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We explore properties of path integral complexity in field theories on time dependent backgrounds using its dual description in terms of Hartle-Hawking wavefunctions. In particular, we consider boundary theories with time dependent couplings which are dual to Kasner-AdS metrics in the bulk with a time dependent dilaton. We show that holographic path integral complexity decreases as we approach the singularity, consistent with earlier results from holographic complexity conjectures. Furthermore, we find examples where the complexity becomes universal i.e., independent of the Kasner exponents, but the properties of the path integral tensor networks depend sensitively on this data., 33 pages, 4 figures

We explore the question of finiteness of the entanglement entropy in gravitational theories whose emergent space is the target space of a holographic dual. In the well studied duality of two-dimensional non-critical string theory and $c=1$ matrix model, this question has been studied earlier using fermionic many-body theory in the space of eigenvalues. The entanglement entropy of a subregion of the eigenvalue space, which is the target space entanglement in the matrix model, is finite, with the scale being provided by the local Fermi momentum. The Fermi momentum is, however, a position-dependent string coupling, as is clear in the collective field theory formulation. This suggests that the finiteness is a non-perturbative effect. We provide evidence for this expectation by an explicit calculation in the collective field theory of matrix quantum mechanics with vanishing potential. The leading term in the cumulant expansion of the entanglement entropy is calculated using exact eigenstates and eigenvalues of the collective Hamiltonian, yielding a finite result, in precise agreement with the fermion answer. Treating the theory perturbatively, we show that each term in the perturbation expansion is UV divergent. However the series can be resummed, yielding the exact finite result. Our results indicate that the finiteness of the entanglement entropy for higher dimensional string theories is non-perturbative as well, with the scale provided by the Newton constant., Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures

We consider the entanglement entropy of an arbitrary subregion in a system of $N$ non-relativistic fermions in $2+1$ dimensions in Lowest Landau Level (LLL) states. Using the connection of these states to those of an auxiliary $1+1$ dimensional fermionic system, we derive an expression for the leading large-$N$ contribution in terms of the expectation value of the phase space density operator in $1+1$ dimensions. For appropriate subregions the latter can replaced by its semiclassical Thomas-Fermi value, yielding expressions in terms of explicit integrals which can be evaluated analytically. We show that the leading term in the entanglement entropy is a perimeter law with a shape independent coefficient. Furthermore, we obtain analytic expressions for additional contributions from sharp corners on the entangling curve. Both the perimeter and the corner pieces are in good agreement with existing calculations for special subregions. Our results are relevant to the integer quantum Hall effect problem, and to the half-BPS sector of $\mathcal N=4$ Yang Mills theory on $S^3$. In this latter context, the entanglement we consider is an entanglement in target space. We comment on possible implications to gauge-gravity duality., Comment: 57 pages, 5 figures

It has been suggested in arXiv:2004.00613 that in Dp-brane holography, entanglement in the target space of the D-brane Yang-Mills theory provides a precise notion of bulk entanglement in the gravity dual. We expand on this discussion by providing a gauge invariant characterization of operator sub-algebras corresponding to such entanglement. This is achieved by finding a projection operator which imposes a constraint characterizing the target space region of interest. By considering probe branes in the Coulomb branch we provide motivation for why the operator sub-algebras we consider are appropriate for describing a class of measurements carried out with low-energy probes in the corresponding bulk region of interest. We derive expressions for the corresponding Renyi entropies in terms of path integrals which can be directly used in numerical calculations., Comment: 53 pages, 4 figures

We present a systematic procedure to extract the dynamics of the low energy soft mode in SYK type models with a single energy scale $J$ and emergent reparametrization symmetry in the IR. This is given in the framework of the perturbation theory scheme of arXiv:1608.07567 based on specific (off-shell) breaking of conformal invariance in the UV, adjusted to yield the exact large-$N$ saddle point. While this breaking formally vanishes on-shell, it has a non-trivial effect on correlation functions and the effective action. In particular, it leads to the Schwarzian action with a specific coupling to bi-local matter. The method is applied to the evaluation of $O(1)$ corrections to the correlation function of bi-locals. As a byproduct we confirm precise agreement with the explicit, symmetry breaking procedure. We provide a verification in the large $q$ limit (Liouville theory), where the correlators can be calculated exactly at all length scales. In this case, our scheme illuminates how the enhanced $O(J)$ and the subleading $O(1)$ contributions originate from the Schwarzian dynamics of the soft mode and its interaction with $h=2$ (bi-local) matter., 54 pages, 4 figures

We present the first measurement of the proton–Ω correlation function in heavy-ion collisions for the central (0–40%) and peripheral (40–80%) Au + Au collisions at s NN = 200 GeV by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). Predictions for the ratio of peripheral collisions to central collisions for the proton–Ω correlation function are sensitive to the presence of a nucleon–Ω bound state. These predictions are based on the proton–Ω interaction extracted from ( 2 + 1 ) -flavor lattice QCD calculations at the physical point. The measured ratio of the proton–Ω correlation function between the peripheral (small system) and central (large system) collisions is less than unity for relative momentum smaller than 40 MeV/c. Comparison of our measured correlation ratio with theoretical calculation slightly favors a proton–Ω bound system with a binding energy of ∼ 27 MeV.

