arXiv subjects

Andrei O. Starinets

Publications and source records attributed to Andrei O. Starinets.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Hydrodynamics with multiple charges and holography

We establish the connection between thermodynamic and dynamical instabilities in relativistic hydrodynamics with multiple flavours of conserved U(1) charges. In theories with positive hydrodynamic entropy production, where the underlying perfect fluid has a positive speed of sound squared and satisfies the null energy condition, we show that hydrodynamic instabilities can arise only through negative diffusion coefficients associated with the U(1) charges. The onset of such instabilities is governed by the eigenvalues of the thermodynamic Hessian matrix, while the flavour-space polarisations of the unstable diffusion modes are determined by the corresponding eigenvectors. We illustrate this connection using strongly coupled N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at finite densities of the three U(1) R-charges. In the dual holographic description, the five-dimensional STU black brane exhibits unstable quasinormal modes precisely at the onset of thermodynamic instability. We derive analytic expressions for the R-charge diffusion coefficients in several representative cases, including the configuration with three equal chemical potentials.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Instability in ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at finite density

Equilibrium states of ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory can be characterized by the temperature and three chemical potentials, corresponding to the ${\rm U}(1)^3$ subgroup of the $R$-symmetry group. We investigate the phase diagram of the theory at strong coupling, in the grand canonical ensemble in flat space, using its holographic description via the five-dimensional model of Behrnd, Cvetič, and Sabra. The bulk action includes the metric, three Abelian gauge fields, and two neutral scalar fields. The equilibrium state described by the charged black brane is always thermodynamically unstable at low temperature. Relativistic hydrodynamics with multiple conserved charges predicts that thermodynamic instability is accompanied by a dynamical instability, with the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the corresponding Hessian playing a key role in identifying the unstable modes. We explicitly demonstrate this for three equal chemical potentials, finding unstable quasinormal modes that describe $R$-charge diffusion. Consequently, the low-temperature phase of ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with equal chemical potentials is not described by the AdS-Reissner-Nordström black brane.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Hydrodynamic dispersion relations at finite coupling

By using holographic methods, the radii of convergence of the hydrodynamic shear and sound dispersion relations were previously computed in the ${\cal N} = 4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at infinite 't Hooft coupling and infinite number of colours. Here, we extend this analysis to the domain of large but finite 't Hooft coupling. To leading order in the perturbative expansion, we find that the radii grow with increasing inverse coupling, contrary to naive expectations. However, when the equations of motion are solved using a qualitative non-perturbative resummation, the dependence on the coupling becomes piecewise continuous and the initial growth is followed by a decrease. The piecewise nature of the dependence is related to the dynamics of branch point singularities of the energy-momentum tensor finite-temperature two-point functions in the complex plane of spatial momentum squared. We repeat the study using the Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity as a model where the equations can be solved fully non-perturbatively, and find the expected decrease of the radii of convergence with the effective inverse coupling which is also piecewise continuous. Finally, we provide arguments in favour of the non-perturbative approach and show that the presence of non-perturbative modes in the quasinormal spectrum can be indirectly inferred from the analysis of perturbative critical points.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

The complex life of hydrodynamic modes

We study analytic properties of the dispersion relations in classical hydrodynamics by treating them as Puiseux series in complex momentum. The radii of convergence of the series are determined by the critical points of the associated complex spectral curves. For theories that admit a dual gravitational description through holography, the critical points correspond to level-crossings in the quasinormal spectrum of the dual black hole. We illustrate these methods in ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in 3+1 dimensions, in a holographic model with broken translation symmetry in 2+1 dimensions, and in conformal field theory in 1+1 dimensions. We comment on the pole-skipping phenomenon in thermal correlation functions, and show that it is not specific to energy density correlations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

On the convergence of the gradient expansion in hydrodynamics

Hydrodynamic excitations corresponding to sound and shear modes in fluids are characterised by gapless dispersion relations. In the hydrodynamic gradient expansion, their frequencies are represented by power series in spatial momenta. We investigate the analytic structure and convergence properties of the hydrodynamic series by studying the associated spectral curve in the space of complexified frequency and complexified spatial momentum. For the strongly coupled ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills plasma, we use the holographic duality methods to demonstrate that the derivative expansions have finite non-zero radii of convergence. Obstruction to the convergence of hydrodynamic series arises from level-crossings in the quasinormal spectrum at complex momenta.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Adding new branches to the "Christmas tree" of the quasinormal spectrum of black branes

