Showing papers in "Classical and Quantum Gravity in 2014"

Maximin Surfaces, and the Strong Subadditivity of the Covariant Holographic Entanglement Entropy

Abstract: The covariant holographic entropy conjecture of AdS/CFT relates the entropy of a boundary region R to the area of an extremal surface in the bulk spacetime. This extremal surface can be obtained by a maximin construction, allowing many new results to be proven. On manifolds obeying the null curvature condition, these extremal surfaces: (i) always lie outside the causal wedge of R, (ii) have less area than the bifurcation surface of the causal wedge, (iii) move away from the boundary as R grows, and (iv) obey strong subadditivity and monogamy of mutual information. These results suggest that the information in R allows the bulk to be reconstructed all the way up to the extremal area surface. The maximin surfaces are shown to exist on spacetimes without horizons, and on black hole spacetimes with Kasner-like singularities.

On the Architecture of Spacetime Geometry

Abstract: We propose entanglement entropy as a probe of the architecture of spacetime in quantum gravity. We argue that the leading contribution to this entropy satisfies an area law for any sufficiently large region in a smooth spacetime, which, in fact, is given by the Bekenstein–Hawking formula. This conjecture is supported by various lines of evidence from perturbative quantum gravity, simplified models of induced gravity, the AdS/CFT correspondence and loop quantum gravity, as well as Jacobsonʼs ‘thermodynamic’ perspective of gravity.

Holographic heat engines

Abstract: It is shown that in theories of gravity where the cosmological constant is considered a thermodynamic variable, it is natural to use black holes as heat engines. Two examples are presented in detail using AdS charged black holes as the working substance. We notice that for static black holes, the maximally efficient traditional Carnot engine is also a Stirling engine. The case of negative cosmological constant supplies a natural realization of these engines in terms of the field theory description of the fluids to which they are holographically dual. We first propose a precise picture of how the traditional thermodynamic dictionary of holography is extended when the cosmological constant is dynamical and then conjecture that the engine cycles can be performed by using renormalization group flow. We speculate about the existence of a natural dual field theory counterpart to the gravitational thermodynamic volume.

Carroll versus Newton and Galilei: two dual non-Einsteinian concepts of time

Abstract: The Carroll group was originally introduced by Levy-Leblond (1965 Ann. Inst. Henri Poincare 3 1) by considering the contraction of the Poincare group as c → 0. In this paper an alternative definition, based on the geometric properties of a non-Minkowskian, non-Galilean but nevertheless boost-invariant, spacetime structure is proposed. A 'duality' with the Galilean limit c → ∞ is established. Our theory is illustrated by Carrollian electromagnetism.

Conformal Carroll groups and BMS symmetry

Abstract: The Bondi–Metzner–Sachs group is shown to be the conformal extension of Levy-Leblond's 'Carroll' group. Further extension to the Newman–Unti group is also discussed in the Carroll framework.

Kerr-AdS analogue of triple point and solid/liquid/gas phase transition

Abstract: We study the thermodynamic behavior of multi-spinning d = 6 Kerr-anti de Sitter black holes in the canonical ensemble of fixed angular momenta J1 and J2. We find, dependent on the ratio q = J2/J1, qualitatively different interesting phenomena known from the ‘every day thermodynamics’ of simple substances. For q = 0 the system exhibits recently observed reentrant large/small/large black hole phase transitions, but for 0 0.0985 we observe the ‘standard liquid/gas behavior’ of the Van der Waals fluid.

Quantum squeezed light in gravitational-wave detectors

Abstract: The field of squeezed states for gravitational-wave (GW) detector enhancement is rapidly maturing. In this review paper, we provide an analysis of the field circa 2013. We begin by outlining the concept and description of quantum squeezed states. This is followed by an overview of how quantum squeezed states can improve GW detection, and the requirements on squeezed states to achieve such enhancement. Next, an overview of current technology for producing squeezed states, using atoms, optomechanical methods and nonlinear crystals, is provided. We finally highlight the milestone squeezing implementation experiments at the GEO600 and LIGO GW detectors.

