Covariant Phase Space Research Articles

Symmetries and charges of general relativity at null boundaries

We study general relativity at a null boundary using the covariant phase space formalism. We define a covariant phase space and compute the algebra of symmetries at the null boundary by considering the boundary-preserving diffeomorphisms that preserve this phase space. This algebra is the semi-direct sum of diffeomorphisms on the two sphere and a nonabelian algebra of supertranslations that has some similarities to supertranslations at null infinity. By using the general prescription developed by Wald and Zoupas, we derive the localized charges of this algebra at cross sections of the null surface as well as the associated fluxes. Our analysis is covariant and applies to general non-stationary null surfaces. We also derive the global charges that generate the symmetries for event horizons, and show that these obey the same algebra as the linearized diffeomorphisms, without any central extension. Our results show that supertranslations play an important role not just at null infinity but at all null boundaries, including non-stationary event horizons. They should facilitate further investigations of whether horizon symmetries and conservation laws in black hole spacetimes play a role in the information loss problem, as suggested by Hawking, Perry, and Strominger.

Remarks on entanglement entropy in string theory

Entanglement entropy for spatial subregions is difficult to define in string theory because of the extended nature of strings. Here we propose a definition for Bosonic open strings using the framework of string field theory. The key difference (compared to ordinary quantum field theory) is that the subregion is chosen inside a Cauchy surface in the "space of open string configurations". We first present a simple calculation of this entanglement entropy in free light-cone string field theory, ignoring subtleties related to the factorization of the Hilbert space. We reproduce the answer expected from an effective field theory point of view, namely a sum over the one-loop entanglement entropies corresponding to all the particle-excitations of the string, and further show that the full string theory regulates the ultraviolet divergences in the entanglement entropy. We then revisit the question of factorization of the Hilbert space by analyzing the covariant phase-space associated with a subregion in Witten's covariant string field theory. We show that the pure gauge (i.e., BRST exact) modes in the string field become dynamical at the entanglement cut. Thus, a proper definition of the entropy must involve an extended Hilbert space, with new stringy edge modes localized at the entanglement cut.

On propagation of energy flux in de Sitter spacetime

In this paper, we explore propagation of energy flux in the future Poincar\'e patch of de Sitter spacetime. We present two results. First, we compute the flux integral of energy using the symplectic current density of the covariant phase space approach on hypersurfaces of constant radial physical distance. Using this computation we show that in the tt-projection, the integrand in the energy flux expression on the cosmological horizon is same as that on the future null infinity. This suggests that propagation of energy flux in de Sitter spacetime is sharp. Second, we relate our energy flux expression in tt-projection to a previously obtained expression using the Isaacson stress-tensor approach. We also comment on the energy flux computation in TT-gauge on hypersurfaces of constant radial physical distance.

Black Hole Entropy from Bondi-Metzner-Sachs Symmetry at the Horizon.

Near the horizon, the obvious symmetries of a black hole spacetime-the horizon-preserving diffeomorphisms-are enhanced to a larger symmetry group with a three-dimensional Bondi-Metzner-Sachs algebra. Using dimensional reduction and covariant phase space techniques, I investigate this augmented symmetry and show that it is strong enough to determine the black hole entropy in any dimension.

Thermodynamics of regular accelerating black holes

Using the covariant phase space formalism, we compute the conserved charges for a solution, describing an accelerating and electrically charged Reissner-Nordstrom black hole. The metric is regular provided that the acceleration is driven by an external electric field, in spite of the usual string of the standard C-metric. The Smarr formula and the first law of black hole thermodynamics are fulfilled. The resulting mass has the same form of the Christodoulou-Ruffini mass formula. On the basis of these results, we can extrapolate the mass and thermodynamics of the rotating C-metric, which describes a Kerr-Newman-(A)dS black hole accelerated by a pulling string.

Black hole thermodynamics, stringy dualities and double field theory

We discuss black hole thermodynamics in the manifestly duality invariant formalism of double field theory (DFT). We reformulate and prove the first law of black hole thermodynamics in DFT, using the covariant phase space approach. After splitting the full O(D, D) invariant DFT into a Kaluza–Klein-inspired form where only n coordinates are doubled, our results provide explicit duality invariant mass and entropy formulas. We illustrate how this works by discussing the black string solution and its T-duals.