In holography, quasinormal spectra of black branes coincide with the poles of retarded finite-temperature correlation functions of a dual quantum field theory in the limit of infinite number of relevant degrees of freedom such as colours. For asymptotically anti-de Sitter backgrounds, the spectra form a characteristic pattern in the complex frequency plane, colloquially known as the "Christmas tree". At infinite coupling, the tree has only one pair of branches. At large but finite coupling, the branches become more dense and lift up towards the real axis, consistent with the expectation of forming a branch cut in the limit of zero coupling. However, it is known that at zero coupling, the corresponding correlators generically have not one but multiple branch cuts separated by intervals proportional to the Matsubara frequency. This suggests the existence of multiple branches of the "Christmas tree" spectrum in dual gravity. In this note, we show numerically how these additional branches of the spectrum can emerge from the dual gravitational action with higher-derivative terms. This phenomenon appears to be robust, yet, reproducing the expected weak coupling behaviour of the correlators quantitatively implies the existence of certain constraints on the coefficients of the higher-derivative terms of the dual gravity theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Transport peak in thermal spectral function of ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills plasma at intermediate coupling

We study the structure of thermal spectral function of the stress-energy tensor in ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at intermediate 't Hooft coupling and infinite number of colors. In gauge-string duality, this analysis reduces to the study of classical bulk supergravity with higher-derivative corrections, which correspond to (inverse) coupling corrections on the gauge theory side. We extrapolate the analysis of perturbative leading-order corrections to intermediate coupling by non-perturbatively solving the equations of motion of metric fluctuations dual to the stress-energy tensor at zero spatial momentum. We observe the emergence of a separation of scales in the analytic structure of the thermal correlator associated with two types of characteristic relaxation modes. As a consequence of this separation, the associated spectral function exhibits a narrow structure in the small frequency region which controls the dynamics of transport in the theory and may be described as a transport peak typically found in perturbative, weakly interacting thermal field theories. We compare our results with generic expectations drawn from perturbation theory, where such a structure emerges as a consequence of the existence of quasiparticles.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Second-order transport, quasinormal modes and zero-viscosity limit in the Gauss-Bonnet holographic fluid

Gauss-Bonnet holographic fluid is a useful theoretical laboratory to study the effects of curvature-squared terms in the dual gravity action on transport coefficients, quasinormal spectra and the analytic structure of thermal correlators at strong coupling. To understand the behavior and possible pathologies of the Gauss-Bonnet fluid in $3+1$ dimensions, we compute (analytically and non-perturbatively in the Gauss-Bonnet coupling) its second-order transport coefficients, the retarded two- and three-point correlation functions of the energy-momentum tensor in the hydrodynamic regime as well as the relevant quasinormal spectrum. The Haack-Yarom universal relation among the second-order transport coefficients is violated at second order in the Gauss-Bonnet coupling. In the zero-viscosity limit, the holographic fluid still produces entropy, while the momentum diffusion and the sound attenuation are suppressed at all orders in the hydrodynamic expansion. By adding higher-derivative electromagnetic field terms to the action, we also compute corrections to charge diffusion and identify the non-perturbative parameter regime in which the charge diffusion constant vanishes.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

On the universal identity in second order hydrodynamics

We compute the 't Hooft coupling correction to the infinite coupling expression for the second order transport coefficient $λ_2$ in ${\cal N}=4$ $SU(N_c)$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at finite temperature in the limit of infinite $N_c$, which originates from the $R^4$ terms in the low energy effective action of the dual type IIB string theory. Using this result, we show that the identity involving the three second order transport coefficients, $2 ητ_Π- 4 λ_1 - λ_2 =0$, previously shown by Haack and Yarom to hold universally in relativistic conformal field theories with string dual descriptions to leading order in supergravity approximation, holds also at next to leading order in this theory. We also compute corrections to transport coefficients in a (hypothetical) strongly interacting conformal fluid arising from the generic curvature squared terms in the corresponding dual gravity action (in particular, Gauss-Bonnet action), and show that the identity holds to linear order in the higher-derivative couplings. We discuss potential implications of these results for the near-equilibrium entropy production rate at strong coupling.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