In this work, we formulate a path-integral optimization for two dimensional conformal field theories perturbed by relevant operators. We present several evidences how this optimization mechanism works, based on calculations in free field theories as well as general arguments of RG flows in field theories. Our optimization is performed by minimizing the path-integral complexity functional that depends on the metric and also on the relevant couplings. Then, we compute the optimal metric perturbatively and find that it agrees with the time slice of the hyperbolic metric perturbed by a scalar field in the AdS/CFT correspondence. Last but not the least, we estimate contributions to complexity from relevant perturbations., 27 pages, 1 figure; citation and clarifying text added; version to appear in JHEP

We examine the behavior of entanglement entropy of a subsystem $A$ in a fully backreacted holographic model of a $1+1$ dimensional $p$ wave superconductor across the phase transition. For a given temperature, the system goes to a superconducting phase beyond a critical value of the charge density. The entanglement entropy, considered as a function of the charge density at a given temperature, has a cusp at the critical point. In addition, we find that there are three different behaviors in the condensed phase, depending on the subsystem size. For a subsystem size $l$ smaller than a critical size $l_{c1}$, entanglement entropy continues to increase as a function of the charge density as we cross the phase transition. When $l$ lies between $l_{c1}$ and another critical size $l_{c2}$ the entanglement entropy displays a non-monotonic behavior, while for $l > l_{c2}$ it decreases monotonically. At large charge densities entanglement entropy appears to saturate. The non-monotonic behavior leads to a novel phase diagram for this system., 16 pages, 17 figures, v2: references added, section 3.1 added, JHEP style

Global quantum quench with a finite quench rate which crosses critical points is known to lead to universal scaling of correlation functions as functions of the quench rate. In this work, we explore scaling properties of the entanglement entropy of a subsystem in a harmonic chain during a mass quench which asymptotes to finite constant values at early and late times and for which the dynamics is exactly solvable. When the initial state is the ground state, we find that for large enough subsystem sizes the entanglement entropy becomes independent of size. This is consistent with Kibble-Zurek scaling for slow quenches, and with recently discussed "fast quench scaling" for quenches fast compared to physical scales, but slow compared to UV cutoff scales., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures; Major revision which affects the main results

We consider quantum quench in large-N singlet sector quantum mechanics of a single hermitian matrix in the double scaling limit. The time dependent parameter is the self-coupling of the matrix. We find exact classical solutions of the collective field theory of eigenvalue density with abrupt smooth quench profiles which asymptote to constant couplings at early and late times, and the system is initially in its ground state. With adiabatic initial conditions we find that adiabaticity is always broken regardless of the quench speed. In a class of quench profiles the saddle point solution for the collective field diverges at a finite time, and a further time evolution becomes ambiguous. However the underlying matrix model expressed in terms of fermions predict a smooth time evolution across this point. By studying fluctuations around the saddle point solution we interpret the emergent space-times. They generically have spacelike boundaries where the couplings of the fluctuations diverge. Only for very finely tuned quench profiles, the space-time is normal., 44 pages, 15 figures; version accepted for publication in JHEP

We investigate a class of exactly solvable quantum quench protocols with a finite quench rate in systems of one dimensional non-relativistic fermions in external harmonic oscillator or inverted harmonic oscillator potentials, with time dependent masses and frequencies. These hamiltonians arise, respectively, in harmonic traps, and the $c=1$ Matrix Model description of two dimensional string theory with time dependent string coupling. We show how the dynamics is determined by a single function of time which satisfies a generalized Ermakov-Pinney equation. The quench protocols we consider asymptote to constant masses and frequencies at early times, and cross or approach a gapless potential. In a right side up harmonic oscillator potential we determine the scaling behavior of the one point function and the entanglement entropy of a subregion by obtaining analytic approximations to the exact answers. The results are consistent with Kibble-Zurek scaling for slow quenches and with perturbation calculations for fast quenches. For cis-critical quench protocols the entanglement entropy oscillates at late times around its initial value. For end-critical protocols the entanglement entropy monotonically goes to zero inversely with time, reflecting the spread of fermions over the entire line. For the inverted harmonic oscillator potential, the dual collective field description is a scalar field in a time dependent metric and dilaton background., Comment: 44 pages, 10 figures

