The path integral of 3D gravity near extremality; or, JT gravity with defects as a matrix integral

101

We consider string theory on AdS3× S3× 𝕋4 in the tensionless limit, with one unit of NS-NS flux. This theory is conjectured to describe the symmetric product orbifold CFT. We consider the string on different Euclidean backgrounds such as thermal AdS3, the BTZ black hole, conical defects and wormhole geometries. In simple examples we compute the full string partition function. We find it to be independent of the precise bulk geometry, but only dependent on the geometry of the conformal boundary. For example, the string partition function on thermal AdS3 and the conical defect with a torus boundary is shown to agree, thus giving evidence for the equivalence of the tensionless string on these different background geometries. We also find that thermal AdS3 and the BTZ black hole are dual descriptions and the vacuum of the BTZ black hole is mapped to a single long string winding many times asymptotically around thermal AdS3. Thus the system yields a concrete example of the string-black hole transition. Consequently, reproducing the boundary partition function does not require a sum over bulk geometries, but rather agrees with the string partition function on any bulk geometry with the appropriate boundary. We argue that the same mechanism can lead to a resolution of the factorization problem when geometries with disconnected boundaries are considered, since the connected and disconnected geometries give the same contribution and we do not have to include them separately.

Section: Jhep03(2021)176mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Handlebodies and Wormholesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Partition functions of the tensionless string

Eberhardt

2021

101

“…One way to cure this pathology is to modify the theory by including additional matter (which could be very heavy) that modifies the BTZ extremality bound and corrects the density of states in a way that guarantees positivity. An alternative resolution has been proposed in [24]. Third, in string theory BTZ black holes can appear as the near-horizon limit of a black string.…”

Section: Jhep03(2021)085mentioning

confidence: 99%

A new spin on the Weak Gravity Conjecture

Aalsma

Cole

Loges

et al. 2021

The mild form of the Weak Gravity Conjecture states that quantum or higher-derivative corrections should decrease the mass of large extremal charged black holes at fixed charge. This allows extremal black holes to decay, unless protected by a symmetry (such as supersymmetry). We reformulate this conjecture as an integrated condition on the effective stress tensor capturing the effect of quantum or higher-derivative corrections. In addition to charged black holes, we also consider rotating BTZ black holes and show that this condition is satisfied as a consequence of the c-theorem, proving a spinning version of the Weak Gravity Conjecture. We also apply our results to a five-dimensional boosted black string with higher-derivative corrections. The boosted black string has a BTZ×S2 near-horizon geometry and, after Kaluza-Klein reduction, describes a four-dimensional charged black hole. Combining the spinning and charged Weak Gravity Conjecture we obtain positivity bounds on the five-dimensional Wilson coefficients that are stronger than those obtained from charged black holes alone.

“…What we seek is a nonperturbative proof. We can attempt to approach this from a different perspective following recent work [114]. Let us define the threshold for spin-J black holes,…”

Section: Jhep02(2021)064mentioning

confidence: 99%

Discreteness and integrality in Conformal Field Theory

Kaidi

Perlmutter

2021

Various observables in compact CFTs are required to obey positivity, discreteness, and integrality. Positivity forms the crux of the conformal bootstrap, but understanding of the abstract implications of discreteness and integrality for the space of CFTs is lacking. We systematically study these constraints in two-dimensional, non-holomorphic CFTs, making use of two main mathematical results. First, we prove a theorem constraining the behavior near the cusp of integral, vector-valued modular functions. Second, we explicitly construct non-factorizable, non-holomorphic cuspidal functions satisfying discreteness and integrality, and prove the non-existence of such functions once positivity is added. Application of these results yields several bootstrap-type bounds on OPE data of both rational and irrational CFTs, including some powerful bounds for theories with conformal manifolds, as well as insights into questions of spectral determinacy. We prove that in rational CFT, the spectrum of operator twists $$ t\ge \frac{c}{12} $$ t ≥ c 12 is uniquely determined by its complement. Likewise, we argue that in generic CFTs, the spectrum of operator dimensions $$ \Delta >\frac{c-1}{12} $$ Δ > c − 1 12 is uniquely determined by its complement, absent fine-tuning in a sense we articulate. Finally, we discuss implications for black hole physics and the (non-)uniqueness of a possible ensemble interpretation of AdS3 gravity.