Spacetime Geometry as Statistic Ensemble of Strings

Jacobson theorem (Ref. \cite{jacobson}) shows that Einstein gravity may be understood as a thermodynamical equation of state; a microscopic realization of this result is however lacking. In this paper, we propose that this may be achieved by assuming the spacetime geometry as a macroscopic system, whose thermodynamical behavior is described by a statistical ensemble, whose microscopic components are low-dimensional geometries. We show that this picture is consistent with string theory by proposing a particular model for the microscopic geometry, where the spacetime metric plays the role of an ordinary thermodynamical potential in a special ensemble. In this scenario, Einstein equation is indeed recovered as an equation of state, and the black hole thermodynamics is reproduced in a thermodynamic limit (large length scales). The model presented here is background-independent and, in particular, it provides an alternative formulation of string theory.Comment: 14 pages, no figure

Emergent spacetime, and a model for unitary gravitational collapse in AdS

We propose a CFT unitary description of the gravitational collapse. The starting point is the model of a black hole in AdS proposed by Maldacena in arXiv: 0106112 [hep-th]. We show that by proposing a two-copies version of the AdS/CFT conjecture, the process of formation of black holes so as other spacetimes with horizons may be described as an unitary process in the dual field theory. In doing this, we construct a well defined framework to describe general spacetimes as entangled states, in terms of the spectrum of states on the exact Anti-de-Sitter background. As application, we show how the description of the Hawking-Page transition results simplified in this formalism and some novel aspects may be observed. Finally, a simplified analysis based on weakly coupled bulk fields is discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figur

Area Operators in Holographic Quantum Gravity

We argue that the holographic formula relating entanglement entropy and the area of a minimal surface is the key to define the area of surfaces in the (emergent) spacetime from the dual theory on the boundary. So we promote the entropy/area relation to operators to define the "area" observable in a holographic formulation of quantum gravity, then we find a suitable geometric representation for the states, and show that the Ryu-Takayanagi proposal is recovered in the approximation of semi-classical gravity. Finally, we discuss this picture in the example of a AdS-Black hole.Comment: Essay written for the Gravity Research Foundation 2014 Awards for Essays on Gravitation. Minor corrections. Figure and reference adde

Lorentz Symmetry Breaking and Planar Effects from Non-Linear Electrodynamics

We propose a modification of standard linear electrodynamics in four dimensions, where effective non-trivial interactions of the electromagnetic field with itself and with matter fields induce Lorentz violating Chern-Simons terms. This yields two consequences: it provides a more realistic and general scenario for the breakdown of Lorentz symmetry in electromagnetism and it may explain the effective behavior of the electromagnetic field in certain planar phenomena (for instance, Hall effect). A number of proposals for non-linear electrodynamics is discussed along the paper. Important physical implications of the breaking of Lorentz symmetry, such as optical birefringence and the possibility of having conductance in the vacuum are commented on

Einstein-Cartan formulation of Chern-Simons Lorentz-violating Gravity

We consider a modification of the standard Einstein theory in four dimensions, alternative to R. Jackiw and S.-Y. Pi, Phys. Rev. D 68, 104012 (2003), since it is based on the first-order (Einstein-Cartan) approach to General Relativity, whose gauge structure is manifest. This is done by introducing an additional topological term in the action which becomes a Lorentz-violating term by virtue of the dependence of the coupling on the space-time point. We obtain a condition on the solutions of the Einstein equations, such that they persist in the deformed theory, and show that the solutions remarkably correspond to the classical solutions of a collection of independent 2+1-d (topological) Chern-Simons gravities. Finally, we study the relation with the standard second-order approach and argue that they both coincide to leading order in the modulus of the Lorentz-violating vector field.Comment: Final versio

Which quantum states are dual to classical spacetimes?

It is commonly accepted that states in a conformal field theory correspond to classical spacetimes with Anti-de-Sitter asymptotics. In this work we give a prescription for the CFT states with a dual classical spacetime and, using basic holographic rules, show that they are holographically connected to coherent states in the large-N limit, or by considering linearized perturbations. We also point out implications in the spacetime emergence mechanism, for instance, the (entangled) state dual to the black hole should be properly described as a quantum superposition of products of these states. This also complements the quantum interpretation of the Hawking-Page transition.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure

Wormhole solutions to Horava gravity

We present wormhole solutions to Horava non-relativistic gravity theory in vacuum. We show that, if the parameter $\lambda$ is set to one, transversable wormholes connecting two asymptotically de Sitter or anti-de Sitter regions exist. In the case of arbitrary $\lambda$, the asymptotic regions have a more complicated metric with constant curvature. We also show that, when the detailed balance condition is violated softly, tranversable and asymptotically Minkowski, de Sitter or anti-de Sitter wormholes exist.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure. Replaced by revised version. Includes an appendix with the proof of the matching condition. References added. Accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.

On excited states in real-time AdS/CFT

The Skenderis-van Rees prescription, which allows the calculation of time-ordered correlation functions of local operators in CFT’s using holographic methods is studied and applied for excited states. Calculation of correlators and matrix elements of local CFT operators between generic in/out states are carried out in global Lorentzian AdS. We find the precise form of such states, obtain an holographic formula to compute the inner product between them, and using the consistency with other known prescriptions, we argue that the in/out excited states built according to the Skenderis-Van Rees prescription correspond to coherent states in the (large-N) AdS-Hilbert space. This is confirmed by explicit holographic computations. The outcome of this study has remarkable implications on generalizing the Hartle-Hawking construction for wave functionals of excited states in AdS quantum gravity.Fil: Botta Cantcheff, Marcelo Angel Nicolas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Pedro Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Silva, Guillermo Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; Argentin