Revisiting conserved charges in higher curvature gravitational theories

Restricting the covariant gravitational phase spaces to the manifold of parametrized families of solutions, the mass, angular momenta, entropies, and electric charges can be calculated by a single and simple method. In this method, which has been called "solution phase space method," conserved charges are unambiguous and regular. Moreover, assuming the generators of the charges to be exact symmetries, entropies and other conserved charges can be calculated on almost arbitrary surfaces, not necessarily horizons or asymptotics. Hence, the first law of thermodynamics would be a local identity relating the exact symmetries to which the mass, angular momentum, electric charge, and entropy are attributed. In this paper, we apply this powerful method to the $f(R)$ gravitational theories accompanied by the terms quadratic in the Riemann and Ricci tensors. Furthermore, conserved charges and the first law of thermodynamics for some of their black hole solutions are exemplified. The examples include warped AdS$_3$, charged static BTZ, and 3-dimensional $z=3$ Lifshitz black holes.

Moment map and gauge geometric aspects of the Schrödinger and Pauli equations

In this paper we discuss various geometric aspects related to the Schrödinger and the Pauli equations. First we resume the Madelung–Bohm hydrodynamical approach to quantum mechanics and recall the Hamiltonian structure of the Schrödinger equation. The probability current provides an equivariant moment map for the group [Formula: see text] of volume-preserving diffeomorphisms of [Formula: see text] (rapidly approaching the identity at infinity) and leads to a current algebra of Rasetti–Regge type. The moment map picture is then extended, mutatis mutandis, to the Pauli equation and to generalized Schrödinger equations of the Pauli–Thomas type. A gauge theoretical reinterpretation of all equations is obtained via the introduction of suitable Maurer–Cartan gauge fields and it is then related to Weyl geometric and pilot wave ideas. A general framework accommodating Aharonov–Bohm and Aharonov–Casher effects is presented within the gauge approach. Furthermore, a kind of holomorphic geometric quantization can be performed and yields natural “coherent state” representations of [Formula: see text]. The relationship with the covariant phase space and density manifold approaches is then outlined. Comments on possible extensions to nonlinear Schrödinger equations, on Fisher-information theoretic aspects and on stochastic mechanics are finally made.

Solution phase space and conserved charges: A general formulation for charges associated with exact symmetries

We provide a general formulation for calculating conserved charges for solutions to generally covariant gravitational theories with possibly other internal gauge symmetries, in any dimensions and with generic asymptotic behaviors. These solutions are generically specified by a number of exact (continuous, global) symmetries and some parameters. We define "parametric variations" as field perturbations generated by variations of the solution parameters. Employing the covariant phase space method, we establish that the set of these solutions (up to pure gauge transformations) form a phase space, the \emph{solution phase space}, and that the tangent space of this phase space includes the parametric variations. We then compute conserved charge variations associated with the exact symmetries of the family of solutions, caused by parametric variations. Integrating the charge variations over a path in the solution phase space, we define the conserved charges. In particular, we revisit "black hole entropy as a conserved charge" and the derivation of the first law of black hole thermodynamics. We show that the solution phase space setting enables us to define black hole entropy by an integration over any compact, codminesion-2, smooth spacelike surface encircling the hole, as well as to a natural generalization of Wald and Iyer-Wald analysis to cases involving gauge fields.

κ-deformed covariant quantum phase spaces as Hopf algebroids

We consider the general D=4(10+10)-dimensional κ-deformed quantum phase space as given by Heisenberg double H of D=4κ-deformed Poincaré–Hopf algebra H. The standard (4+4)-dimensional κ-deformed covariant quantum phase space spanned by κ-deformed Minkowski coordinates and commuting momenta generators (xˆμ,pˆμ) is obtained as the subalgebra of H. We study further the property that Heisenberg double defines particular quantum spaces with Hopf algebroid structure. We calculate by using purely algebraic methods the explicit Hopf algebroid structure of standard κ-deformed quantum covariant phase space in Majid–Ruegg bicrossproduct basis. The coproducts for Hopf algebroids are not unique, determined modulo the coproduct gauge freedom. Finally we consider the interpretation of the algebraic description of quantum phase spaces as Hopf algebroids.