Quantum quenches in continuum field theory across critical points are known to display different scaling behaviours in different regimes of the quench rate. We extend these results to integrable lattice models such as the transverse field Ising model on a one-dimensional chain and the Kitaev model on a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice using a nonlinear quench protocol which allows for exact analytical solutions of the dynamics. Our quench protocol starts with a finite mass gap at early times and crosses a critical point or a critical region, and we study the behaviour of one point functions of the quenched operator at the critical point or in the critical region as a function of the quench rate. For quench rates slow compared to the initial mass gap, we find the expected Kibble-Zurek scaling. In contrast, for rates fast compared to the mass gap, but slow compared to the inverse lattice spacing, we find scaling behaviour similar to smooth fast continuum quenches. For quench rates of the same order of the lattice scale, the one point function saturates as a function of the rate, approaching the results of an abrupt quench. The presence of an extended critical surface in the Kitaev model leads to a variety of scaling exponents depending on the starting point and on the time where the operator is measured. We discuss the role of the amplitude of the quench in determining the extent of the slow (Kibble-Zurek) and fast quench regimes, and the onset of the saturation., Comment: 54 pages, 13 figures; v2: added analytic argument for Kitaev model

In \url{arXiv:1704.07208} it was shown that the spectrum and bilocal propagator of SYK model with four fermion interactions can be realized as a three dimensional model in $AdS_2 \times S^1/Z_2$ with nontrivial boundary conditions in the additional dimension. In this paper we show that a similar picture holds for generalizations of the SYK model with $q$-fermion interactions. The 3D realization is now given on a space whose metric is conformal to $AdS_2 \times S^1/Z_2$ and is subject to a non-trivial potential in addition to a delta function at the center of the interval. It is shown that a Horava-Witten compactification reproduces the exact SYK spectrum and a non-standard propagator between points which lie at the center of the interval exactly agrees with the bilocal propagator. As $q \rightarrow \infty$, the wave function of one of the modes at the center of the interval vanish as $1/q$, while the others vanish as $1/q^2$, in a way consistent with the fact that in the SYK model only one of the modes contributes to the bilocal propagator in this limit., Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure

We consider the question of identifying the bulk space-time of the SYK model. Focusing on the signature of emergent space-time of the (Euclidean) model, we explain the need for non-local (Radon-type) transformations on external legs of $n$-point Green's functions. This results in a dual theory with Euclidean AdS signature with additional leg-factors. We speculate that these factors incorporate the coupling of additional bulk states similar to the discrete states of 2d string theory., Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure; v2: published version in JHEP with minor corrections

We show that the spectrum of the SYK model can be interpreted as that of a 3D scalar coupled to gravity. The scalar has a mass which is at the Breitenholer-Freedman bound of AdS$_2$, and subject to a delta function potential at the center of the interval along the third direction. This, through Kaluza-Klein procedure on AdS$_2 \times (S^1)/Z_2$, generates the spectrum reproducing the bi-local propagator at strong coupling. Furthermore, the leading $1/J$ correction calculated in this picture reproduces the known correction to the poles of the SYK propagator, providing credence to a conjecture that the bulk dual of this model can be interpreted as a three dimensional theory., Comment: 19 pages; v2: further clarifications and references added

Quantum quenches display universal scaling in several regimes. For quenches which start from a gapped phase and cross a critical point, with a rate slow compared to the initial gap, many systems obey Kibble-Zurek scaling. More recently, a different scaling behaviour has been shown to occur when the quench rate is fast compared to all other physical scales, but still slow compared to the UV cutoff. We investigate the passage from fast to slow quenches in scalar and fermionic free field theories with time dependent masses for which the dynamics can be solved exactly for all quench rates. We find that renormalized one point functions smoothly cross over between the regimes., Comment: 40 pages; v2: a bit late, but it includes minor modifications to match published version

We describe toy models of cosmology in asymptotically AdS space-times which have natural gauge theory duals. For spacetimes containing null singularities we argue that the gauge theory provides a well defined evolution in light front time even though the gravity description does not. For models with spacelike singularities examined so far, we identify the signature of such singularities in the gauge theory. However, it is not clear whether these singularities can be "resolved".

We report on measurements of dielectron (e(+) e(-)) production in Au + Au collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV per nucleon-nucleon pair using the STAR detector at BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Systematic measurements of the dielectron yield as a function of transverse momentum (p(T)) and collision centrality show an enhancement compared to a cocktail simulation of hadronic sources in the low invariant-mass region (M-ee < 1 GeV / c(2)). This enhancement cannot be reproduced by the rho-meson vacuum spectral function. In minimum-bias collisions, in the invariant-mass range of 0.30-0.76 GeV / c(2), integrated over the full pT acceptance, the enhancement factor is 1.76 +/- 0.06 (stat.) +/- 0.26 (sys.) +/- 0.29 (cocktail). The enhancement factor exhibits weak centrality and pT dependence in STAR's accessible kinematic regions, while the excess yield in this invariant-mass region as a function of the number of participating nucleons follows a power-law shape with a power of 1.44 +/- 0.10. Models that assume an in-medium broadening of the rho-meson spectral function consistently describe the observed excess in these measurements. Additionally, we report on measurements of omega-and phi-meson production through their e+ e(-) decay channel. These measurements show good agreement with Tsallis blast-wave model predictions, as well as, in the case of the phi meson, results through its K+ K- decay channel. In the intermediate invariant-mass region (1.1 < Mee < 3 GeV / c(2)), we investigate the spectral shapes from different collision centralities. Physics implications for possible in-medium modification of charmed hadron production and other physics sources are discussed.

