Gauss-Bonnet correction to the R -current correlator in N=4 theory at strong coupling

We consider higher-curvature corrections to the R-current correlator by studying the propagation of a U(1) field in Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity with a negative cosmological constant. We numerically solve the Maxwell equations and plot an R-current spectral function with lightlike momenta, which contains pivotal information of thermal photon emission. We also analytically compute the R-current correlator in the long-distance limit by using the holographic membrane paradigm. In the high-energy regime, the inelastic scattering between R-current and gauge theory plasma is expected to happen, which will reveal the structure of the plasma at strong coupling. It turns out that the Gauss-Bonnet correction effectively rescales all physical quantities considered here by some functions of the Gauss-Bonnet coefficient. In particular, the Gauss-Bonnet terms will enhance or weaken signatures calculated here in accordance with the sign of the Gauss-Bonnet coefficient.