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Andrés Gomberoff

Publications and source records attributed to Andrés Gomberoff.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Semiclassical decay of de Sitter space into black holes with vortex-deformed horizons

We study the decay of de Sitter space into black holes whose horizons are dressed by BPS vortices of a $\mathrm{CP}^1$ action. The process is mediated by a regular Euclidean instanton obtained as a vortex-deformed generalization of the Nariai instanton. Its Euclidean geometry has the form $S^2\timesΣ$, where $Σ$ is a compact surface whose geometry is shaped by the vortex configuration. The resulting decay rates are controlled by a discrete topological charge, showing that matter vortices open a new topologically organized family of decay channels for de Sitter space.

hep-th↗

Exact black holes and black branes with bumpy horizons supported by superfluid pions

We present exact solutions of the Einstein $SU(2)$ non-linear sigma model in $3+1$ spacetime dimensions, describing bumpy black holes and black branes. Using an Ansatz for superfluid pion multi-vortices, the matter sector reduces to a first-order BPS system, while the Einstein equations reduce to a Liouville equation with a smooth source governing the horizon deformation. These solutions describe horizons of different constant curvatures, with nontrivial bumpy geometries protected by an integer topological invariant, namely the vorticity, which also controls the number of bumps and the black hole thermodynamics. Remarkably, such horizons arise in a minimal and physically motivated matter model, without invoking exotic fields or modified gravity. The physical implications of these results in holography and astrophysics are briefly described.

hep-th↗

Analytic meronic black holes, gravitating solitons and higher spins in the Einstein $SU(N)$-Yang-Mills theory

We construct meronic black holes and solitons in the Einstein $SU(N)$-Yang-Mills theory in $D=4$ and $D=5$ dimensions. These analytical solutions are found by combining the generalized hedgehog ansatz with the Euler parameterization of the $SU(N)$ group from which the Yang-Mills equations are automatically satisfied for all values of $N$ while the Einstein equations can be solved analytically. We explicitly show the role that the color number $N$ plays in the black hole thermodynamics as well as in the gravitational spin from isospin effect. Two remarkable results of our analysis are that, firstly, meronic black holes can be distinguished by colored black holes by looking at the spin from isospin effect (which is absent in the latter but present in the former). Secondly, using the theory of non-embedded ansatz for $SU(N)$ together with the spin from isospin effect, one can build fields of arbitrary high spin out of scalar fields charged under the gauge group. Hence, one can analyze interacting higher spin fields in asymptotically flat space-times without "introducing by hand" higher spin fields. Our analysis also discloses an interesting difference between the spin from isospin effect in $D=4$ and in $D=5$.

hep-th↗

Meronic Einstein-Yang-Mills black hole in 5D and gravitational spin from isospin effect

We construct an analytic black hole solution in $SU(2)$ Einstein-Yang-Mills theory in five dimensions supporting a Meron field. The gauge field is proportional to a pure gauge and has a non-trivial topological charge. The would-be singularity at the Meron core gets shielded from the exterior by the black hole horizon. The metric has only one integration constant, namely, its ADM mass, which is shown to be finite once an appropriate boundary term is added to the action. The thermodynamics is also worked out, and a first-order phase transition, similar to the one occurring in the Reissner-Nordstr{ö}m case is identified. We also show that the solution produces a \mbox{\textit{spin from isospin effect}}, i.e., even though the theory is constructed out of bosons only, the combined system of a scalar field and this background may become fermionic. More specifically, we study scalar excitations in this purely bosonic background and find that the system describes fermionic degrees of freedom at spatial infinity. Finally, for the asymptotically $AdS_{5}$ case, we study its consequences in the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence.

hep-th↗

Regge-Teitelboim analysis of the symmetries of electromagnetic and gravitational fields on asymptotically null spacelike surfaces

