A note on holographic Ward identities

In this note we show how Ward identities may be derived for a quantum field theory dual of a string theory using the AdS/CFT correspondence. In partic ular associated with any gauge symmetry of the bulk supergravity theory the re is a corresponding constraint equation. Writing this constraint in Hamil ton -Jacobi form gives a generating functional for Ward identities in the d ual QFT. We illustrate the method by considering various examples. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.