STE-QUEST—test of the universality of free fall using cold atom interferometry

Abstract: The theory of general relativity describes macroscopic phenomena driven by the influence of gravity while quantum mechanics brilliantly accounts for microscopic effects. Despite their tremendous individual success, a complete unification of fundamental interactions is missing and remains one of the most challenging and important quests in modern theoretical physics. The spacetime explorer and quantum equivalence principle space test satellite mission, proposed as a medium-size mission within the Cosmic Vision program of the European Space Agency (ESA), aims for testing general relativity with high precision in two experiments by performing a measurement of the gravitational redshift of the Sun and the Moon by comparing terrestrial clocks, and by performing a test of the universality of free fall of matter waves in the gravitational field of Earth comparing the trajectory of two Bose–Einstein condensates of 85Rb and 87Rb. The two ultracold atom clouds are monitored very precisely thanks to techniques of atom interferometry. This allows to reach down to an uncertainty in the Eotvos parameter of at least 2 × 10−15. In this paper, we report about the results of the phase A mission study of the atom interferometer instrument covering the description of the main payload elements, the atomic source concept, and the systematic error sources.

Entanglement entropy and nonabelian gauge symmetry

Abstract: Entanglement entropy has proven to be an extremely useful concept in quantum field theory. Gauge theories are of particular interest, but for these systems the entanglement entropy is not clearly defined because the physical Hilbert space does not factor as a tensor product according to regions of space. Here we review a definition of entanglement entropy that applies to abelian and nonabelian lattice gauge theories. This entanglement entropy is obtained by embedding the physical Hilbert space into a product of Hilbert spaces associated to regions with boundary. The latter Hilbert spaces include degrees of freedom on the entangling surface that transform like surface charges under the gauge symmetry. These degrees of freedom are shown to contribute to the entanglement entropy, and the form of this contribution is determined by the gauge symmetry. We test our definition using the example of two-dimensional Yang–Mills theory, and find that it agrees with the thermal entropy in de Sitter space, and with the results of the Euclidean replica trick. We discuss the possible implications of this result for more complicated gauge theories, including quantum gravity.

Global structure of five-dimensional fuzzballs

Abstract: We describe and study families of BPS microstate geometries, namely, smooth, horizonless asymptotically-a t solutions to supergravity. We examine these solutions from the perspective of earlier attempts to nd solitonic solutions in gravity and show how the microstate geometries circumvent the earlier \No-Go" theorems. In particular, we re-analyse the Smarr formula and show how it must be modied in the presence of non-trivial second homology. This, combined with the supergravity Chern-Simons terms, allows the existence

Generalized ghost-free quadratic curvature gravity

Abstract: In this paper we study the most general covariant action of gravity up to terms that are quadratic in curvature. In particular this includes non-local, infinite derivative theories of gravity which are ghost-free and exhibit asymptotic freedom in the ultraviolet. We provide a detailed algorithm for deriving the equations of motion for such actions containing an arbitrary number of the covariant D'Alembertian operators, and this is our main result. We also perform a number of tests on the field equations we derive, including checking the Bianchi identities and the weak-field limit. Lastly, we consider the special subclass of ghost and asymptotically free theories of gravity by way of an example.

Multiboundary Wormholes and Holographic Entanglement

Abstract: The AdS/CFT correspondence relates quantum entanglement between boundary conformal field theories and geometric connections in the dual asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetime. We consider entangled states in the $n$-fold tensor product of a 1 + 1 dimensional CFT Hilbert space defined by the Euclidean path integral over a Riemann surface with n holes. In one region of moduli space, the dual bulk state is a black hole with n asymptotically AdS3 regions connected by a common wormhole, while in other regions the bulk fragments into disconnected components. We study the entanglement structure and compute the wave function explicitly in the puncture limit of the Riemann surface in terms of CFT n-point functions. We also use AdS minimal surfaces to measure entanglement more generally. In some regions of the moduli space the entanglement is entirely multipartite, though not of the GHZ type. However, even when the bulk is completely connected, there are regions of the moduli space in which the entanglement is instead almost entirely bipartite: significant entanglement occurs only between pairs of CFTs. We develop new tools to analyze intrinsically n-partite entanglement, and use these to show that for some wormholes with n similar sized horizons there is intrinsic entanglement between all n parties, and that the distillable entanglement between the asymptotic regions is at least $(n+1)/2$ partite.