© 2015 American Physical Society. ©2015 American Physical Society. A search for the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) critical point was performed by the STAR experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, using dynamical fluctuations of unlike particle pairs. Heavy ion collisions were studied over a large range of collision energies with homogeneous acceptance and excellent particle identification, covering a significant range in the QCD phase diagram where a critical point may be located. Dynamical Kπ, pπ, and Kp fluctuations as measured by the STAR experiment in central 0-5% Au + Au collisions from center-of-mass collision energies sNN=7.7 to 200 GeV are presented. The observable νdyn was used to quantify the magnitude of the dynamical fluctuations in event-by-event measurements of the Kπ, pπ, and Kp pairs. The energy dependences of these fluctuations from central 0-5% Au + Au collisions all demonstrate a smooth evolution with collision energy.

We examine in detail the relationship between smooth fast quantum quenches, characterized by a time scale $\delta t$, and {\em instantaneous quenches}, within the framework of exactly solvable mass quenches in free scalar field theory. Our earlier studies \cite{dgm1,dgm2} highlighted that the two protocols remain distinct in the limit $\delta t \rightarrow 0$ because of the relation of the quench rate to the UV cut-off, i.e., $1/\delta t\ll\Lambda$ always holds in the fast smooth quenches while $1/\delta t\sim\Lambda$ for instantaneous quenches. Here we study UV finite quantities like correlators at finite spatial distances and the excess energy produced above the final ground state energy. We show that at late times and large distances (compared to the quench time scale) the smooth quench correlator approaches that for the instantaneous quench. At early times, we find that for small spatial separation and small $\delta t$, the correlator scales universally with $\delta t$, exactly as in the scaling of renormalized one point functions found in earlier work. At larger separation, the dependence on $\delta t$ drops out. The excess energy density is finite (for finite $m\delta t$) and scales in a universal fashion for all $d$. However, the scaling behaviour produces a divergent result in the limit $m\delta t \rightarrow 0$ for $d\ge4$, just as in an instantaneous quench, where it is UV divergent for $d \geq 4$. We argue that similar results hold for arbitrary interacting theories: the excess energy density produced is expected to diverge for scaling dimensions $\Delta > d/2$., Comment: 52 pages; v2: minor modifications to match published version

Solutions of matrix quantum mechanics have been shown to describe time dependent backgrounds in the holographically dual two-dimensional closed string theory. We review some recent work dealing with nontrivial spacetimes which arise in this fashion and discuss aspects of physical phenomena in them. These include spacetimes with spacelike boundaries.

We report on the first measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy (v2) of dielectrons (e+e− pairs) at mid-rapidity from √sNN=200 GeV Au + Au collisions with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), presented as a function of transverse momentum (pT) for different invariant-mass regions. In the mass region Mee

The J/ψ pT spectrum and nuclear modification factor (RAA) are reported for pT

A study is reported of the same-and opposite-sign charge-dependent azimuthal correlations with respect to the event plane in Au+ Au collisions at root(S)(NN) = 200 GeV. The charge multiplicity asymmetries between the up/down and left/right hemispheres relative to the event plane are utilized. The contributions from statistical fluctuations and detector effects were subtracted from the (co-) variance of the observed charge multiplicity asymmetries. In the mid-to most-central collisions, the same- (opposite-) sign pairs are preferentially emitted in back-to-back (aligned on the same-side) directions. The charge separation across the event plane, measured by the difference, Delta, between the like-and unlike-sign up/down-left/right correlations, is largest near the event plane. The difference is found to be proportional to the event-by-event final-state particle ellipticity (via the observed second order harmonic nu(obs)(2)), where Delta = [ 1.3 +/- 1.4( stat)(-1.0)(+4.0)(syst)] x 10(-5) + [3.2 +/- 0.2(stat)(- 0.3)(+0.4)(syst)] x 10(-3)v(2)(obs) for 20- 40% Au + Au collisions. The implications for the proposed chiral magnetic effect are discussed.

We describe a class of spacetimes that are asymptotically de Sitter in the Poincare slicing. Assuming that a dS/CFT correspondence exists, we argue that these are gravity duals to a CFT on a circle leading to uniform energy-momentum density, and are equivalent to an analytic continuation of the Euclidean AdS black brane. These are solutions with a complex parameter which then gives a real energy-momentum density. We also discuss a related solution with the parameter continued to a real number, which we refer to as a de Sitter "bluewall". This spacetime has two asymptotic de Sitter universes and Cauchy horizons cloaking timelike singularities. We argue that the Cauchy horizons give rise to a blue-shift instability., Comment: Latex, 13pgs, 2 figs. v2: 14pgs, published version, some rephrasing of language in terms of Euclidean CFT on a circle, more elaborate discussion on blueshift

