Three-dimensional Anti-de Sitter Research Articles

Quantum charged black holes

Within the framework of braneworld holography, we construct a quantum charged black hole localized on a three-dimensional anti-de Sitter (AdS) brane that intersects the asymptotic boundary of the four-dimensional AdS spacetime at the conformal defects and incorporates quantum backreaction effects from the conformal field theory (CFT) on the brane. This quantum charged black hole is an exact solution of the semiclassical gravitational equation corresponding to a theory with higher curvature gravity and nonminimally coupled nonlinear gauge field. In the framework of double holography, we investigate the thermodynamics of the quantum charged black hole from three perspectives: a pure bulk perspective, in which four-dimensional classical Einstein gravity couples to Maxwell electrodynamics and a codimension-one tensional brane; a brane perspective, where semiclassical higher curvature gravity is subject to quantum backreaction from the holographic CFT on the brane, yielding a quantum charged black hole; and a boundary perspective, where the defect CFT is coupled to a boundary CFT at the asymptotic boundary and the degrees of freedom for defect quantum conformal matter is considered. In so doing, we obtain doubly holographic formulations of both the first law of thermodynamics and the Smarr (energy) relations for the quantum charged black holes.

Spectral flow and localisation in AdS3 string theory

We study string theory in three-dimensional Anti-de Sitter spacetime in the path integral formalism. We derive expressions for generic spectrally-flowed near-boundary vertex operators in the Wakimoto representation, and relate their correlation functions to covering maps from the worldsheet to the target space boundary. We show that the path integral structurally reproduces correlation functions of the dual symmetric orbifold theory. By rephrasing spectral flow as the introduction of a background gauge field, we provide a path integral derivation of the localisation property of the near boundary theory. We then focus on the case of IIB string theory on AdS3 × S3 × \U0001d54b4 with k = 1 units of NS-NS flux, where the relationship between correlation functions and covering maps can be made sharp. We also comment on the relation of the k = 1 theory and twistor theory.

N = (2, 0) AdS3 solutions of M-theory

We consider the most general solutions of eleven-dimensional supergravity preserving N = 2 supersymmetry whose metrics are warped products of three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space with an eight-dimensional manifold, focusing on those realising (2,0) superconformal symmetry. We give a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for a solution to be supersymmetric, which can be phrased, in the general case, in terms of a local SU(2) structure and its intrinsic torsion. We show that these supergravity backgrounds always admit a nowhere-vanishing Killing vector field that preserves the solution and encodes the U(1) R-symmetry of the dual field theory. We illustrate our results with examples which have appeared in the literature, including those with SU(4), G2 and SU(3) structures, and discuss new classes of Minkowski solutions.

Vacuum polarization on three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space-time with Robin boundary conditions

We study a quantum scalar field, with general mass and coupling to the scalar curvature, propagating on three-dimensional global anti-de Sitter space-time. We determine the vacuum and thermal expectation values of the square of the field, also known as the vacuum polarisation (VP). We consider values of the scalar field mass and coupling for which there is a choice of boundary conditions giving well-posed classical dynamics. We apply Dirichlet, Neumann and Robin (mixed) boundary conditions to the field at the space-time boundary. We find finite values of the VP when the parameter governing the Robin boundary conditions is below a certain critical value. For all couplings, the vacuum expectation values of the VP with either Neumann or Dirichlet boundary conditions are constant and respect the maximal symmetry of the background space-time. However, this is not the case for Robin boundary conditions, when both the vacuum and thermal expectation values depend on the space-time location. At the space-time boundary, we find that both the vacuum and thermal expectation values of the VP with Robin boundary conditions converge to the result when Neumann boundary conditions are applied, except in the case of Dirichlet boundary conditions.

Ladder operators and quasinormal modes in Bañados-Teitelboim-Zanelli black holes

We study quasinormal modes (QNMs) of massive Klein-Gordon fields in static Ba\~nados-Teitelboim-Zanelli (BTZ) black holes in terms of ladder operators constructed from spacetime conformal symmetries. Because the BTZ spacetime is locally isometric to the three-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime, ladder operators, which map a solution of the massive Klein-Gordon equation into that with different mass squared, can be constructed from spacetime conformal symmetries. In this paper, we apply the ladder operators to the QNMs of the Klein-Gordon equations in the BTZ spacetime. We demonstrate that the ladder operators can change indices of QNM overtones, and all overtone modes can be generated from a fundamental mode when we impose the Dirichlet or Neumann boundary condition at infinity. We also discuss the case with the Robin boundary condition.

