Patch Of De Sitter Space Research Articles

Generalized entanglement capacity of de Sitter space

Near horizons, quantum fields of low spin exhibit densities of states that behave asymptotically like 1+1 dimensional conformal field theories. In effective field theory, imposing some short-distance cutoff, one can compute thermodynamic quantities associated with the horizon, and the leading cutoff sensitivity of the heat capacity is found to equal to the leading cutoff sensitivity of the entropy. One can also compute contributions to the thermodynamic quantities from the gravitational path integral. For the cosmological horizon of the static patch of de Sitter space, a natural conjecture for the relevant heat capacity is shown to equal the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. These observations allow us to extend the well-known notion of the generalized entropy to a generalized heat capacity for the static patch of de Sitter (dS). The finiteness of the entropy and the nonvanishing of the generalized heat capacity suggest it is useful to think about dS as a state in a finite dimensional quantum gravity model that is not maximally uncertain. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The cosmological switchback effect. Part II

Recent developments in static patch holography proposed that quantum gravity in de Sitter space admits a dual description in terms of a quantum mechanical theory living on a timelike surface near the cosmological horizon. In parallel, geometric observables associated with the Einstein-Rosen bridge of a black hole background were suggested to compute the computational complexity of the state dual to a gravitational theory. In this work, we pursue the study of the complexity=volume and complexity=action conjectures in a Schwarzschild-de Sitter geometry perturbed by the insertion of a shockwave at finite boundary times. This analysis extends previous studies that focused either on the complexity=volume 2.0 conjecture, or on the case of a shockwave inserted along the cosmological horizon. We show that the switchback effect, describing the delay in the evolution of complexity in reaction to a perturbation, is a universal feature of the complexity proposals in asymptotically de Sitter space. The geometric origin of this phenomenon is related to the causal connection between the static patches of de Sitter space when a positive pulse of null energy is inserted in the geometry.

Cosmological observatories

Abstract We study the static patch of de Sitter space in the presence of a timelike boundary. We impose that the conformal class of the induced metric and the trace of the extrinsic curvature, K, are fixed at the boundary. We present the thermodynamic structure of de Sitter space subject to these boundary conditions, for static and spherically symmetric configurations to leading order in the semiclassical approximation. In three spacetime dimensions, and taking K constant on a toroidal Euclidean boundary, we find that the spacetime is thermally stable for all K. In four spacetime dimensions, the thermal stability depends on the value of K. It is established that for sufficiently large K, the de Sitter static patch subject to conformal boundary conditions is thermally stable. This contrasts the Dirichlet problem for which the region encompassing the cosmological horizon has negative specific heat. We present an analysis of the linearised Einstein equations subject to conformal boundary conditions. In the worldline limit of the timelike boundary, the underlying modes are linked to the quasinormal modes of the static patch. In the limit where the timelike boundary approaches the cosmological event horizon, the linearised modes are interpreted in terms of the shear and sound modes of a fluid dynamical system. Additionally, we find modes with a frequency of positive imaginary part. Measured in a local inertial reference frame, and taking the stretched cosmological horizon limit, these modes grow at most polynomially.

Effective graviton mass in de Sitter space

We calculate the effective mass of gravitational perturbations induced by the interaction of the classical gravitational field with quantum matter in the background of the Poincaré patch of de Sitter space. Using the Schwinger-Keldysh diagrammatic technique, the one-loop effective action is calculated, and it is shown that the graviton does not acquire mass for the most symmetric Bunch-Davies state. However, we have shown that even in this case, there is a nontrivial modification of the theory at one loop in the scalar sector of gravity. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Generalized entropy for general subregions in quantum gravity