We present a new application of the Regge-Teitelboim method for treating symmetries which are defined asymptotically. It may be regarded as complementary to the one in their original 1974 paper. The formulation is based on replacing an asymptotic plane by the two--sheeted ``hourglass" shaped surface obtained by joining smoothly an incoming hyperboloid with an outgoing one. The hyperboloids have a fixed radius, and as one moves the center of the hourglass along the time axis one covers the whole of spacetime. The motivation is to study radiation, and the hourglass is well suited to the task because it is asymptotically null, and thus is able to register the details of the process. A simple parity condition for the fields on the hyperboloid is given. It specifies that as much radiation as is coming in as it is going out. With it, a Hamiltonian formulation of the symmetry of Bondi, van der Burg, Metzner and Sachs is developed fir both electromagnetism and gravitation. It is indispensable for the construction to have electric--magnetic duality asymptotically. For gravitation, a formulation for the linearized theory on the hourglass has not been explicitly constructed; but enough rudiments of it are given so that the main results can be established. A definition for angular momentum wish is conserved (for which the ``magnetic sector'' is essential) is given. It incorporates an interrelationship between spin and charge. For the gravitational field, Taub-NUT space appears as the analog of a magnetic pole.

hep-th↗

Bondi-Metzner-Sachs invariance and electric-magnetic duality

We exhibit a Hamiltonian formulation, both for electromagnetism and gravitation, in which it is not required that the Bondi "news" vanish, but only that the incoming news be equal to the outgoing ones. This requirement is implemented by defining the fields on a two-sheeted hyperbolic surface, which we term "the hourglass". It is a spacelike deformation of the complete lightcone. On it one approaches asymptotically (null) past and future infinity while remaining at a fixed (hyperbolic) time, by going to large spatial distances on its two sheets. The Hamiltonian formulation and -- in particular -- a conserved angular momentum, can only be constructed if one brings in both, the electric and magnetic BMS charges, together with their canonically conjugate "memories". This reveals a close interplay between the BMS and electric-magnetic duality symmetries.

gr-qc↗

A differential geometry approach to asymmetric transmission of light

In the last ten years, the technology of differential geometry, ubiquitous in gravitational physics, has found its place in the field of optics. It has been successfully used in the design of optical metamaterials, through a technique now known as "transformation optics". This method, however, only applies for the particular class of metamaterials known as impedance matched, that is, materials whose electric permittivity is equal to their magnetic permeability. In that case, the material may be described by a spacetime metric. In the present work we will introduce a generalization of the geometric methods of transformation optics to situations in which the material is not impedance matched. In such situation, the material -or more precisely, its constitutive tensor- will not be described by a metric only. We bring in a second tensor, with the local symmetries of the Weyl tensor, the "$W$-tensor". In the geometric optics approximation we show how the properties of the $W$-tensor are related to the asymmetric transmission of the material. We apply this feature into the design of a particularly interesting set of asymmetric materials. These materials are birefringent when light rays approach the material in a given direction, but behave just like vacuum when the rays have the opposite direction with the appropriate polarization (or, in some cases, independently of the polarization).

physics.optics↗

Gravitational domain walls and the dynamics of $G$

From the point of view of elementary particle physics the gravitational constant $G$ is extraordinarily small. This has led to ask whether it could have decayed to its present value from an initial one commensurate with microscopical units. A mechanism that leads to such a decay is proposed herein. It is based on assuming that $G$ may take different values within regions of the universe separated by a novel kind of domain wall, a "G-wall". The idea is implemented by introducing a gauge potential $A_{μνρ}$, and its conjugate $D$, which determines the value of $G$ as an integration constant rather than a fundamental constant. The value of $G$ jumps when one goes through a $G$-wall. The procedure extends one previously developed for the cosmological constant, but the generalization is far from straightforward: (i) The intrinsic geometry of a $G$-wall is not the same as seen from its two sides, because the second law of black hole thermodynamics mandates that the jump in $G$ must cause a discontinuity in the scale of length. (ii) The size of the decay step in $G$ is controlled by a function $G(D)$ which may be chosen so as to diminish the value of $G$ towards the asymptote $G=0$, without fine tuning. It is shown that: (i) The dynamics of the gravitational field with $G$ treated as a dynamical variable, coupled to $G$-walls and matter, follows from an action principle, which is given. (ii) A particle that impinges on a $G$-wall may be refracted or reflected. (iii) The various forces between two particles change when a $G$-wall is inserted in between them. (iv) $G$-walls may be nucleated trough tunneling and thermal effects. The semiclassical probabilities are evaluated. (v)~If the action principle is constructed properly, the entropy of a black hole increases when the value of the gravitational constant is changed through the absorption of a G-wall by the hole.