Globular cluster formation in the context of galaxy formation and evolution

Abstract: The formation of globular clusters (GCs) remains one of the main unsolved problems in star and galaxy formation. The past decades have seen important progress in constraining the physics of GC formation from a variety of directions. In this article, we discuss the latest constraints obtained from studies of present-day GC populations, the formation of young massive clusters (YMCs) in the local Universe, and the observed, large-scale conditions for star and cluster formation in high-redshift galaxies. The main conclusion is that the formation of massive, GC progenitor clusters is restricted to high-pressure environments similar to those observed at high redshift and at the sites of YMC formation in the local Universe. However, the correspondingly high gas densities also lead to efficient cluster disruption by impulsive tidal shocks, which limits the survival of GCs progenitor clusters. As a result, the long-term survival of GC progenitor clusters requires them to migrate into the host galaxy halo on a short time-scale. It is proposed that the necessary cluster migration is facilitated by the frequent galaxy mergers occurring at high redshift. We use the available observational and theoretical constraints to condense the current state of the field into a coherent picture of GC formation, in which regular star and cluster formation in high-redshift galaxies naturally leads to the GC populations observed today.

Spinorial geometry, horizons and superconformal symmetry in six dimensions

Abstract: The spinorial geometry method of solving Killing spinor equations is reviewed as it applies to six-dimensional (1,0) supergravity. In particular, it is explained how the method is used to identify both the fractions of supersymmetry preserved by and the geometry of all supersymmetric backgrounds. Then two applications are described to systems that exhibit superconformal symmetry. The first is the proof that some six-dimensional black hole horizons are locally isometric to AdS3 × Σ3, where Σ3 is diffeomeorphic to S3. The second one is a description of all supersymmetric solutions of six-dimensional (1,0) superconformal theories and in particular of their brane solitons.

Dynamical behavior in f (T, T G ) cosmology

Abstract: The class of gravitational modification, based on the quadratic torsion scalar T as well as on the new quartic torsion scalar TG, which is the teleparallel equivalent of the Gauss–Bonnet term, is a novel theory, different from both f (T) and ones. We perform a detailed dynamical analysis of a spatially flat universe governed by the simplest non-trivial model of gravity which does not introduce a new mass scale. We find that the universe can result in dark-energy dominated, quintessence-like, cosmological-constant-like, or phantom-like solutions, according to the parameter choices. Additionally, it may result in a dark energy–dark matter scaling solution; thus it can alleviate the coincidence problem. Finally, the analysis 'at infinity' reveals that the universe may exhibit future, past, or intermediate singularities, depending on the parameters.

GRHydro: a new open-source general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics code for the Einstein toolkit

Abstract: We present the new general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) capabilities of the Einstein toolkit, an open-source community-driven numerical relativity and computational relativistic astrophysics code. The GRMHD extension of the toolkit builds upon previous releases and implements the evolution of relativistic magnetized fluids in the ideal MHD limit in fully dynamical spacetimes using the same shock-capturing techniques previously applied to hydrodynamical evolution. In order to maintain the divergence-free character of the magnetic field, the code implements both constrained transport and hyperbolic divergence cleaning schemes. We present test results for a number of MHD tests in Minkowski and curved spacetimes. Minkowski tests include aligned and oblique planar shocks, cylindrical explosions, magnetic rotors, Alfv´ en waves and advected loops, as well as a set of tests designed to study the response of the divergence cleaning scheme to numerically generated monopoles. We study the code’s performance in curved spacetimes with spherical accretion onto a black hole on a fixed background spacetime

Isolated critical point from Lovelock gravity

Abstract: For any K (= 2k + 1)th order Lovelock gravity with fine-tuned Lovelock couplings, we demonstrate the existence of a special isolated critical point characterized by non-standard critical exponents in the phase diagram of hyperbolic vacuum black holes. In the Gibbs free energy, this corresponds to a place wherefrom two swallowtails emerge, giving rise to two first-order phase transitions between small and large black holes. We believe that this is a first example of a critical point with non-standard critical exponents obtained in a geometric theory of gravity.

Frequency-domain reduced order models for gravitational waves from aligned-spin compact binaries

Abstract: Black-hole binary coalescences are one of the most promising sources for the first detection of gravitational waves. Fast and accurate theoretical models of the gravitational radiation emitted from these coalescences are highly important for the detection and extraction of physical parameters. Spinning effective-one-body models for binaries with aligned-spins have been shown to be highly faithful, but are slow to generate and thus have not yet been used for parameter estimation (PE) studies. I provide a frequency-domain singular value decomposition-based surrogate reduced order model that is thousands of times faster for typical system masses and has a faithfulness mismatch of better than ~0.1% with the original SEOBNRv1 model for advanced LIGO detectors. This model enables PE studies up to signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of 20 and even up to 50 for total masses below . This paper discusses various choices for approximations and interpolation over the parameter space that can be made for reduced order models of spinning compact binaries, provides a detailed discussion of errors arising in the construction and assesses the fidelity of such models.

