Semi-classical central charge in topologically massive gravity

Abstract

It is shown that the warped black holes geometries discussed recently in 0807.3040 admit an algebra of asymptotic symmetries isomorphic to the semi-direct product of a Virasoro algebra and an algebra of currents. The realization of this asymptotic symmetry by canonical charges allows one to find the central charge of the Virasoro algebra. The right-moving central charge $c_R = \frac{(5\hat{\nu}^2+3)l}{G\hat{\nu} (\hat{\nu}^2+3)}$ is obtained when the Virasoro generators are normalized in order to have a positive zero mode spectrum for the warped black holes. The current algebra is also shown to be centrally-extended.