We consider quantum algebras of observables associated with subregions in theories of Einstein gravity coupled to matter in the GN → 0 limit. When the subregion is spatially compact or encompasses an asymptotic boundary, we argue that the algebra is a type II von Neumann factor. To do so in the former case we introduce a model of an observer living in the region; in the latter, the ADM Hamiltonian effectively serves as an observer. In both cases the entropy of states on which this algebra acts is UV finite, and we find that it agrees, up to a state-independent constant, with the generalized entropy. For spatially compact regions the algebra is type II1, implying the existence of an entropy maximizing state, which realizes a version of Jacobson’s entanglement equilibrium hypothesis. The construction relies on the existence of well-motivated but conjectural states whose modular flow is geometric at an instant in time. Our results generalize the recent work of Chandrasekaran, Longo, Penington, and Witten on an algebra of operators for the static patch of de Sitter space.

TCC bounds on the static patch of de Sitter space

Recently, Pei-Ming Ho and Hikaru Kawai [1] have argued that treating particles as wave packets can lead to a shutdown of Hawking radiation after a scrambling time in the case of Schwarzschild black holes. This shutdown arises from viewing quantum field theory near the black hole horizon as an effective field theory, and imposing an appropriate UV cutoff. We show that this effect is also present in the static patch of de Sitter space, leading to a shutdown of Gibbons-Hawking radiation at late times. Assuming this effect is due to the breakdown of effective field theory, we obtain a bound t ≲ H−1 ln(H−1MP) on the time scale of validity of effective field theory in de Sitter space, which matches with the predictions of the Trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture.

Cosmological de Sitter Solutions of the Semiclassical Einstein Equation

Exponentially expanding space–times play a central role in contemporary cosmology, most importantly in the theory of inflation and in the dark energy driven expansion in the late universe. In this work, we give a complete list of de Sitter solutions of the semiclassical Einstein equation (SCE), where classical gravity is coupled to the expected value of a renormalized stress–energy tensor of a free quantum field in the Bunch–Davies state. To achieve this, we explicitly determine the stress–energy tensor associated with the Bunch–Davies state using the recently proposed “moment approach” on the cosmological coordinate patch of de Sitter space. From the energy component of the SCE, we thus obtain an analytic consistency equation for the model’s parameters which has to be fulfilled by solutions to the SCE. Using this equation, we then investigate the number of solutions and the structure of the solution set in dependency on the coupling parameter of the quantum field to the scalar curvature and renormalization constants using analytic arguments in combination with numerical evidence. We also identify parameter sets where multiple expansion rates separated by several orders of magnitude are possible. Potentially for such parameter settings, a fast (semi-stable) expansion in the early universe could be compatible with a late-time “Dark Energy-like” behavior of the universe.

The minus sign in the first law of de Sitter horizons

Due to a well-known, but curious, minus sign in the Gibbons-Hawking first law for the static patch of de Sitter space, the entropy of the cosmological horizon is reduced by the addition of Killing energy. This minus sign raises the puzzling question how the thermodynamics of the static patch should be understood. We argue the confusion arises because of a mistaken interpretation of the matter Killing energy as the total internal energy, and resolve the puzzle by introducing a system boundary at which a proper thermodynamic ensemble can be specified. When this boundary shrinks to zero size the total internal energy of the ensemble (the Brown-York energy) vanishes, as does its variation. Part of this vanishing variation is thermalized, captured by the horizon entropy variation, and part is the matter contribution, which may or may not be thermalized. If the matter is in global equilibrium at the de Sitter temperature, the first law becomes the statement that the generalized entropy is stationary.

Indirect detection of Cosmological Constant from interacting open quantum system

We study the indirect detection of Cosmological Constant from an open quantum system of interacting spins, weakly interacting with a thermal bath, a massless scalar field minimally coupled with the static de Sitter background, by computing the spectroscopic shifts. By assuming pairwise interaction between spins, we construct states using a generalization of the superposition principle. The corresponding spectroscopic shifts, caused by the effective Hamiltonian of the system due to Casimir Polder interaction, are seen to play a crucial role in predicting a very tiny value of the Cosmological Constant, in the static patch of de Sitter space, which is consistent with the observed value from the Planck measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies.

