Generalized Supergravity Equations and Generalized Fradkin-Tseytlin Counterterm

The generalized Fradkin-Tseytlin counterterm for the (type I) Green-Schwarz superstring is determined for background fields satisfying the generalized supergravity equations (GSE). For this purpose, we revisit the derivation of the GSE based upon the requirement of kappa-symmetry of the superstring action. Lifting the constraint of vanishing bosonic torsion components, we are able to make contact to several different torsion constraints used in the literature. It is argued that a natural geometric interpretation of the GSE vector field that generalizes the dilaton is as the torsion vector, which can combine with the dilatino spinor into the torsion supervector. To find the counterterm, we use old results for the one-loop effective action of the heterotic sigma model. The counterterm is covariant and involves the worldsheet torsion for vanishing curvature, but cannot be constructed as a local functional in terms of the worldsheet metric. It is shown that the Weyl anomaly cancels without imposing any further constraints on the background fields. In the case of ordinary supergravity, it reduces to the Fradkin-Tseytlin counterterm modulo an additional constraint.Comment: 23 pages, v2: added reference and extended discussion of the counterter

On the number of soft quanta in classical field configurations

A crucial ingredient in the large-N quantum portrait of black holes proposed by Dvali and Gomez is the estimate of the number of soft quanta that make up the classical gravitational field. It is argued here that the coherent state formalism provides a way to calculate that number directly. As a consequence, the average energy of the soft quanta is such that the typical geometric size of the field source can be roughly interpreted as their de Broglie wavelength. The calculation is done for the electromagnetic field and for Newtonian gravity, and it is argued that the number of soft quanta should be unchanged in General Relativity due to the long range nature of gravity.Comment: 5 pages, v.2: small text changes and added reference

Quantum Portrait of a Black Hole with P\"oschl-Teller Potential

We improve upon the simple model studied by Casadio and Orlandi [JHEP 1308 (2013) 025] for a black hole as a condensate of gravitons. Instead of the harmonic oscillator potential, the P\"oschl-Teller potential is used, which allows for a continuum of scattering states. The quantum mechanical model is embedded into a relativistic wave equation for a complex Klein-Gordon field, and the charge of the field is interpreted as the gravitational charge (mass) carried by the graviton condensate.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure, v2: typos correcte

An improved correspondence formula for AdS/CFT with multi-trace operators

An improved correspondence formula is proposed for the calculation of correlation functions of a conformal field theory perturbed by multi-trace operators from the analysis of the dynamics of the dual field theory in Anti-de Sitter space. The formula reduces to the usual AdS/CFT correspondence formula in the case of single-trace perturbations.Comment: 6 pages, v.2: minor corrections, v.3: version to appear in PL

Exact 1/N expansion of Wilson loop correlators in N=4\mathcal{N}=4 Super-Yang-Mills theory

Supersymmetric circular Wilson loops in $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super-Yang-Mills theory are discussed starting from their Gaussian matrix model representations. Previous results on the generating functions of Wilson loops are reviewed and extended to the more general case of two different loop contours, which is necessary to discuss coincident loops with opposite orientations. A combinatorial formula representing the connected correlators of multiply wound Wilson loops in terms of the matrix model solution is derived. Two new results are obtained on the expectation value of the circular Wilson loop, the expansion of which into a series in $1/N$ and to all orders in the 't~Hooft coupling $\lambda$ was derived by Drukker and Gross about twenty years ago. The connected correlators of two multiply wound Wilson loops with arbitrary winding numbers are calculated as a series in $1/N$. The coefficient functions are derived not only as power series in $\lambda$, but also to all orders in $\lambda$ by expressing them in terms of the coefficients of the Drukker and Gross series. This provides an efficient way to calculate the $1/N$ series, which can probably be generalized to higher-point correlators.Comment: 45 pages, 3 tables, v2: typos corrected and reference updat

Reparameterization Dependence and Holographic Complexity of Black Holes

We refine the calculation of holographic complexity of black holes in the complexity equals action approach by applying the recently introduced criterion that the action of any causal diamond in static vacuum regions must vanish identically. This criterion fixes empty anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetime as the reference state with vanishing complexity and renders holographic complexity explicitly finite in all the cases we consider. The cases considered here include the Reissner-Nordstr\"om-AdS black hole, the rotating BTZ black hole, the Kerr-AdS black hole, and AdS-Vaidya spacetime. The criterion is equivalent to imposing that the corner contributions vanish. Contrary to earlier results, we find that the generalized Lloyd bound always holds in the Reissner-Nordstr\"om-AdS and BTZ cases.Comment: 41 pages, 9 figures, v2: added references, v3: part on AdS-Kerr totally rewritte

Conformal Primary Basis for Dirac Spinors

We study solutions to the Dirac equation in Minkowski space $\mathbb{R}^{1,d+1}$ that transform as $d$-dimensional conformal primary spinors under the Lorentz group $SO(1,d+1)$. Such solutions are parameterized by a point in $\mathbb{R}^d$ and a conformal dimension $\Delta$. The set of wavefunctions that belong to the principal continuous series, $\Delta =\frac{d}2 + i\nu$, with $\nu\geq 0$ and $\nu \in \mathbb{R}$ in the massive and massless cases, respectively, form a complete basis of delta-function normalizable solutions of the Dirac equation. In the massless case, the conformal primary wavefunctions are related to the wavefunctions in momentum space by a Mellin transform.Comment: 21 pages, v2: added references, v3: added calculation of the explicit form of the wave functio

Reparameterization Dependence is Useful for Holographic Complexity

Holographic complexity in the "complexity equals action" approach is reconsidered relaxing the requirement of reparameterization invariance of the action with the prescription that the action vanish in any vacuum causal diamond. This implies that vacuum anti-de Sitter space plays the role of the reference state. Moreover, the complexity of an anti-de Sitter-Schwarzschild black hole becomes intrinsically finite and saturates Lloyd's bound after a critical time. It is also argued that several artifacts, such as the unphysical negative-time interval, can be removed by truly considering the bulk dual of the thermofield double state.Comment: 33 pages, 7 figures, v2: references added, v3: added section on BTZ black hole, version to appear in JHE

Effective Fluid Description of the Dark Universe

We propose an effective anisotropic fluid description for a generic infrared-modified theory of gravity. In our framework, the additional component of the acceleration, commonly attributed to dark matter, is explained as a radial pressure generated by the reaction of the dark energy fluid to the presence of baryonic matter. Using quite general assumptions, and a microscopic description of the fluid in terms of a Bose-Einstein condensate of gravitons, we find the static, spherically symmetric solution for the metric in terms of the Misner-Sharp mass function and the fluid pressure. At galactic scales, we correctly reproduce the leading MOND-like $\log(r)$ and subleading $(1/r)\,\log(r)$ terms in the weak-field expansion of the potential. Our description also predicts a tiny (of order $10^{-6}$ for a typical spiral galaxy) Machian modification of the Newtonian potential at galactic scales, which is controlled by the cosmological acceleration.Comment: 13 pages, no figures. Replaced version: major revisions in the introduction, microscopic derivation of Tully-Fisher relation using Bose-Einstein condensate of gravitons. Some typos correcte

Very Special Relativity in Curved Space-Times

The generalization of Cohen and Glashow's Very Special Relativity to curved space-times is considered. Gauging the SIM(2) symmetry does not, in general, provide the coupling to the gravitational background. However, locally SIM(2) invariant Lagrangians can always be constructed. For space-times with SIM(2) holonomy, they describe chiral fermions propagating freely as massive particles.Comment: 7 page