Euclidean and complex geometries from real-time computations of gravitational Rényi entropies

Abstract Gravitational Rényi computations have traditionally been described in the language of Euclidean path integrals. In the semiclassical limit, such calculations are governed by Euclidean (or, more generally, complex) saddle-point geometries. We emphasize here that, at least in simple contexts,...

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Main Authors: Jesse Held, Xiaoyi Liu, Donald Marolf, Zhencheng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of High Energy Physics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP02(2025)136
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author Jesse Held
Xiaoyi Liu
Donald Marolf
Zhencheng Wang
author_facet Jesse Held
Xiaoyi Liu
Donald Marolf
Zhencheng Wang
author_sort Jesse Held
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gravitational Rényi computations have traditionally been described in the language of Euclidean path integrals. In the semiclassical limit, such calculations are governed by Euclidean (or, more generally, complex) saddle-point geometries. We emphasize here that, at least in simple contexts, the Euclidean approach suggests an alternative formulation in terms of the bulk quantum wavefunction. Since this alternate formulation can be directly applied to the real-time quantum theory, it is insensitive to subtleties involved in defining the Euclidean path integral. In particular, it can be consistent with many different choices of integration contour. Despite the fact that self-adjoint operators in the associated real-time quantum theory have real eigenvalues, we note that the bulk wavefunction encodes the Euclidean (or complex) Rényi geometries that would arise in any Euclidean path integral. As a result, for any given quantum state, the appropriate real-time path integral yields both Rényi entropies and associated complex saddle-point geometries that agree with Euclidean methods. After brief explanations of these general points, we use JT gravity to illustrate the associated real-time computations in detail.
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spelling doaj-art-8dd1672bed2a454fbce40bad67a440cf2025-08-20T02:16:22ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792025-02-012025215910.1007/JHEP02(2025)136Euclidean and complex geometries from real-time computations of gravitational Rényi entropiesJesse Held0Xiaoyi Liu1Donald Marolf2Zhencheng Wang3Department of Physics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Physics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Physics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignAbstract Gravitational Rényi computations have traditionally been described in the language of Euclidean path integrals. In the semiclassical limit, such calculations are governed by Euclidean (or, more generally, complex) saddle-point geometries. We emphasize here that, at least in simple contexts, the Euclidean approach suggests an alternative formulation in terms of the bulk quantum wavefunction. Since this alternate formulation can be directly applied to the real-time quantum theory, it is insensitive to subtleties involved in defining the Euclidean path integral. In particular, it can be consistent with many different choices of integration contour. Despite the fact that self-adjoint operators in the associated real-time quantum theory have real eigenvalues, we note that the bulk wavefunction encodes the Euclidean (or complex) Rényi geometries that would arise in any Euclidean path integral. As a result, for any given quantum state, the appropriate real-time path integral yields both Rényi entropies and associated complex saddle-point geometries that agree with Euclidean methods. After brief explanations of these general points, we use JT gravity to illustrate the associated real-time computations in detail.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP02(2025)1362D GravityAdS-CFT CorrespondenceModels of Quantum Gravity
spellingShingle Jesse Held
Xiaoyi Liu
Donald Marolf
Zhencheng Wang
Euclidean and complex geometries from real-time computations of gravitational Rényi entropies
Journal of High Energy Physics
2D Gravity
AdS-CFT Correspondence
Models of Quantum Gravity
title Euclidean and complex geometries from real-time computations of gravitational Rényi entropies
title_full Euclidean and complex geometries from real-time computations of gravitational Rényi entropies
title_fullStr Euclidean and complex geometries from real-time computations of gravitational Rényi entropies
title_full_unstemmed Euclidean and complex geometries from real-time computations of gravitational Rényi entropies
title_short Euclidean and complex geometries from real-time computations of gravitational Rényi entropies
title_sort euclidean and complex geometries from real time computations of gravitational renyi entropies
topic 2D Gravity
AdS-CFT Correspondence
Models of Quantum Gravity
url https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP02(2025)136
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