Dilaton Gravity Theories Research Articles

Quantum gravity of the Heisenberg algebra

We consider a simplified model of double scaled SYK (DSSYK) in which the Hamiltonian is the position operator of the Harmonic oscillator. This model captures the high temperature limit of DSSYK but could also be defined as a quantum theory in its own right. We study properties of the emergent geometry including its dynamics in response to inserting matter particles. In particular, we find that the model displays de Sitter-like properties such as that infalling matter reduces the rate of growth of geodesic slices between the two boundaries. The simplicity of the model allows us to compute the full generating functional for correlation functions of the length mode or any number of matter operators. We provide evidence that the effective action of the geodesic length between boundary points is non-local. Furthermore, we use the on-shell solution for the geodesic lengths between any two boundary points to reconstruct an effective bulk metric and reverse engineer the dilaton gravity theory that generates this metric as a solution.

Island formula from Wald-like entropy with backreaction

We propose a Lorentzian derivation of the generalized entropy associated with the island formula for black holes as a Wald-like entropy without reference to the exterior non-gravitating region or field-theoretic von Neumann entropy of Hawking radiation in a fixed curved spacetime background. We illustrate this idea by studying two-dimensional black holes in the Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity and the Russo-Susskind-Thorlacius model in which Hawking radiation is represented by conformal scalars. With some prescriptions assumed, we show that the generalized entropy for the island formula can be reproduced as the Wald-like entropy of the two-dimensional dilaton-gravity theories upon the inclusion of the backreaction from Hawking radiation described by conformal anomaly. We give a discussion on how a similar idea can be applied to higher-dimensional black holes. It is emphasized that the generalized entropy is obtained in a fully gravitational fashion, yet it yields the same Page curve as that of the half-gravitational set-up. We argue that the results in this paper exacerbate the issues raised in the work of massive islands and inconsistency of islands in theories of long-range gravity.

Islands in Generalized Dilaton Theories

This work systematically studies the island formula in the general asymptotically flat eternal black holes in generalized dilaton gravity theories or higher-dimensional spherical black holes. Under some reasonable and mild assumptions, we prove that (the boundary of) the island always appears barely outside the horizon in the late time of Hawking radiation, so the information paradox is resolved. In particular, we find a proper island in the Liouville black hole that solves the previous the puzzle.

An integrable road to a perturbative plateau

As has been known since the 90s, there is an integrable structure underlying two-dimensional gravity theories. Recently, two-dimensional gravity theories have regained an enormous amount of attention, but now in relation with quantum chaos — superficially nothing like integrability. In this paper, we return to the roots and exploit the integrable structure underlying dilaton gravity theories to study a late time, large eSBH double scaled limit of the spectral form factor. In this limit, a novel cancellation due to the integrable structure ensures that at each genus g the spectral form factor grows like T2g+1, and that the sum over genera converges, realising a perturbative approach to the late-time plateau. Along the way, we clarify various aspects of this integrable structure. In particular, we explain the central role played by ribbon graphs, we discuss intersection theory, and we explain what the relations with dilaton gravity and matrix models are from a more modern holographic perspective.

A Matrix Model for Flat Space Quantum Gravity

We take a step towards the non-perturbative description of a two-dimensional dilaton-gravity theory which has a vanishing cosmological constant and contains black holes. This is done in terms of a double-scaled Hermitian random matrix model which non-perturbatively computes the partition function for the asymptotic Bondi Hamiltonian. To arrive at this connection we first construct the gauge-invariant asymptotic phase space of the theory and determine the relevant asymptotic boundary conditions, compute the classical S-matrix and, finally, shed light on the interpretation of the Euclidean path integral defined in previous works. We then construct a matrix model that matches the topological expansion of the latter, to all orders. This allows us to compute the fine-grained Bondi spectrum and other late time observables and to construct asymptotic Hilbert spaces. We further study aspects of the semi-classical dynamics of the finite cut-off theory coupled to probe matter and find evidence of maximally chaotic behavior in out-of-time-order correlators. We conclude with a strategy for constructing the non-perturbative S-matrix for our model coupled to probe matter and comment on the treatment of black holes in celestial holography.