The induced metric on the boundary of the convex hull of a quasicircle in hyperbolic and anti-de Sitter geometry

Celebrated work of Alexandrov and Pogorelov determines exactly which metrics on the sphere are induced on the boundary of a compact convex subset of hyperbolic three-space. As a step toward a generalization for unbounded convex subsets, we consider convex regions of hyperbolic three-space bounded by two properly embedded disks which meet at infinity along a Jordan curve in the ideal boundary. In this setting, it is natural to augment the notion of induced metric on the boundary of the convex set to include a gluing map at infinity which records how the asymptotic geometry of the two surfaces compares near points of the limiting Jordan curve. Restricting further to the case in which the induced metrics on the two bounding surfaces have constant curvature $K \in [-1,0)$ and the Jordan curve at infinity is a quasicircle, the gluing map is naturally a quasisymmetric homeomorphism of the circle. The main result is that for each value of $K$, every quasisymmetric map is achieved as the gluing map at infinity along some quasicircle. We also prove analogous results in the setting of three-dimensional anti de Sitter geometry. Our results may be viewed as universal versions of the conjectures of Thurston and Mess about prescribing the induced metric on the boundary of the convex core of quasifuchsian hyperbolic manifolds and globally hyperbolic anti de Sitter spacetimes.

AdS (super)projectors in three dimensions and partial masslessness

We derive the transverse projection operators for fields with arbitrary integer and half-integer spin on three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space, AdS3. The projectors are constructed in terms of the quadratic Casimir operators of the isometry group SO(2, 2) of AdS3. Their poles are demonstrated to correspond to (partially) massless fields. As an application, we make use of the projectors to recast the conformal and topologically massive higher-spin actions in AdS3 into a manifestly gauge-invariant and factorised form. We also propose operators which isolate the component of a field that is transverse and carries a definite helicity. Such fields correspond to irreducible representations of SO(2, 2). Our results are then extended to the case of mathcal{N} = 1 AdS3 supersymmetry.

Overspinning naked singularities in AdS3 spacetime

The Ba\~nados-Teitelboim-Zanelli (BTZ) black hole belongs to a family of locally three-dimensional anti-de Sitter (${\mathrm{AdS}}_{3}$) spacetimes labeled by their mass $M$ and angular momentum $J$. The case $M\ensuremath{\ell}\ensuremath{\ge}|J|$, where $\ensuremath{\ell}$ is the anti-de Sitter radius, provides the black hole. Extending the metric to other values of $M$ and $J$ leads to geometries with the same asymptotic behavior and global symmetries but containing a naked singularity at the origin. The case $M\ensuremath{\ell}\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{-}|J|$ corresponds to spinning conical singularities that are reasonably well understood. Here, we examine the remaining case, which is $\ensuremath{-}|J|<M\ensuremath{\ell}<|J|$. These naked singularities are mathematically acceptable solutions describing classical spacetimes. They are obtained by identifications of the covering pseudosphere in ${\mathbb{R}}^{2,2}$ and are free of closed timelike curves. Here, we study the causal structure and geodesics around these overspinning geometries. We present a review of the geodesics for the entire BTZ family. The geodesic equations are completely integrated, and the solutions are expressed in terms of elementary functions. Special attention is given to the determination of circular geodesics, where new results are found. According to the radial bounds, eight types of noncircular geodesics appear in the BTZ spacetimes. For the case of overspinning naked singularity, null, and spacelike geodesics can reach infinity passing by a point nearest to the singularity, others extend from the central singularity to infinity, and others still have a radial upper bound and terminate at the singularity. As expected for an anti-de Sitter spacetime, timelike geodesics cannot reach infinity; they either loop around the singularity or fall into it. The spatial projections of the geodesics (orbits) exhibit self-intersections, whose number is determined for null and spacelike geodesics, and it is found a special class of timelike geodesics whose spatial projections are closed.

Holographic BCFTs and communicating black holes

We study the AdS/BCFT duality between two-dimensional conformal field theories with two boundaries and three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space with two Karch-Randall branes. We compute the entanglement entropy of a bipartition of the BCFT, on both the gravity side and the field theory side. At finite temperature this entanglement entropy characterizes the communication between two braneworld black holes, coupled to each other through a common bath. We find a Page curve consistent with unitarity. The gravitational result, computed using double-holographically realized quantum extremal surfaces, matches the conformal field theory calculation.At zero temperature, we obtain an interesting extension of the AdS3/BCFT2 correspondence. For a central charge c, we find a gap left(frac{c}{16},frac{c}{12}right) in the spectrum of the scaling dimension ∆bcc of the boundary condition changing operator (which interpolates mismatched boundary conditions on the two boundaries of the BCFT). Depending on the value of ∆bcc, the gravitational dual is either a defect global AdS3 geometry or a single sided black hole, and in both cases there are two Karch-Randall branes.