Dynamics of Carroll particles

Abstract: We investigate particles whose dynamics are invariant under the Carroll group. Although a single, free such Carroll particle has no non-trivial dynamics (the Carroll particle does not move), we show that non-trivial dynamics exists for a set of interacting Carroll particles. Furthermore, we gauge the Carroll algebra and couple the Carroll particle to these gauge fields. It turns out that for such a coupled system, even a single Carroll particle can have non-trivial dynamics.

Minimal massive 3D gravity

Abstract: We present an alternative to topologically massive gravity (TMG) with the same 'minimal' bulk properties; i.e. a single local degree of freedom that is realized as a massive graviton in linearization about an anti-de Sitter (AdS) vacuum. However, in contrast to TMG, the new 'minimal massive gravity' has both a positive energy graviton and positive central charges for the asymptotic AdS-boundary conformal algebra.

Distinguishing black holes from naked singularities through their accretion disc properties

Abstract: We show that, in principle, a slowly evolving gravitationally collapsing perfect fluid cloud can asymptotically settle to a static spherically symmetric equilibrium configuration with a naked singularity at the center. We consider one such asymptotic final configuration with a finite outer radius, and construct a toy model in which it is matched to a Schwarzschild exterior geometry. We examine the properties of circular orbits in this model. We then investigate the observational signatures of a thermal accretion disc in this spacetime, comparing them with the signatures expected for a disc around a black hole of the same mass. Several notable differences emerge. A disc around the naked singularity is much more luminous than one around an equivalent black hole. Also, the disc around the naked singularity has a spectrum with a high frequency power law segment that carries a major fraction of the total luminosity. Thus, at least some naked singularities can, in principle, be distinguished observationally from the black holes of the same mass. We discuss the possible implications of these results.

Numerical simulations of a loop quantum cosmos: robustness of the quantum bounce and the validity of effective dynamics

Abstract: A key result of isotropic loop quantum cosmology is the existence of a quantum bounce which occurs when the energy density of the matter field approaches a universal maximum close to the Planck density. Though the bounce has been exhibited in various matter models, due to severe computational challenges, some important questions have so far remained unaddressed. These include the demonstration of the bounce for widely spread states, its detailed properties for the states when matter field probes regions close to the Planck volume and the reliability of the continuum effective spacetime description in general. In this manuscript we rigorously answer these questions using the Chimera numerical scheme for the isotropic spatially flat model sourced with a massless scalar field. We show that, as expected from an exactly solvable model, the quantum bounce is a generic feature of states even with a very wide spread, and for those which bounce much closer to the Planck volume. We perform a detailed analysis of the departures from the effective description and find some expected, and some surprising results. At a coarse level of description, the effective dynamics can be regarded as a good approximation to the underlying quantum dynamics unless the states correspond to small scalar field momenta, in which case they bounce closer to the Planck volume or are very widely spread. Quantifying the amount of discrepancy between the quantum and the effective dynamics, we find that the departure between them depends in a subtle and non-monotonic way on the field momentum and different fluctuations. Interestingly, the departures are generically found to be such that the effective dynamics overestimates the spacetime curvature, and underestimates the volume at the bounce.

A one-loop test of quantum supergravity

Abstract: The partition function on the three-sphere of ABJM theory and its generalizations has, at large N, a universal, subleading logarithmic term. Inspired by the success of one-loop quantum gravity for computing the logarithmic corrections to black hole entropy, we try to reproduce this universal term by a one-loop calculation in Euclidean 11-dimensional supergravity on AdS4 × X7. We find perfect agreement between the results of ABJM theory and the 11-dimensional supergravity.