Entanglement islands in generalized two-dimensional dilaton black holes

The Fabbri--Russo model is a generalized model of a two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory with various parameters ``$n$'' describing various specific gravities. Particularly, the Russo--Susskind--Thorlacius gravity model fits the case $n=1$. In the Fabbri--Russo model, we investigate Page curves and the entanglement island. Islands are considered in eternal and evaporating black holes. Surprisingly, in any black hole, the emergence of islands causes the rise of the entanglement entropy of the radiation to decelerate after the Page time, satisfying the principle of unitarity. For eternal black holes, the fine-grained entropy reaches a saturation value that is twice the Bekenstein--Hawking entropy. For evaporating black holes, the fine-grained entropy finally reaches zero. At late times and large distance limit, the impact of the parameter ``$n$'' is a subleading term and is exponentially suppressed. As a result, the shape of Page curves is ``$n$'' independent in the leading order, which also indicates the universality of the Page curve in generalized two-dimensional models. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between islands and firewalls. We show that the island is a better candidate than firewalls for encountering the quantum entanglement-monogamy problem. Finally, we briefly review the gravity/ensemble duality as a possible resolution to the state paradox resulting from the island formula.

Alpha states demystified — towards microscopic models of AdS2 holography

We continue our study of factorizing theories of dilaton gravity, characterized by a universal bilocal interaction. All such factorizing theories can be shown to have discrete spectra, distinguished only by their local dilaton potentials. We show how such theories can be used to construct all alpha-states in the Hilbert space of baby universes of ordinary JT gravity. Large classes of these theories with different local potentials are found to be non-perturbatively equivalent and have identical discrete spectra. This is a concrete example of how different bulk descriptions can give rise to the same boundary theory. Such equivalences manifest themselves as null states, which have to be quotiented out in order to construct a proper baby universe Hilbert space. Our results also allow us to revisit the mechanism discussed by Coleman, Giddings and Strominger and concretely link ensemble averaging to the appearance or disappearance of spacetime wormholes.We then investigate JT gravity deformed only by the universal bilocal interaction. In this theory, the only terms that do not cancel in a topological expansion are disks, which capture perturbative fluctuations around a two-dimensional black hole saddle. We find that this theory of black holes has an evenly spaced spectrum, instead of a quantum chaotic one. We present a dual quantum mechanical system with exactly the same discrete spectrum, and propose that this is an example of a new holographic duality between a two-dimensional theory of quantum gravity and a conventional quantum mechanics.

Microcanonical action and the entropy of Hawking radiation

The island formula---an extremization prescription for generalized entropy---is known to result in a unitary Page curve for the entropy of Hawking radiation. This semiclassical entropy formula has been derived for Jackiw-Teitelboim (JT) gravity coupled to conformal matter using the ``replica trick'' to evaluate the Euclidean path integral. Alternatively, for eternal Anti--de Sitter black holes, we derive the extremization of generalized entropy from minimizing the microcanonical action of an entanglement wedge. The on-shell action is minus the entropy and arises in the saddle-point approximation of the (nonreplicated) microcanonical path integral. When the black hole is coupled to a bath, islands emerge from maximizing the entropy at fixed energy, consistent with the island formula. Our method applies to JT gravity as well as other two-dimensional dilaton gravity theories.

Normal modes for two-dimensional gravitating kinks

We study small perturbations around an arbitrary static kink solution of a two-dimensional (2D) gravity-scalar system, where the gravity part is described by a subclass of 2D dilaton gravity theory, and the scalar matter field has generalized dynamics. We expand the action around an arbitrary static solution and keep terms up to the second order of the perturbations. After variation the linear-order action leads to background field equations, as expected. The quadratic action of the normal modes are obtained after fixing the gauge and using the constraint equation. The linear perturbation equations obtained from the quadratic action are consistent with those obtained by linearizing the field equations under the dilaton gauge. All the calculations are assisted by a Mathematica code, which is also provided as a supplementary material.