Comment on Coleman-DeLuccia instantons

We complete an old argument that causal diamonds in the crunching region of the Lorentzian continuation of a Coleman-Deluccia instanton for transitions out of de Sitter space have finite area, and provide quantum models consistent with the principle of detailed balance, which can mimic the instanton transition probabilities for the cases where this diamond is larger or smaller than the causal patch of de Sitter space. We review arguments that potentials which do not have a positive energy theorem when the lowest de Sitter minimum is shifted to zero, may not correspond to real models of quantum gravity.

MHV amplitudes and BCFW recursion for Yang-Mills theory in the de Sitter static patch

We study the scattering problem in the static patch of de Sitter space, i.e. the problem of field evolution between the past and future horizons of a de Sitter observer. We formulate the problem in terms of off-shell fields in Poincare coordinates. This is especially convenient for conformal theories, where the static patch can be viewed as a flat causal diamond, with one tip at the origin and the other at timelike infinity. As an important example, we consider Yang-Mills theory at tree level. We find that static-patch scattering for Yang-Mills is subject to BCFW-like recursion relations. These can reduce any static-patch amplitude to one with N−1MHV helicity structure, dressed by ordinary Minkowski amplitudes. We derive all the N−1MHV static-patch amplitudes from self-dual Yang-Mills field solutions. Using the recursion relations, we then derive from these an infinite set of MHV amplitudes, with arbitrary number of external legs.

Scattering in the static patch of de Sitter space

We study the scattering problem in the static patch of de Sitter space, i.e., the problem of field evolution between the past and future horizons of a de Sitter observer. We calculate the leading-order scattering for a conformally massless scalar with cubic interaction, as both the simplest case and a warm-up towards Yang-Mills and gravity. Our strategy is to decompose the static-patch evolution problem into a pair of more symmetric evolution problems in two Poincare patches, sewn together by a spatial inversion. To carry this out explicitly, we end up developing formulas for the momentum-space effect of inversions in flat spacetime. The geometric construction of an electron's 4-momentum and spin vectors from a Dirac spinor turns out to be surprisingly relevant.

Open quantum entanglement: a study of two atomic system in static patch of de Sitter space

In this work, our prime objective is to study non-locality and long range effect of two body correlation using quantum entanglement from various information theoretic measure in the static patch of de Sitter space using a two body Open Quantum System (OQS). The OQS is described by a system of two entangled atoms, surrounded by a thermal bath, which is modelled by a massless probe scalar field. Firstly, we partially trace over the bath field and construct the Gorini Kossakowski Sudarshan Lindblad (GSKL) master equation, which describes the time evolution of the reduced subsystem density matrix. This GSKL master equation is characterized by two components, these are-Spin chain interaction Hamiltonian and the Lindbladian. To fix the form of both of them, we compute the Wightman functions for probe massless scalar field. Using this result alongwith the large time equilibrium behaviour we obtain the analytical solution for reduced density matrix. Further using this solution we evaluate various entanglement measures, namely Von-Neumann entropy, Re'nyi entropy, logarithmic negativity, entanglement of formation, concurrence and quantum discord for the two atomic subsystem on the static patch of De-Sitter space. Finally, we have studied violation of Bell-CHSH inequality, which is the key ingredient to study non-locality in primordial cosmology.

Propagators and Gaussian effective actions in various patches of de Sitter space

We consider time-ordered (or Feynman) propagators between two different $\alpha-$states of a linear de Sitter Quantum Field in the global de Sitter manifold and in the Poincar\'e patch. We separately examine $\alpha-\beta$, In-In and In-Out propagators and find the imaginary contribution to the effective actions. The In-In propagators are real in both the Poincar\'e patch and in the global de Sitter manifold. On the other side the In-Out propagators at coincident points contain finite imaginary contributions in both patches in even dimensions, but they are not equivalent. In odd dimensions in both patches the imaginary contributions are zero. For completeness, we also consider the Static patch and identify in our construction the state that is equivalent to the Bunch-Davies one in the Poincar\'e patch.