Quantum black holes in loop quantum gravity

Abstract: We study the quantization of spherically symmetric vacuum spacetimes within loop quantum gravity. In particular, we give additional details about our previous work in which we showed that one could complete the quantization of the model and that the singularity inside black holes is resolved. Moreover, we consider an alternative quantization based on a slightly different kinematical Hilbert space. The ambiguity in kinematical spaces stems from how one treats the periodicity of one of the classical variables in these models. The corresponding physical Hilbert spaces solve the diffeomorphism and Hamiltonian constraint but their intrinsic structure is radically different depending on the kinematical Hilbert space one started from. In both cases there are quantum observables that do not have a classical counterpart. However, one can show that at the end of the day, by examining Dirac observables, both quantizations lead to the same physical predictions.

High-Order Fully General-Relativistic Hydrodynamics: new Approaches and Tests

Abstract: We present a new approach for achieving high-order convergence in fully general-relativistic hydrodynamic simulations. The approach is implemented in WhiskyTHC, a new code that makes use of state-of-the-art numerical schemes and was key in achieving, for the first time, higher than second-order convergence in the calculation of the gravitational radiation from inspiraling binary neutron stars (Radice et al 2014 Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 437 L46– L50). Here, we give a detailed description of the algorithms employed and present results obtained for a series of classical tests involving isolated neutron stars. In addition, using the gravitational-wave emission from the late-inspiral and merger of binary neutron stars, we make a detailed comparison between the results obtained with the new code and those obtained when using standard second-order schemes commonly employed formatter simulations in numerical relativity. We find that even at moderate resolutions and for binaries with large compactness, the phase accuracy is improved by a factor 50 or more.

Effective field theory methods to model compact binaries

Abstract: In this short review we present a self-contained exposition of the effective field theory method approach to model the dynamics of gravitationally bound compact binary systems within the post-Newtonian approximation to General Relativity. Applications of this approach to the conservative sector, as well as to the radiation emission by the binary system are discussed in their salient features. Most important results are discussed, as in-depths and details can be found in the referenced papers.

How well is our Universe described by an FLRW model

Abstract: Extremely well! In the ΛCDM model, the spacetime metric, gab, of our Universe is approximated by an FLRW metric, , to about one part in 104 or better on both large and small scales, except in the immediate vicinity of very strong field objects, such as black holes. However, derivatives of gab are not close to derivatives of , so there can be significant differences in the behavior of geodesics and huge differences in curvature. Consequently, observable quantities in the actual Universe may differ significantly from the corresponding observables in the FLRW model. Nevertheless, as we shall review here, we have proven general results showing that—within the framework of our approach to treating backreaction—the large matter inhomogeneities that occur on small scales cannot produce significant effects on large scales, so satisfies Einsteinʼs equation with the averaged stress–energy tensor of matter as its source. We discuss the flaws in some other approaches that have suggested that large backreaction effects may occur. As we also will review here, with a suitable 'dictionary,' Newtonian cosmologies provide excellent approximations to cosmological solutions to Einsteinʼs equation (with dust and a cosmological constant) on all scales. Our results thereby provide strong justification for the mathematical consistency and validity of the ΛCDM model within the context of general relativistic cosmology.

Perturbative gravity at null infinity

Abstract: We describe a theory that lives on the null conformal boundary of asymptotically flat space-time, and whose states encode the radiative modes of (super)gravity. We study the induced action of the BMS group, verifying that the Ward identity for certain BMS supertranslations is equivalent to Weinbergʼs soft graviton theorem in the bulk. The subleading behaviour of soft gravitons may also be obtained from a Ward identity for certain superrotation generators in the extended BMS algebra proposed by Barnich and Troessaert. We show that the theory computes the complete classical gravitational S-matrix, perturbatively around the Minkowski vacuum.

Higher derivative gravity and asymptotic safety in diverse dimensions

Abstract: We derive the one-loop beta functions for a theory of gravity with generic action containing up to four derivatives. The calculation is done in arbitrary dimension and on an arbitrary background. The special cases of three, four, near four, five and six dimensions are discussed in some detail. In all these dimensions there are nontrivial UV fixed points (FPs), which mean that within the approximations there are asymptotically safe trajectories. We also find an indication that a Weyl-invariant FP exists in four dimensions. The new massive gravity in three dimensions does not correspond to a FP.

Observational issues in loop quantum cosmology

Abstract: Quantum gravity is sometimes considered as a kind of metaphysical speculation. In this review, we show that, although still extremely difficult to reach, observational signatures can in fact be expected. The early universe is an invaluable laboratory to probe ?Planck scale physics?. Focusing on loop quantum gravity as one of the best candidate for a non-perturbative and background-independent quantization of gravity, we detail some expected features.