Recently, a relation between N=4 Super Yang Mills in 3+1 dimensions and supergravity in an $AdS_5$ background has been proposed. In this paper we explore the idea that the correspondence between operators in the Yang Mills theory and modes of the supergravity theory can be obtained by using the D3 brane action. Specifically, we consider two form gauge fields for this purpose. The supergravity analysis predicts that the operator which corresponds to this mode has dimension six. We show that this is indeed the leading operator in the three brane Dirac-Born-Infeld and Wess-Zumino action which couples to this mode. It is important in the analysis that the brane action is expanded around the anti de-Sitter background. Also, the Wess-Zumino term plays a crucial role in cancelling a lower dimension operator which appears in the the Dirac-Born-Infeld action., Comment: 12 pages, LaTex, no figures; error in the form of the final dimension six operator corrected, some references and comments added, main conclusions unchanged

The entropy of a near-extremal black hole made of parallel D-branes has been shown to agree, upto a numerical factor, with that of the gas of massless open string states on the brane worldvolume when the string coupling is chosen suitably. We investigate the process of emission or absorption of massless S-wave neutral scalars by these black holes. We show that with rather mild assumptions about the nature of the interactions between the scalar and open string states, the D-brane cross-section generally fails to reproduce the universal low energy black hole cross-section except for 1-branes and 3-branes., Comment: 10 pages, harvmac

Previous experimental results based on data (∼15×106 events) collected by the STAR detector at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider suggest event-by-event charge-separation fluctuations perpendicular to the event plane in noncentral heavy-ion collisions. Here we present the correlator previously used split into its two component parts to reveal correlations parallel and perpendicular to the event plane. The results are from a high-statistics 200-GeV Au + Au collisions data set (57×106 events) collected by the STAR experiment. We explicitly count units of charge separation from which we find clear evidence for more charge-separation fluctuations perpendicular than parallel to the event plane. We also employ a modified correlator to study the possible P-even background in same- and opposite-charge correlations, and find that the P-even background may largely be explained by momentum conservation and collective motion. © 2013 American Physical Society.

We examine the BPS and low energy non-BPS excitations of the D-string, in terms of open strings that travel on the D-string. We use this to study the energy thresholds for exciting a long D-string, for arbitrary winding number. We also compute the leading correction to the entropy from non-BPS states for a long D-string, and observe the relation of all these quantities with the corresponding quantities for the elementary string., harvmac, 14 pages, some references added, some small corrections (mainly in section 2)

In the 1-dimensional matrix model one identifies the tachyon field in the asymptotic region with a nonlocal transform of the density of fermions. But there is a problem in relating the classical tachyon field with the surface profile of the fermi fluid if a fold forms in the fermi surface. Besides the collective field additional variables $w_j(x)$ are required to describe folds. In the quantum theory we show that the $w_j$ are the quantum dispersions of the collective field. These dispersions become $O(1)$ rather than $O(\hbar)$ precisely after fold formation, thus giving additional `classical' quantities and leading to a rather nontrivial classical limit. A coherent pulse reflecting from the potential wall turns into high energy incoherent quanta (if a fold forms), the frequency amplification being of the order of the square root of the number of quanta in the incident wave., Latex, 12 pages

We consider quantum quench by a time dependent double trace coupling in a strongly coupled large N field theory which has a gravity dual via the AdS/CFT correspondence. The bulk theory contains a self coupled neutral scalar field coupled to gravity with negative cosmological constant. We study the scalar dynamics in the probe approximation in two backgrounds: AdS soliton and AdS black brane. In either case we find that in equilibrium there is a critical phase transition at a {\em negative} value of the double trace coupling $\kappa$ below which the scalar condenses. For a slowly varying homogeneous time dependent coupling crossing the critical point, we show that the dynamics in the critical region is dominated by a single mode of the bulk field. This mode satisfies a Landau-Ginsburg equation with a time dependent mass, and leads to Kibble Zurek type scaling behavior. For the AdS soliton the system is non-dissipative and has $z=1$, while for the black brane one has dissipative $z=2$ dynamics. We also discuss the features of a holographic model which would describe the non-equilibrium dynamics around quantum critical points with arbitrary dynamical critical exponent $z$ and correlation length exponent $\nu$. These analytical results are supported by direct numerical solutions., Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures

If there is a dS/CFT correspondence, time evolution in the bulk should translate to RG flows in the dual euclidean field theory. Consequently, although the dual field is expected to be non-unitary, its RG flows will carry an imprint of the unitary time evolution in the bulk. In this note we examine the prediction of holographic RG in de Sitter space for the flow of double and triple trace couplings in any proposed dual. We show quite generally that the correct form of the field theory beta functions for the double trace couplings is obtained from holography, provided one identifies the scale of the field theory with (i|T|) where T is the `time' in conformal coordinates. For dS(4), we find that with an appropriate choice of operator normalization, it is possible to have real n-point correlation functions as well as beta functions with real coefficients. This choice leads to an RG flow with an IR fixed point at negative coupling unlike in a unitary theory where the IR fixed point is at positive coupling. The proposed correspondence of Sp(N) vector models with de Sitter Vasiliev gravity provides a specific example of such a phenomenon. For dS(d+1) with even d, however, we find that no choice of operator normalization exists which ensures reality of coefficients of the beta-functions as well as absence of n-dependent phases for various n-point functions, as long as one assumes real coupling constants in the bulk Lagrangian., Comment: 18 pages, no figures; (v2) minor typos fixed, references added