Back(reaction) to the future in the Unruh-de Sitter state

Motivated by black hole physics, we define the Unruh state for a scalar field in de Sitter space. Like the Bunch-Davies state, the Unruh-de Sitter state appears thermal to a static observer. However, it breaks some of the symmetries of de Sitter space. We calculate the expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor in the Unruh-de Sitter state in two dimensions and find a non-vanishing flux of outgoing negative energy. Extrapolating the result to four dimensions, we argue that this backreacts on the initial de Sitter geometry semi-classically. Notably, we estimate that de Sitter space is destabilized on a timescale set by the gravitational entropy; analogous to black hole evaporation, the endpoint of this instability is a singular geometry outside the regime of effective field theory. Finally, we suggest that the Unruh-de Sitter state may be a natural initial state for patches of de Sitter space, and discuss the implications for slow-roll and eternal inflation, and for de Sitter thermodynamics.

Black hole remnants

We show that in asymptotically free mimetic gravity with limiting curvature the black hole singularity can be resolved and replaced by a static patch of de Sitter space. As a result of Hawking evaporation of these non-singular black holes, there remain stable remnants with vanishing Hawking temperature.

Characters of different secular effects in various patches of de Sitter space

There are at least three different types of secular effects in the two-point correlation functions in scalar quantum field theories in de Sitter space-time. The first one is specific to de Sitter massless and tachyonic minimally coupled scalar fields. The remaining two are generic and are encountered practically in any non-stationary situation in quantum field theory. Furthermore there are secular effects in the n-point correlation functions for low enough mass. They are also specific to de Sitter quantum field theory. In this paper we focus on the differences between the secular effects in two-point functions. We discuss also their character in different patches of de Sitter space-time - global, expanding and contracting Poincar\'{e} patches.

Exact solutions to Einstein–Maxwell theory on Eguchi–Hanson space

In this paper, we construct explicit analytical exact solutions to the six and higher-dimensional Einstein–Maxwell theory. In all solutions, a subspace of the metric is the Eguchi–Hanson space where the metric functions are completely determined in terms of known analytical functions. Moreover, we find the solutions can be extended from nonstationary exact solutions to Einstein–Maxwell theory with cosmological constant. We show that the solutions are asymptotically expanding patches of de Sitter space–time.

Mode-sum construction of the covariant graviton two-point function in the Poincaré patch of de Sitter space

We construct the graviton two-point function for a two-parameter family of linear covariant gauges in n-dimensional de Sitter space. The construction is performed via the mode-sum method in the Bunch-Davies vacuum in the Poincar\'e patch, and a Fierz-Pauli mass term is introduced to regularize the infrared (IR) divergences. The resulting two-point function is de Sitter-invariant, and free of IR divergences in the massless limit (for a certain range of parameters) though analytic continuation with respect to the mass for the pure-gauge sector of the two-point function is necessary for this result. This general result agrees with the propagator obtained by analytic continuation from the sphere [Phys. Rev. D 34, 3670 (1986); Class. Quant. Grav. 18, 4317 (2001)]. However, if one starts with strictly zero mass theory, the IR divergences are absent only for a specific value of one of the two parameters, with the other parameter left generic. These findings agree with recent calculations in the Landau (exact) gauge [J. Math. Phys. 53, 122502 (2012)], where IR divergences do appear in the spin-two (tensor) part of the two-point function. However, we find the strength (including the sign) of the IR divergence to be different from the one found in this reference.

Infrared-finite graviton two-point function in static de Sitter space

We study quantum gravitational perturbations in the static patch of de Sitter space. In particular, we determine the symplectic inner product of these perturbations and use it to write down the graviton two-point function in the state analogous to the Bunch-Davies vacuum in a certain gauge. We find this two-point function to be infrared-finite and time-translation invariant.