2d TQFT and baby universes

In this paper, we propose a new gravity dual for a $2$d BCFT with two conformal boundaries by introducing a defect that connects the two End-of-the-World branes. We demonstrate that the BCFT dual to this bulk model exhibits a richer lowest spectrum. The corresponding lowest energy eigenvalue can continuously interpolate between $-\frac{\pi c}{24\Delta x}$ and $0$ where $\Delta x$ is the distance between the boundaries. This range was inaccessible to the conventional AdS/BCFT ...

We combine I. background independent Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) quantization techniques, II. the mathematically rigorous framework of Algebraic Quantum Field Theory (AQFT) and III. the theory of integrable systems resulting in the invariant Pohlmeyer Charges in order to set up the general representation theory (superselection theory) for the closed bosonic quantum string on flat target space. While we do not solve the, expectedly, rich representation theory completely, we pre...

We introduce the key ideas behind the group field theory approach to quantum gravity, and the basic elements of its formalism. We also briefly report on some recent results obtained in this approach, concerning both the mathematical definition of these models, and possible avenues towards extracting interesting physics from them.

The Hilbert space of a quantum system with internal global symmetry $G$ decomposes into sectors labelled by irreducible representations of $G$. If the system is chaotic, the energies in each sector should separately resemble ordinary random matrix theory. We show that such "sector-wise" random matrix ensembles arise as the boundary dual of two-dimensional gravity with a $G$ gauge field in the bulk. Within each sector, the eigenvalue density is enhanced by a nontrivial factor ...

I would claim that we do not have a suitably general definition of what a topological phase is, or more importantly, any robust understanding of how to enter one even in the world of mathematical models. The latter is, of course, the more important issue and the main subject of this note. But a good definition can sharpen our thinking and a poor definition can misdirect us. I will not attempt a final answer here but merely comment on the strengths and weaknesses of possible d...

Spacetime wormholes in gravitational path integrals have long been interpreted in terms of ensembles of theories. Here we probe what sort of theories such ensembles might contain. Careful consideration of a simple $d=2$ topological model indicates that the Hilbert space structure of a general ensemble element fails to factorize over disconnected Cauchy-surface boundaries, and in particular that its Hilbert space ${\cal H}_{N_{CS\partial}}$ for $N_{CS\partial}$ Cauchy-surface ...

We study shape deformations of two-dimensional end-of-the-world (ETW) branes, such as those in bottom-up models of two-dimensional holographic boundary conformal field theories (BCFT), and derive an action for the theory of brane deformations in any bulk three-dimensional maximally symmetric spacetime. In the case of a bulk anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetime, at leading order in the ultraviolet cutoff, the induced theory on the brane controlling its shape is Liouville gravity cou...

We study the Factorization Paradox from the bottom up by adapting methods from perturbative renormalization. Just as quantum field theories are plagued with loop divergences that need to be cancelled systematically by introducing counterterms, gravitational path integrals are plagued by wormhole contributions that spoil the factorization of the holographic dual. These wormholes must be cancelled by some stringy effects in a UV complete, holographic theory of quantum gravity. ...

We study 2-d $\phi F$ gauge theories with the objective to understand, also at the quantum level, the emergence of induced gravity. The wave functionals - representing the eigenstates of a vanishing flat potential - are obtained in the $\phi$ representation. The composition of the space they describe is then analyzed: the state corresponding to the singlet representation of the gauge group describes a topological universe. For other representations a metric which is invariant...

I propose to formalize quantum theories as topological quantum field theories in a generalized sense, associating state spaces with boundaries of arbitrary (and possibly finite) regions of space-time. I further propose to obtain such ``general boundary'' quantum theories through a generalized path integral quantization. I show how both, non-relativistic quantum mechanics and quantum field theory can be given a ``general boundary'' formulation. Surprisingly, even in the non-re...