We study quantum quench in a holographic model of a zero temperature insulator-superfluid transition. The model is a modification of that of arXiv:0911.0962 and involves a self-coupled complex scalar field, Einstein gravity with a negative cosmological constant, and Maxwell field with one of the spatial directions compact. In a suitable regime of parameters, the scalar field can be treated as a probe field whose backreaction to both the metric and the gauge field can be ignored. We show that when the chemical potential of the dual field theory lies between two critical values, the equilibrium background geometry is a AdS soliton with a constant gauge field, while the complex scalar condenses leading to broken symmetry. We then turn on a time dependent source for the order parameter which interpolates between constant values and crosses the order-disorder critical point. In the critical region adiabaticity breaks down, but for a small rate of change of the source $v$ there is a new small-$v$ expansion in fractional powers of $v$. The resulting critical dynamics is dominated by a zero mode of the bulk field. To lowest order in this small-$v$ expansion, the order parameter satisfies a time dependent Landau-Ginsburg equation which has $z=2$, but non-dissipative. These predictions are verified by explicit numerical solutions of the bulk equations of motion., 23 pages, 4 figures

We study the time evolution of the mass gap of the O(N) non-linear sigma model in 2+1 dimensions due to a time-dependent coupling in the large-$N$ limit. Using the Schwinger-Keldysh approach, we derive a set of equations at large $N$ which determine the time dependent gap in terms of the coupling. These equations lead to a criterion for the breakdown of adiabaticity for slow variation of the coupling leading to a Kibble-Zurek scaling law. We describe a self-consistent numerical procedure to solve these large-$N$ equations and provide explicit numerical solutions for a coupling which starts deep in the gapped phase at early times and approaches the zero temperature equilibrium critical point $g_c$ in a linear fashion. We demonstrate that for such a protocol there is a value of the coupling $g= g_c^{\rm dyn}> g_c$ where the gap function vanishes, possibly indicating a dynamical instability. We study the dependence of $g_c^{\rm dyn}$ on both the rate of change of the coupling and the initial temperature. We also verify, by studying the evolution of the mass gap subsequent to a sudden change in $g$, that the model does not display thermalization within a finite time interval $t_0$ and discuss the implications of this observation for its conjectured gravitational dual as a higher spin theory in $AdS_4$., 22 pages, 9 figures. Typos corrected, references rearranged and added.v3 : sections rearranged, abstract modified, comment about Kibble-Zurek scaling corrected

We study the problem of quantum quench across a critical point in a strongly coupled field theory using AdS/CFT techniques. The model involves a probe neutral scalar field with mass-squared $m^2$ in the range $-9/4 < m^2 < -3/2$ in a $AdS_4$ charged black brane background. For a given brane background there is a critical mass-squared, $m_c^2$ such that for $m^2 < m_c^2$ the scalar field condenses. The theory is critical when $m^2 = m_c^2$ and the source for the dual operator vanishes. At the critical point, the radial operator for the bulk linearized problem has a zero mode. We study the dynamics of the order parameter with a time dependent source $J(t)$, or a null-time dependent bulk mass $m(u)$ across the critical point. We show that in the critical region the dynamics for an initially slow variation is dominated by the zero mode : this leads to an effective description in terms of a Landau-Ginsburg type dynamics with a {\em linear} time derivative. Starting with an adiabatic initial condition in the ordered phase, we find that the order parameter drops to zero at a time $t_\star$ which is later than the time when $(m_c^2-m^2)$ or $J$ hits zero. In the critical region, $t_\star$, and the departure of the order parameter from its adiabatic value, scale with the rate of change, with exponents determined by static critical behavior. Numerical results for the order parameter are consistent with these expectations., 30 pages, 4 figures

We show that an integral transform of the fluctuations of the collective field of the $d=1$ matrix model satisfy the same linearized equation as that of the massless "tachyon" in the black hole background of the two dimensional critical string. This suggests that the $d=1$ matrix model may provide a non-perturbative description of black holes in two dimensional string theory., 12 pages. Preprint TIFR-TH-92/62 (with a Note added and additional references)