Celestial fields on the string and the Schwarzian action

This paper describes the motion of a classical Nambu-Goto string in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime in terms of two ‘celestial’ fields on the worldsheet. The fields correspond to retarded and advanced boundary times at which null rays emanating from the string reach the boundary. The formalism allows for a simple derivation of the Schwarzian action for near-AdS2 embeddings.

Linear Independence of Generalized Poincaré Series for Anti-de Sitter 3-Manifolds

Let $\Gamma$ be a discrete group acting properly discontinuously and isometrically on the three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space $\mathrm{AdS}^{3}$, and $\square$ the Laplacian which is a second-order hyperbolic differential operator. We study linear independence of a family of generalized Poincaré series introduced by Kassel-Kobayashi [Adv. Math. 287 (2016), 123-236, arXiv:1209.4075], which are defined by the $\Gamma$-average of certain eigenfunctions on $\mathrm{AdS}^{3}$. We prove that the multiplicities of $L^{2}$-eigenvalues of the hyperbolic Laplacian $\square$ on $\Gamma\backslash\mathrm{AdS}^{3}$ are unbounded when $\Gamma$ is finitely generated. Moreover, we prove that the multiplicities of stable $L^{2}$-eigenvalues for compact anti-de Sitter 3-manifolds are unbounded.

Phases of holographic interfaces

We compute the phase diagram of the simplest holographic bottom-up model of conformal interfaces. The model consists of a thin domain wall between three-dimensional Anti-de Sitter (AdS) vacua, anchored on a boundary circle. We distinguish five phases depending on the existence of a black hole, the intersection of its horizon with the wall, and the fate of inertial observers. We show that, like the Hawking-Page phase transition, the capture of the wall by the horizon is also a first order transition and comment on its field-theory interpretation. The static solutions of the domain-wall equations include gravitational avatars of the Faraday cage, black holes with negative specific heat, and an intriguing phenomenon of suspended vacuum bubbles corresponding to an exotic interface/anti-interface fusion. Part of our analysis overlaps with recent work by Simidzija and Van Raamsdonk but the interpretation is different.

Superstrings in thermal anti-de Sitter space

We revisit the calculation of the thermal free energy for string theory in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime with Neveu-Schwarz-Neveu-Schwarz flux. The path integral calculation is exploited to confirm the off-shell Hilbert space and we find that the Casimir of the discrete representations of the isometry group takes values in a half-open interval. We extend the free energy calculation to the case of superstrings, calculate the boundary toroidal twisted partition function in the Ramond-Ramond sector, and prove lower bounds on the boundary conformal dimension from the bulk perspective. We classify Ramond-Ramond ground states and construct their second quantized partition function. The partition function exhibits intriguing modular properties.

Twisted string theory in anti-de Sitter space

We construct a string theory in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space-time that is independent of the boundary metric. It is a topologically twisted theory of quantum gravity. We study string theories with an asymptotic N = 2 superconformal symmetry and demonstrate that, when the world sheet coupling to the space-time boundary metric undergoes a U(1) R-symmetry twist, the space-time boundary energy-momentum tensor becomes topological. As a by-product of our analysis, we obtain the world sheet vertex operator that codes the space-time energy-momentum for conformally flat boundary metrics.

Microscopic description of thermodynamic volume in extended black hole thermodynamics

Using the fact that theories of gravity with asymptotically three-dimensional anti-de Sitter geometries have dual descriptions as two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs), we present the first study in field theory of the thermodynamic volume of various black hole solutions. We explain in general two-dimensional CFT terms why the presence of a thermodynamic volume can render certain black hole solutions "super-entropic". Super-entropicity simply results from the fact that the Cardy formula, which gives the gravitational Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, can over-count the CFT entropy. The examples of charged Banados, Teitelbiom and Zanelli (BTZ) black holes and generalized exotic BTZ black holes are described. These observations help explain why the specific heat at constant volume can signal the instability of such solutions, as recently conjectured.