Islands in multiverse models

We consider multiverse models in two-dimensional linear dilaton-gravity theories as toy models of false vacuum eternal inflation. Coupling conformal matter we calculate the Von Neumann entropy of subregions. When these are sufficiently large we find that an island develops covering most of the rest of the multiverse, leading to a Page-like transition. This resonates with a description of multiverse models in semiclassical quantum cosmology, where a measure for local predictions is given by saddle point geometries which coarse-grain over any structure associated with eternal inflation beyond one’s patch.

2D dilaton-gravity, deformations of the minimal string, and matrix models

A large class of two-dimensional dilaton-gravity theories in asymptotically AdS2 spacetimes are holographically dual to a matrix integral, interpreted as an ensemble average over Hamiltonians. Viewing these theories as Jackiw–Teitelboim gravity with a gas of defects, we extend this duality to a broader class of dilaton potentials compared to previous work by including conical defects with small deficit angles. In order to do this we show that these theories are equal to the large p limit of a natural deformation of the (2, p) minimal string theory.

Quasinormal Frequencies of a Two-Dimensional Asymptotically Anti-de Sitter Black Hole of the Dilaton Gravity Theory

We numerically calculate the quasinormal frequencies of the Klein-Gordon and Dirac fields propagating in a two-dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter black hole of the dilaton gravity theory. For the Klein-Gordon field we use the Horowitz-Hubeny method and the asymptotic iteration method for second order differential equations. For the Dirac field we first exploit the Horowitz-Hubeny method. As a second method, instead of using the asymptotic iteration method for second order differential equations, we propose to take as a basis its formulation for coupled systems of first order differential equations. For the two fields we find that the results that produce the two numerical methods are consistent. Furthermore for both fields we obtain that their quasinormal modes are stable and we compare their quasinormal frequencies to analyze whether their spectra are isospectral. Finally we discuss the main results.

Two-dimensional black holes in the limiting curvature theory of gravity

In this paper we discuss modified gravity models in which growth of the curvature is dynamically restricted. To illustrate interesting features of such models we consider a modification of two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory which satisfies the limiting curvature condition. We show that such a model describes two-dimensional black holes which contain the de Sitter-like core instead of the singularity of the original non-modified theory. In the second part of the paper we study Vaidya type solutions of the model of the limiting curvature theory of gravity and used them to analyse properties of black holes which are created by the collapse of null fluid. We also apply these solutions to study interesting features of a black hole evaporation.

Aspects of two-dimensional dilaton gravity, dimensional reduction, and holography

We discuss aspects of generic 2-dimensional dilaton gravity theories. The 2-dim geometry is in general conformal to $AdS_2$ and has IR curvature singularities at zero temperature: this can be regulated by a black hole. The on-shell action is divergent: we discuss the holographic energy-momentum tensor by adding appropriate counterterms. For theories obtained by dimensional reduction of the gravitational sector of higher dimensional theories, for instance higher dimensional $AdS$ gravity as a concrete example, the 2-dimensional description dovetails with the higher dimensional one. We also discuss more general theories containing an extra scalar field which now drives nontrivial dynamics. Finally we discuss aspects of the 2-dimensional cosmological singularities discussed in earlier work. These studies suggest that generic 2-dim dilaton gravity theories are somewhat distinct from JT gravity and theories "near JT".

Conservation and integrability in lower-dimensional gravity

We address the questions of conservation and integrability of the charges in two and three-dimensional gravity theories at infinity. The analysis is performed in a framework that allows us to treat simultaneously asymptotically locally AdS and asymptotically locally flat spacetimes. In two dimensions, we start from a general class of models that includes JT and CGHS dilaton gravity theories, while in three dimensions, we work in Einstein gravity. In both cases, we construct the phase space and renormalize the divergences arising in the symplectic structure through a holographic renormalization procedure. We show that the charge expressions are generically finite, not conserved but can be made integrable by a field-dependent redefinition of the asymptotic symmetry parameters.