We present holographic descriptions of thermalization in conformal field theories using probe D-branes in AdS X S space-times. We find that the induced metrics on Dp-brane worldvolumes which are rotating in an internal sphere direction have horizons with characteristic Hawking temperatures even if there is no black hole in the bulk AdS. The AdS/CFT correspondence applied to such systems indeed reveals thermal properties such as Brownian motions and AC conductivities in the dual conformal field theories. We also use this framework to holographically analyze time-dependent systems undergoing a quantum quench, where parameters in quantum field theories, such as a mass or a coupling constant, are suddenly changed. We confirm that this leads to thermal behavior by demonstrating the formation of apparent horizons in the induced metric after a certain time., LaTeX, 47 pages, 14 figures; Typos corrected and references added (v2); minor corrections, references added(v3)

Inhomogeneous fluid flows which become supersonic are known to produce acoustic analogs of ergoregions and horizons. This leads to Hawking-like radiation of phonons with a temperature essentially given by the gradient of the velocity at the horizon. We find such acoustic dumb holes in charged conformal fluids and use the fluid-gravity correspondence to construct dual gravity solutions. A class of quasinormal modes around these gravitational backgrounds perceive a horizon. Upon quantization, this implies a thermal spectrum for these modes., Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures

We present a non-relativistic fermionic field theory in 2-dimensions coupled to external gauge fields. The singlet sector of the $c=1$ matrix model corresponds to a specific external gauge field. The gauge theory is one-dimensional (time) and the space coordinate is treated as a group index. The generators of the gauge algebra are polynomials in the single particle momentum and position operators and they form the group $W^{(+)}_{1+\infty}$. There are corresponding Ward identities and residual gauge transformations that leave the external gauge fields invariant. We discuss the realization of these residual symmetries in the Minkowski time theory and conclude that the symmetries generated by the polynomial basis are not realized. We motivate and present an analytic continuation of the model which realises the group of residual symmetries. We consider the classical limit of this theory and make the correspondence with the discrete states of the $c=1$ (Euclidean time) Liouville theory. We explain the appearance of the $SL(2)$ structure in $W^{(+)}_{1+\infty}$. We also present all the Euclidean classical solutions and the classical action in the classical phase space. A possible relation of this theory to the $N=2$ string theory and also self-dual Einstein gravity in 4-dimensions is pointed out., 35 pages

We discuss some physical aspects of W gravities and W strings. We identify global characteristics in W gravities (in addition to the usual Euler characteristic) and show how the dependence of the partition function on the various chemical potentials involves these quantities. We find the operators which create physical states in W3 and W4 gravities and discuss their relationship with screening operators. W strings are discussed in the framework of a natural way of coupling “matter” to W gravity, and the issues of extra dimensions and critical dimensions are clarified. We find a remarkable relationship between pure W gravities and ordinary gravity coupled to c

We explore consequences of $W$-infinity symmetry in the fermionic field theory of the $c=1$ matrix model. We derive exact Ward identities relating correlation functions of the bilocal operator. These identities can be expressed as equations satisfied by the effective action of a {\it three} dimensional theory and contain non-perturbative information about the model. We use these identities to calculate the two point function of the bilocal operator in the double scaling limit. We extract the operator whose two point correlator has a {\it single} pole at an (imaginary) integer value of the energy. We then rewrite the \winf~ charges in terms of operators in the matrix model and use this derive constraints satisfied by the partition function of the matrix model with a general time dependent potential., Comment: 17 pages

We consider a deformation of the $AdS_5\times S^5$ solution of IIB supergravity obtained by taking the boundary value of the dilaton to be time dependent. The time dependence is taken to be slowly varying on the AdS scale thereby introducing a small parameter $\epsilon$. The boundary dilaton has a profile which asymptotes to a constant in the far past and future and attains a minimum value at intermediate times. We construct the sugra solution to first non-trivial order in $\epsilon$, and find that it is smooth, horizon free, and asymptotically $AdS_5\times S^5$ in the far future. When the intermediate values of the dilaton becomes small enough the curvature becomes of order the string scale and the sugra approximation breaks down. The resulting dynamics is analysed in the dual SU(N) gauge theory on $S^3$ with a time dependent coupling constant which varies slowly. When $N \epsilon \ll 1$, we find that a quantum adiabatic approximation is applicable, and use it to argue that at late times the geometry becomes smooth $AdS_5\times S^5$ again. When $N \epsilon \gg 1$, we formulate a classical adiabatic perturbation theory based on coherent states which arises in the large $N$ limit. For large values of the 'tHooft coupling this reproduces the supergravity results. For small 'tHooft coupling the coherent state calculations become involved and we cannot reach a definite conclusion. We argue that the final state should have a dual description which is mostly smooth $AdS_5$ space with the possible presence of a small black hole., Comment: LaTeX, 46 pages. Discussion in Section 6 expanded

We consider $CP^{N-1}$ models in $d+1$ dimensions around Lifshitz fixed points with dynamical critical exponent $z$, in the large-N expansion. It is shown that these models are asymptotically free and dynamically generate a mass for the $CP^{N-1}$ fields for all $d=z$. We demonstrate that, for $z=d=2$, the initially nondynamical gauge field acquires kinetic terms in a way similar to usual $CP^{N-1}$ models in 1+1 dimensions. Lorentz invariance emerges generically in the low-energy electrodynamics, with a nontrivial dielectric constant given by the inverse mass gap and a magnetic permeability which has a logarithmic dependence on scale. At a special multicritical point, the low-energy electrodynamics also has $z=2$, and an essentially singular dependence of the effective action on $B=\epsilon_{ij}\partial_iA_j$., Comment: LaTeX 13 pages; added a comment about constant field effective action. version published in Physical Review D