gr-qc↗

The physics of custody

Divorced individuals face complex situations when they have children with different ex-partners, or even more, when their new partners have children of their own. In such cases, and when kids spend every other weekend with each parent, a practical problem emerges: Is it possible to have such a custody arrangement that every couple has either all of the kids together or no kids at all? We show that in general, it is not possible, but that the number of couples that do can be maximized. The problem turns out to be equivalent to finding the ground state of a spin glass system, which is known to be equivalent to what is called a weighted max-cut problem in graph theory, and hence it is NP-Complete.

physics.soc-ph↗

Three-dimensional Bondi-Metzner-Sachs invariant two-dimensional field theories as the flat limit of Liouville theory

In the gravitational context, Liouville theory is the two-dimensional conformal field theory that controls the boundary dynamics of asymptotically AdS_3 spacetimes at the classical level. By taking a suitable limit of the coupling constants of the Hamiltonian formulation of Liouville, we construct and analyze a BMS_3 invariant two-dimensional field theory that is likely to control the boundary dynamics at null infinity of three dimensional asymptotically flat gravity.

hep-th↗

A 2D field theory equivalent to 3D gravity with no cosmological constant

In (2+1) space-time dimensions the Einstein theory of gravity has no local degrees of freedom. In fact, in the presence of a negative cosmological term, it is described by a (1+1) dimensional theory living on its boundary: Liouville theory. It is invariant under the action of the two-dimensional conformal group, which, in the gravitational context, corresponds to the asymptotic symmetries of asymptotically AdS geometries. In the flat case, when the cosmological term is turned off, a theory describing gravity at the boundary is absent. In this note we show that, in the Hamiltonian setup, such a theory may be constructed. The theory is BMS3 invariant, as it should, corresponding to the asymptotic symmetry group of an asymptotically flat spacetime.

gr-qc↗

The flat limit of three dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes

In order to get a better understanding of holographic properties of gravitational theories with a vanishing cosmological constant, we analyze in detail the relation between asymptotically anti-de Sitter and asymptotically flat spacetimes in three dimensions. This relation is somewhat subtle because the limit of vanishing cosmological constant cannot be naively taken in standard Fefferman-Graham coordinates. After reformulating the standard anti-de Sitter results in Robinson-Trautman coordinates, a suitably modified Penrose limit is shown to connect both asymptotic regimes.

gr-qc↗

The bigravity black hole and its thermodynamics

We argue that the Isham-Storey exact solution to bigravity does not describe black holes because the horizon is a singular surface. However, this is not a generic property of bigravity, but a property of a particular potential. More general potentials do accept regular black holes. For regular black holes, we compute the total energy and thermodynamical parameters. Phase transitions occur for certain critical temperatures. We also find a novel region on phase space describing up to 4 allowed states for a given temperature.

gr-qc↗

Extended Charged Events and Chern-Simons Couplings

Recently, the concept of dynamical extended charged events has been introduced, and it has been argued that they should play as central a role as that played by particles or ordinary branes. In this article we show that in the presence of a Chern-Simons coupling, a magnetically charged extended event emits an extended object, which geometrically is just like a Dirac string, but it is observable, obeys equations of motion, and may be electrically charged. We write a complete action principle which accounts for this effect. The action involves two Chern-Simons terms, one integrated over spacetime and the other integrated over the worldvolume of the submanifold that is the union of the Dirac world-sheet and the history of the emitted physical object. By demanding that the total charge emitted by a composite extended magnetic event be quantized according to Dirac's rule, we find a quantization condition for the Chern-Simons coupling. For a 1-form electric potential in D=2n+1 spacetime dimensions, the composite event is formed by n elementary extended magnetic events separated in time such that the product of their transverse spaces, together with the time axis, is the entire spacetime. We show that the emitted electric charge is given by the integral of the (n-1)-th exterior power of the electromagnetic field strength over the last elementary event, or, equivalently, over an appropriate closed surface. The extension to more general p-form potentials and higher dimensions is also discussed. For the case D=11, p=3, our result for the quantization of the Chern-Simons coupling was obtained previously in the context of M-theory, a remarkable agreement that makes the existence of events even more compelling.

hep-th↗

A note on bigravity and dark matter

We show that a class of bi-gravity theories contain solutions describing dark matter. A particular member of this class is also shown to be equivalent to the Eddington-Born-Infeld gravity, recently proposed as a candidate for dark matter. Bigravity theories also have cosmological de Sitter backgrounds and we find solutions interpolating between matter and acceleration eras.

gr-qc↗