The Linear Dilaton: from the Clockwork Mechanism to Its Supergravity Embedding

In this talk we review the minimal embedding in $$\mathcal{N} = 2$$ , $$D = 5$$ supergravity of a five–dimensional dilaton–gravity theory that serves as a toy model for the holographic dual of six–dimensional little string theory. Interestingly, the toy model also arises in the continuum version of the clockwork mechanism that was recently proposed as a means of addressing the hierarchy problem in a new way. Via a $$U(1)$$ gauging that can account for the dilaton potential, it turns out that the linear dilaton background that is present in the holographic dual induces partial supersymmetry breaking in the supergravity theory.

A one-loop test of the near-AdS2/near-CFT1 correspondence

We analyze quantum fluctuations around black hole solutions to the Jackiw-Teitelboim model. We use harmonic analysis on Euclidean AdS2 to show that the logarithmic corrections to the partition function are determined entirely by quadratic holomorphic differentials, even when conformal symmetry is broken and harmonic modes are no longer true zero modes. Our quantum-corrected partition function agrees precisely with the SYK result. We argue that our effective quantum field theory methods and results generalize to other theories of two-dimensional dilaton gravity.

Page curve for an evaporating black hole

A Page curve for an evaporating black hole in asymptotically flat spacetime is computed by adapting the Quantum Ryu-Takayanagi (QRT) proposal to an analytically solvable semi-classical two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory. The Page time is found to be one third of the black hole lifetime, at leading order in semi-classical corrections. A Page curve is also obtained for a semi-classical eternal black hole, where energy loss due to Hawking evaporation is balanced by an incoming energy flux.

Phase transition and geometrical thermodynamics of energy-dependent dilatonic BTZ black holes with power-law electrodynamics

Abstract The coupled scalar, electromagnetic, and gravitational field equations of Einstein–dilaton gravity theory have been solved in a three-dimensional energy-dependent spacetime and in the presence of power-law nonlinear electrodynamics. The scalar potential is written as the linear combination of two exponential functions, and two families of three-dimensional dilatonic black hole solutions have been introduced which indicate the impacts of rainbow functions on the spacetime geometry. Through consideration of curvature scalars, it has been found that the asymptotic behavior of the solutions is neither flat nor anti-de Sitter. It has been illustrated that, with a suitable choice of parameters, the solutions can produce the two-horizon, extreme and naked singularity black holes. By calculating the black hole charge, mass, entropy, temperature, and electric potential, it has been proved that they fulfill the standard form of the first law of black hole thermodynamics. The thermodynamic stability of the black holes has been analyzed by utilizing the canonical and grand canonical ensembles and noting the signature of the black hole heat capacity and Gibbs free energy of the black holes. The points of type-1, type-2, and Hawking–Page phase transitions and the ranges at which the black holes are locally or globally stable have been determined. The geometrical thermodynamics of the black holes has been studied by use of different thermodynamic metrics, and the results of different approaches have been compared.

Two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory and lattice Schwarzian theory

We report a holographic study of a two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory with the Dirichlet boundary condition for the cases of nonvanishing and vanishing cosmological constants. Our result shows that the boundary theory of the two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory with the Dirichlet boundary condition for the case of nonvanishing cosmological constants is the Schwarzian term coupled to a dilaton field, while for the case of vanishing cosmological constant, a theory does not have a kinetic term. We also include the higher derivative term [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the scalar curvature that is coupled to a dilaton field. We find that the form of the boundary theory is not modified perturbatively. Finally, we show that a lattice holographic picture is realized up to the second-order perturbation of boundary cutoff [Formula: see text] under a constant boundary dilaton field and the nonvanishing cosmological constant by identifying the lattice spacing [Formula: see text] of a lattice Schwarzian theory with the boundary cutoff [Formula: see text] of the two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory.