (0, 2) mirrors to GLSMs on toric del Pezzo surfaces and Hirzebruch surfaces with deformations of the tangent bundle. We check the results by comparing correlation functions, global symmetries, as well as geometric blowdowns with the corresponding (0, 2) Toda-like mirrors. We also briefly discuss Grassmannian manifolds.

In the past decade, tremendous efforts have been made towards understanding fermionic symmetry protected topological (FSPT) phases in interacting systems. Nevertheless, for systems with continuum symmetry, e.g., electronic insulators, it is still unclear how to construct an exactly solvable model with a finite dimensional Hilbert space in general. In this paper, we give a lattice model construction and classification for 2D interacting electronic insulators. Based on the physical picture of U(1)_f-charge decorations, we illustrate the key idea by considering the well known 2D interacting topological insulator. Then we generalize our construction to an arbitrary 2D interacting electronic insulator with symmetry Gf=U(1)_f ⋊_{ρ_1,ω_2} G, where U(1)_f is the charge conservation symmetry and ρ_1,ω_2 are additional data which fully characterize the group structure of G_f. Finally we study more examples, including the full interacting classification of 2D crystalline topological insulators.