On the supergravity description of non-critical string theories

We revisit the old question of how to use supergravity to study holography in the context of non-critical string theories. Focusing on supersymmetric string theories in 6(+2) dimensions, we find a 7d two-derivative supergravity which approximates the dynamics of the theory in a certain regime, providing a precise matching of the spectrum at the lowest level on a linear dilaton background. We then proceed to study supersymmetric solutions in supergravity, which conjecturally represent configurations of D-branes of the non-critical string theory and are dual to 3d and 4d gauge theories with eight supercharges. The talk is based on work in progress with Leonardo Rastelli and Andrea Dei.