We give a procedure for deriving certain bulk $S$-matrix elements from corresponding boundary correlators. These are computed in the plane-wave limit, via an explicit construction of certain boundary sources that give bulk wave packets. A critical role is played by a specific singular behavior of the Lorentzian boundary correlators. It is shown in examples how correlators derived from the bulk supergravity exhibit the appropriate singular structure, and reproduce the corresponding $S$-matrix elements. This construction thus provides a nontrivial test for whether a given boundary conformal field theory can reproduce bulk physics, and where it does, supplies a prescription to extract bulk $S$-matrix elements in the plane-wave limit.

• Received 15 July 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.80.085005