The gravitational Hamiltonian, first order action, Poincaré charges and surface terms

We consider the issue of attaining a consistent Hamiltonian formulation, after a 3+1 splitting, of a well-defined action principle for asymptotically flat gravity. More precisely, our starting point is the gravitational first order Holst action with surface terms and fall off conditions that make the variational principle and the covariant phase space formulation well-defined for asymptotically flat spacetimes. Keeping all surface terms and paying due attention to subtleties that arise from the different cut-offs at infinity, we give a derivation of the gravitational Hamiltonian starting from this action. The 3+1 decomposition and time gauge fixing results in a well-defined Hamiltonian action and a well-defined Hamiltonian formulation for the standard—and more general—asymptotic ADM conditions. Unlike the case of the Einstein–Hilbert action with Gibbons–Hawking–York or Hawking–Horowitz terms, here we do recover the ADM energy momentum from the covariant surface term also when more general variations respecting asymptotic flatness are allowed. Additionally, our strategy yields a derivation of the parity conditions for connection variables independent of the conditions given by Regge and Teitelboim for ADM variables. Finally, we exhibit the other Poincaré generators in terms of real Ashtekar–Barbero variables. We complement previous constructions in self-dual variables by pointing out several subtleties and refining the argument showing that—on shell—they coincide with the ADM charges. Our results represent the first consistent treatment of the Hamiltonian formulation for the connection-tetrad gravitational degrees of freedom, starting from a well posed action, in the case of asymptotically flat boundary conditions.

Gauge-covariant extensions of Killing tensors and conservation laws

In classical and quantum mechanical systems on manifolds with gauge-field fluxes, constants of motion are constructed from gauge-covariant extensions of Killing vectors and tensors. This construction can be carried out using a manifestly covariant procedure, in terms of covariant phase space with a covariant generalization of the Poisson brackets, c.q. quantum commutators. Some examples of this construction are presented.

Notes on the BMS group in three dimensions: II. Coadjoint representation

The coadjoint representation of the BMS$_3$ group, which governs the covariant phase space of three-dimensional asymptotically flat gravity, is investigated. In particular, we classify coadjoint BMS$_3$ orbits and show that intrinsic angular momentum is free of supertranslation ambiguities. Finally, the link with induced representations upon geometric quantization is discussed.

Multisymplectic formulation of Yang–Mills equations and Ehresmann connections

We present a multisymplectic formulation of the Yang- Mills equations. The connections are represented by normalized equivariant 1-forms on the total space of a principal bundle, with values in a Lie alge- bra. Within the multisymplectic framework we realize that, under reasonable hypotheses, it is not necessary to assume the equivariance condition a priori, since this condition is a consequence of the dynamical equations. The motivation of the following work was at first to provide a Hamiltonian formulation of the Yang-Mills system of equations which would be as much covariant as possible. This means that we look for a formulation which does not depend on choices of space-time coordinates nor on the trivialization of the principal bundle. Among all possible frameworks (covariant phase space, etc.) we favor the multisymplectic formalism which takes automatically into account the locality of fields theories. Following this approach we have been led to discover a new variational formulation of the Yang-Mills equations with nice geometrical features. The origin of the multisymplectic formalism goes back to the discovery by V. Volterra in 1890 (28, 28) of generalizations of the Hamilton equations for variational problems with several variables. These ideas were first developped mainly around 1930 (4, 7, 30, 24) and in 1950 (6). After 1968 this theory was geometrized in a way analogous to the construction of symplectic geometry by several mathematical physicists (10, 12, 23) and in particular by a group

