No Arabic abstract
We study a $T^2$ deformation of large $N$ conformal field theories, a higher dimensional generalization of the $Tbar T$ deformation. The deformed partition function satisfies a flow equation of the diffusion type. We solve this equation by finding its diffusion kernel, which is given by the Euclidean gravitational path integral in $d+1$ dimensions between two boundaries with Dirichlet boundary conditions for the metric. This is natural given the connection between the flow equation and the Wheeler-DeWitt equation, on which we offer a new perspective by giving a gauge-invariant relation between the deformed partition function and the radial WDW wave function. An interesting output of the flow equation is the gravitational path integral measure which is consistent with a constrained phase space quantization. Finally, we comment on the relation between the radial wave function and the Hartle-Hawking wave functions dual to states in the CFT, and propose a way of obtaining the volume of the maximal slice from the $T^2$ deformation.
We consider a gravitational perturbation of the Jackiw-Teitelboim (JT) gravity with an arbitrary dilaton potential and study the condition under which the quadratic action can be seen as a $Tbar{T}$-deformation of the matter action. As a special case, the flat-space JT gravity discussed by Dubovsky et al[arXiv:1706.06604 ] is included. Another interesting example is a hyperbolic dilaton potential. This case is equivalent to a classical Liouville gravity with a negative cosmological constant and then a finite $Tbar{T}$-deformation of the matter action is realized as a gravitational perturbation on AdS$_2$.
Following the idea of Alekseev and Shatashvili we derive the path integral quantization of a modified relativistic particle action that results in the Feynman propagator of a free field with arbitrary spin. This propagator can be associated with the Duffin, Kemmer, and Petiau (DKP) form of a free field theory. We show explicitly that the obtained DKP propagator is equivalent to the standard one, for spins 0 and 1. We argue that this equivalence holds also for higher spins.
Using a regularised construction of the phase space path integral due to Ingrid Daubechies and John Klauder which involves a time scale ultimately taken to vanish, and motivated by the general programme towards a noncommutative space(time) geometry, physical consequences of assuming this time parameter to provide rather a new fundamental time scale are explored in the context of the one dimensional harmonic oscillator. Some tantalising results are achieved, which raise intriguing prospects when extrapolated to the quantum field theory and gravitational contexts.
We evaluate the four-closed-string scattering amplitude, using the Polyakov string path integral in the proper-time gauge. By identifying the Fock space representation of the four-closed-string-vertex, we obtain a field theoretic expression of the closed string scattering amplitudes. In the zero-slope limit, the four-closed-string scattering amplitude reduces to the four-graviton-scattering amplitude of Einsteins gravity. However, at a finite slope, the four-graviton scattering amplitude in the proper-time gauge differs not only from that of Einstein gravity, but also significantly differs from the conventional one obtained by using the vertex operator technique in string theory. This discrepancy is mainly due to the presence of closed string tachyon poles in the four-graviton-scattering amplitude, which are missing in previous works. Because the tachyon poles in the scattering amplitude considerably alter the short distance behavior of gravitational interaction, they may be important in understanding problems associated with the perturbative theory of quantum gravity and the dark matter within the framework of string theory.
Expanding around null hypersurfaces, such as generic Kerr black hole horizons, using co-rotating Kruskal-Israel-like coordinates we study the associated surface charges, their symmetries and the corresponding phase space within Einstein gravity. Our surface charges are not integrable in general. Their integrable part generates an algebra including superrotations and a BMS_3-type algebra that we dub T-Witt algebra. The non-integrable part accounts for the flux passing through the null hypersurface. We put our results in the context of earlier constructions of near horizon symmetries, soft hair and of the program to semi-classically identify Kerr black hole microstates.