Pure and twisted holography

We analyze a simple example of a holographically dual pair in which we topologically twist both theories. The holography is based on the two-dimensional N = 2 supersymmetric Liouville conformal field theory that defines a unitary bulk quantum supergravity theory in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. The supersymmetric version of three-dimensional Liouville quantum gravity allows for a topological twist on the boundary and in the bulk. We define the topological bulk supergravity theory in terms of twisted boundary conditions. We corroborate the duality by calculating the chiral configurations in the bulk supergravity theory and by quantizing the solution space. Moreover, we note that the boundary calculation of the structure constants of the chiral ring carries over to the bulk theory as well. We thus construct a topological AdS/CFT duality in which the bulk theory is independent of the boundary metric.

Geodesic structure of naked singularities in AdS3 spacetime

We present a complete study of the geodesics around naked singularities in AdS$_3$, the three-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime. These stationary spacetimes, characterized by two conserved charges --mass and angular momentum--, are obtained through identifications along spacelike Killing vectors with a fixed point. They are interpreted as massive spinning point particles, and can be viewed as three-dimensional analogues of cosmic strings in four spacetime dimensions. The geodesic equations are completely integrated and the solutions are expressed in terms of elementary functions. We classify different geodesics in terms of their radial bounds, which depend on the constants of motion. Null and spacelike geodesics approach the naked singularity from infinity and either fall into the singularity or wind around and go back to infinity, depending on the values of these constants, except for the extremal and massless cases for which a null geodesic could have a circular orbit. Timelike geodesics never escape to infinity and do not always fall into the singularity, namely, they can be permanently bounded between two radii. The spatial projections of the geodesics (orbits) exhibit self-intersections, whose number is particularly simple for null geodesics. As a particular application, we also compute the lengths of fixed-time spacelike geodesics of the static naked singularity using two different regularizations.

Maximal surfaces in Anti-de Sitter space, width of convex hulls and quasiconformal extensions of quasisymmetric homeomorphisms

We give upper bounds on the principal curvatures of a maximal surface of nonpositive curvature in three-dimensional Anti-de Sitter space, which only depend on the width of the convex hull of the surface. Moreover, given a quasisymmetric homeomorphism \phi , we study the relation between the width of the convex hull of the graph of \phi , as a curve in the boundary of infinity of Anti-de Sitter space, and the cross-ratio norm of \phi . As an application, we prove that if \phi is a quasisymmetric homeomorphism of \mathbb{R}\mathrm P^1 with cross-ratio norm ||\phi|| , then ln K\leq C||\phi|| , where K is the maximal dilatation of the minimal Lagrangian extension of \phi to the hyperbolic plane.

Distinguishing Black Hole Microstates using Holevo Information.

We use Holevo information in the two-dimensional conformal field theory (CFT) with a large central charge c to distinguish microstates from the underlying thermal state. Holographically, the CFT microstates of a thermal state are dual to black hole microstate geometries in anti-de Sitter space. It was found recently that holographic Holevo information shows plateau behaviors at both short and long interval regions. This indicates that the black hole microstates are indistinguishable from the thermal state by measuring over a small region, and perfectly distinguishable over a region with its size comparable to the whole system. In this Letter, we demonstrate that the plateaus are lifted by including the 1/c corrections from both the vacuum and nonvacuum conformal families of CFT in either the canonical ensemble or microcanonical ensemble thermal state. Our results imply that the aforementioned indistinguishability and distinguishability of black hole microstate geometries from the underlying black hole are spoiled by higher order Newton constant G_{N} corrections of quantum gravity.

On the explicit asymptotic W5 symmetry of 3D Chern-Simons higher spin AdS3 gravity

In this paper, we explicitly construct an asymptotic W5 symmetry algebra of the three-dimensional anti-de Sitter (AdS3) higher spin gravity. We use an sl(5,R)⊕sl(5,R) Lie algebra valued Chern-Simons gauge theory with a negative cosmological constant, and its asymptotic symmetry algebra is explicitly calculated as two copies of the classical W5 algebra with central charge c. Our results can be interpreted as a spin 5 extension of AdS3 gravity and a proof of how the higher spin Ward identities and the asymptotic W5 symmetry algebra is derived from the higher spin bulk field equations of motion. This higher spin asymptotic W5 symmetry algebra contains a finite number of conformal primary spin s: s = 2, 3, 4, 5. We also indicated how to introduce chemical potentials and holonomy conditions associated with these higher spin charges in AdS3 higher spin gravity in a manner that it preserves the asymptotic symmetry algebra.