Quasilocal conserved charges and holography

We construct a quasi-local formalism for conserved charges in a theory of gravity in the presence of matter fields which may have slow falloff behaviors at the asymptotic infinity. This construction depends only on equations of motion and so it is irrespective of ambiguities in the total derivatives of the Lagrangian. By using identically conserved currents, we show that this formalism leads to the same expressions of conserved charges as those in the covariant phase space approach. At the boundary of the asymptotic AdS space, we also introduce an identically conserved boundary current which has the same structure as the bulk current and then show that this boundary current gives us the holographic conserved charges identical with those from the boundary stress tensor method. In our quasi-local formalism we present a general proof that conserved charges from the bulk potential are identical with those from the boundary current. Our results can be regarded as the extension of the existing results on the equivalence of conserved charges by the covariant phase space approach and by the boundary stress tensor method.

Holographic positive energy theorems in three-dimensional gravity

The covariant phase space of three-dimensional asymptotically flat and anti-de Sitter gravity is controlled by well-understood coadjoint orbits of the Virasoro group. Detailed knowledge on the behavior of the energy functional on these orbits can be used to discuss positive energy theorems.

Covariant phase space, constraints, gauge and the Peierls formula

It is well known that both the symplectic structure and the Poisson brackets of classical field theory can be constructed directly from the Lagrangian in a covariant way, without passing through the noncovariant canonical Hamiltonian formalism. This is true even in the presence of constraints and gauge symmetries. These constructions go under the names of the covariant phase space formalism and the Peierls bracket. We review both of them, paying more careful attention, than usual, to the precise mathematical hypotheses that they require, illustrating them in examples. Also an extensive historical overview of the development of these constructions is provided. The novel aspect of our presentation is a significant expansion and generalization of an elegant and quite recent argument by Forger and Romero showing the equivalence between the resulting symplectic and Poisson structures without passing through the canonical Hamiltonian formalism as an intermediary. We generalize it to cover theories with constraints and gauge symmetries and formulate precise sufficient conditions under which the argument holds. These conditions include a local condition on the equations of motion that we call hyperbolizability, and some global conditions of cohomological nature. The details of our presentation may shed some light on subtle questions related to the Poisson structure of gauge theories and their quantization.

Tasks and premises in quantum state determination

The purpose of quantum tomography is to determine an unknown quantum state from measurement outcome statistics. There are two obvious ways to generalize this setting. First, our task need not be the determination of any possible input state but only some input states, for instance pure states. Second, we may have some prior information, or premise, which guarantees that the input state belongs to some subset of states, for instance the set of states with rank less than half of the dimension of the Hilbert space. We investigate state determination under these two supplemental features, concentrating on the cases where the task and the premise are statements about the rank of the unknown state. We characterize the structure of quantum observables (positive operator valued measures) that are capable of fulfilling these type of determination tasks. After the general treatment we focus on the class of covariant phase space observables, thus providing physically relevant examples of observables both capable and incapable of performing these tasks. In this context, the effect of noise is discussed.

Hamiltonian dynamics of an exotic action for gravity in three dimensions

The Hamiltonian dynamics and the canonical covariant formalism for an exotic action in three dimensions are performed. By working with the complete phase space, we report a complete Hamiltonian description of the theory such as the extended action, the extended Hamiltonian, the algebra among the constraints, the Dirac’s brackets and the correct gauge transformations. In addition, we show that in spite of exotic action and tetrad gravity with a cosmological constant give rise to the same equations of motion, they are not equivalent, in fact, we show that their corresponding Dirac’s brackets are quite different. Finally, we construct a gauge invariant symplectic form which in turn represents a complete Hamiltonian description of the covariant phase space.

Realisation of a Lorentz algebra in Lorentz violating theory

A Lorentz non-invariant higher derivative effective action in flat spacetime, characterised by a constant vector, can be made invariant under infinitesimal Lorentz transformations by restricting the allowed field configurations. These restricted fields are defined as functions of the background vector in such a way that background dependance of the dynamics of the physical system is no longer manifest. We show here that they also provide a field basis for the realisation of Lorentz algebra and allow the construction of a Poincar\'e invariant symplectic two form on the covariant phase space of the theory.