Penrose limit of MNa solution and spin chains in three-dimensional field theories

Abstract

In three dimensions, a theory with spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry was described holographically by the Maldacena-Nastase (MNa) solution. We revisit the issue of its Penrose limit, and compare the resulting pp wave and its string eigenstates to a sector of the theory on 5-branes reduced on S3, and a spin chain-like system. We obtain many of the features of the pp wave analysis, but a complete matching still eludes us. We suggest possible explanations for the resulting partial mismatch, and compare against other spin chains for 3-dimensional field theories with gravity duals.