We investigate some basic physical properties of W gravities and W strings, using a free field realization. We argue that the configuration space of W gravities have global characteristics in addition to the Euler characteristic. We identify one such global quantity to be a "monopole" charge and show how this charge appears in the exponents. The free energy would then involve a "θ" parameter. Using a BRST procedure we find all the physical states of W3 and W4 gravities, and show that physical operators are nonsingular composites of the screening charge operators. (The latter are not physical operators for N≥3.) For W strings we show how the W constraints lead to the emergence of a single (and not many) extra dimension coming from the W-gravity sector. By analyzing the resulting dispersion relations we find that both the lower and upper critical dimensions are lowered compared to ordinary two-dimensional gravity. The pure W gravity spectrum reveals an intriguing "numerological" connection with unitary minimal models coupled to ordinary gravity.

We consider the N=4 SYM theory in flat 3+1 dimensional spacetime with a time dependent coupling constant which vanishes at $t=0$, like $g_{YM}^2=t^p$. In an analogous quantum mechanics toy model we find that the response is singular. The energy diverges at $t=0$, for a generic state. In addition, if $p>1$ the phase of the wave function has a wildly oscillating behavior, which does not allow it to be continued past $t=0$. A similar effect would make the gauge theory singular as well, though nontrivial effects of renormalization could tame this singularity and allow a smooth continuation beyond $t=0$. The gravity dual in some cases is known to be a time dependent cosmology which exhibits a space-like singularity at $t=0$. Our results, if applicable in the gauge theory for the case of the vanishing coupling, imply that the singularity is a genuine sickness and does not admit a meaningful continuation. When the coupling remains non-zero and becomes small at $t=0$, the curvature in the bulk becomes of order the string scale. The gauge theory now admits a time evolution beyond this point. In this case, a finite amount of energy is produced which possibly thermalizes and leads to a black hole in the bulk., 45 pages, 1 figure; v2. minor modifications; v3: PRD version, conclusions in the field theory case significantly revised to include possible renormalization effects, quantum mechanics toy model unchanged, abstract and introduction revised, additional subsection 4.1 added

We describe a field theoretic formulation for one-dimensional string theory. It is given by the collective field representation of the matrix model and leads to a physical interpretation of the theory as that of a massless scalar field in two dimensions. The additional dimension, coming from the large-N color of the matrix model, has an extent which goes to infinity in the continuum limit. The interactions of the field theory are non-zero only at the boundaries of this additional dimension.

The non-perturbative formulation of 2-dimensional quantum gravity in terms of the large-N limit of matrix models is studied to include the effects of higher order curvature terms. This leads to matrix models whose potential contains a symmetry breaking term of the form Tr ϕAϕA, where A is a given fixed matrix. This is studied in d = 0 dimensions and effectively induces additional terms of the form ( Tr ϕk)2 in the one matrix potential. An exact solution to leading order of the potential V(ϕ) = 1/2 Tr ϕ2 + g/N Tr ϕ4 + g′/N2 ( Tr ϕ2)2 is presented leading to 3 phases: γ = −1/2 (smooth surfaces), γ = 1/2 (branched polymer) and γ = 1/3 (intermediate phase). Including a Tr ϕ6 term in the potential gives rise to an additional phase with γ = 1/4. It is conjectured that for the general polynomial potential there are phases with γ = 1/n, n = 2, 3, …. The γ > 0 phases may correspond to c > 1 matter coupled to 2-dimensional gravity.

We study the critical behavior in D = 1 large-N matrix models with potentials of the form V(M) = ΣkN1−kgk tr (M2k) for hermitian matrices, and also those of the form [Formula: see text] for the unitary matrices. For the planar theory, both cases show multicritical points characterized by an integer m ≥ 2 with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We also look at the subleading terms in susceptibility in order to find out the dimensions of some of the operators in the theory. The question of identification for m > 2, however, remains unsettled.

We show how consistent quantization determines the renormalization of couplings in a quantum field theory coupled to gravity in two dimensions. The special status of couplings corresponding to conformally invariant matter is discussed. In string theory, where the dynamical degree of freedom of the two-dimensional metric plays the role of time in target space, these renormalization group equations are themselves the classical equations of motion. Time independent solutions, like classical vacuua, correspond to the situation in which matter is conformally invariant. Time dependent solutions, like tunnelling configurations between vacuua, correspond to special trajectories in theory space. We discuss an example of such a trajectory in the space containing the c < 1 minimal models. We also discuss the connection between this work and the recent attempts to construct non-perturbative string theories based on matrix models.