An operator-algebraic quantization of the characteristic initial-value problem yields a candidate on-shell algebra for a gravitational subregion bounded by two null hypersurfaces.
Local phase space and edge modes for diffeomorphism-invariant theories
9 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We discuss an approach to characterizing local degrees of freedom of a subregion in diffeomorphism-invariant theories using the extended phase space of Donnelly and Freidel, [JHEP 2016 (2016) 102]. Such a characterization is important for defining local observables and entanglement entropy in gravitational theories. Traditional phase space constructions for subregions are not invariant with respect to diffeomorphisms that act at the boundary. The extended phase space remedies this problem by introducing edge mode fields at the boundary whose transformations under diffeomorphisms render the extended symplectic structure fully gauge invariant. In this work, we present a general construction for the edge mode symplectic structure. We show that the new fields satisfy a surface symmetry algebra generated by the Noether charges associated with the edge mode fields. For surface-preserving symmetries, the algebra is universal for all diffeomorphism-invariant theories, comprised of diffeomorphisms of the boundary, $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ transformations of the normal plane, and, in some cases, normal shearing transformations. We also show that if boundary conditions are chosen such that surface translations are symmetries, the algebra acquires a central extension.
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representative citing papers
Topology change in canonical JT gravity resolves the firewall paradox by making the connected two-interior branch dominate after Page time, with gravitational constraints annihilating the firewall branch and identifying horizon vacuum and early radiation purity as the same Dirac observable.
Horizon edge mode spectra in de Sitter and Nariai spacetimes exhibit universal shift symmetries that produce novel symmetry breaking in one-loop partition functions.
In 4D Maxwell theory, standard Neumann/Dirichlet boundary conditions render large gauge transformations and edge mode shifts as gauge redundancies, while modified conditions make them physical symmetries generated by topological surface operators, with new electromagnetic dual boundary conditions co
The one-loop graviton path integral on S² × S^{d-1} factorizes into a bulk thermal graviton gas partition function in Nariai geometry and an edge contribution from shift-symmetric fields on S^{d-1}.
Quantum gravity may permit contextual deviations from the Fisher metric, inducing observer-dependent modifications to the Born rule.
Covariant phase space analysis shows tensionless open strings in constant Kalb-Ramond background have purely boundary-supported phase space with noncommutative endpoint coordinates, recovering Seiberg-Witten noncommutativity for tensile strings and unifying both cases.
Phase space of arbitrary null cut in Minkowski spacetime is symplectomorphic to infrared phase space of asymptotically flat gravity, mapping cut fluctuations to leading soft graviton mode and supertranslation Goldstone mode to cut size times null time offset.
Edge partition functions for totally symmetric tensors in dS_{d+1} are decomposed under so(d), with the linearized gravity case receiving contributions from shift-symmetric fields on S^{d-1} suggesting an embedded brane interpretation.
citing papers explorer
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Quantization of Gravity on Null Hypersurfaces
An operator-algebraic quantization of the characteristic initial-value problem yields a candidate on-shell algebra for a gravitational subregion bounded by two null hypersurfaces.
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Smooth horizons from topology change in canonical quantum gravity
Topology change in canonical JT gravity resolves the firewall paradox by making the connected two-interior branch dominate after Page time, with gravitational constraints annihilating the firewall branch and identifying horizon vacuum and early radiation purity as the same Dirac observable.
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Horizon Edge Partition Functions in $\Lambda>0$ Quantum Gravity
Horizon edge mode spectra in de Sitter and Nariai spacetimes exhibit universal shift symmetries that produce novel symmetry breaking in one-loop partition functions.
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Revisiting boundary electromagnetic duality and edge modes
In 4D Maxwell theory, standard Neumann/Dirichlet boundary conditions render large gauge transformations and edge mode shifts as gauge redundancies, while modified conditions make them physical symmetries generated by topological surface operators, with new electromagnetic dual boundary conditions co
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Gravitons on Nariai Edges
The one-loop graviton path integral on S² × S^{d-1} factorizes into a bulk thermal graviton gas partition function in Nariai geometry and an edge contribution from shift-symmetric fields on S^{d-1}.
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Information Metrics and Possible Limitations of Local Information Objectivity in Quantum Gravity
Quantum gravity may permit contextual deviations from the Fisher metric, inducing observer-dependent modifications to the Born rule.
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Covariant phase space approach to noncommutativity in tensile and tensionless open strings
Covariant phase space analysis shows tensionless open strings in constant Kalb-Ramond background have purely boundary-supported phase space with noncommutative endpoint coordinates, recovering Seiberg-Witten noncommutativity for tensile strings and unifying both cases.
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Mapping the Infrared Phase Space of Gravity to Finite Subregions
Phase space of arbitrary null cut in Minkowski spacetime is symplectomorphic to infrared phase space of asymptotically flat gravity, mapping cut fluctuations to leading soft graviton mode and supertranslation Goldstone mode to cut size times null time offset.
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De Sitter Horizon Edge Partition Functions
Edge partition functions for totally symmetric tensors in dS_{d+1} are decomposed under so(d), with the linearized gravity case receiving contributions from shift-symmetric fields on S^{d-1} suggesting an embedded brane interpretation.