From strong to weak coupling in holographic models of thermalization

We investigate the analytic structure of thermal energy-momentum tensor correlators at large but finite coupling in quantum field theories with gravity duals. We compute corrections to the quasinormal spectra of black branes due to the presence of higher derivative $R^2$ and $R^4$ terms in the action, focusing on the dual to $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM theory and Gauss-Bonnet gravity. We observe the appearance of new poles in the complex frequency plane at finite coupling. The new poles interfere with hydrodynamic poles of the correlators leading to the breakdown of hydrodynamic description at a coupling-dependent critical value of the wave-vector. The dependence of the critical wave vector on the coupling implies that the range of validity of the hydrodynamic description increases monotonically with the coupling. The behavior of the quasinormal spectrum at large but finite coupling may be contrasted with the known properties of the hierarchy of relaxation times determined by the spectrum of a linearized kinetic operator at weak coupling. We find that the ratio of a transport coefficient such as viscosity to the relaxation time determined by the fundamental non-hydrodynamic quasinormal frequency changes rapidly in the vicinity of infinite coupling but flattens out for weaker coupling, suggesting an extrapolation from strong coupling to the kinetic theory result. We note that the behavior of the quasinormal spectrum is qualitatively different depending on whether the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density is greater or less than the universal, infinite coupling value of $\hbar/4πk_B$. In the former case, the density of poles increases, indicating a formation of branch cuts in the weak coupling limit, and the spectral function shows the appearance of narrow peaks. We also discuss the relation of the viscosity-entropy ratio to conjectured bounds on relaxation time in quantum systems.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Holographic zero sound at finite temperature

We use gauge-gravity duality to study the temperature dependence of the zero sound mode and the fundamental matter diffusion mode in the strongly coupled {\cal N}=4 SU(N_c) supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with N_f {\cal N}=2 hypermultiplets in the N_c>>1, N_c>>N_f limit, which is holographically realized via the D3/D7 brane system. In the high density limit μ>>T, three regimes can be identified in the behavior of these modes, analogous to the collisionless quantum, collisionless thermal and hydrodynamic regimes of a Landau Fermi-liquid. The transitions between the three regimes are characterized by the parameters T/μand (T/μ)^2 respectively, and in each of these regimes the modes have a distinctively different temperature and momentum dependence. The collisionless-hydrodynamic transition occurs when the zero sound poles of the density-density correlator in the complex frequency plane collide on the imaginary axis to produce a hydrodynamic diffusion pole. We observe that the properties characteristic of a Landau Fermi-liquid zero sound mode are present in the D3/D7 system despite the atypical T^6/μ^3 temperature scaling of the specific heat and an apparent lack of a directly identifiable Fermi surface.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Quasinormal modes of black holes and black branes

Quasinormal modes are eigenmodes of dissipative systems. Perturbations of classical gravitational backgrounds involving black holes or branes naturally lead to quasinormal modes. The analysis and classification of the quasinormal spectra requires solving non-Hermitian eigenvalue problems for the associated linear differential equations. Within the recently developed gauge-gravity duality, these modes serve as an important tool for determining the near-equilibrium properties of strongly coupled quantum field theories, in particular their transport coefficients, such as viscosity, conductivity and diffusion constants. In astrophysics, the detection of quasinormal modes in gravitational wave experiments would allow precise measurements of the mass and spin of black holes as well as new tests of general relativity. This review is meant as an introduction to the subject, with a focus on the recent developments in the field.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

Holographic spectral functions and diffusion constants for fundamental matter

The holographic dual of large-Nc super-Yang-Mills coupled to a small number of flavours of fundamental matter, Nf << Nc, is described by Nf probe D7-branes in the gravitational background of Nc black D3-branes. This system undergoes a first order phase transition characterised by the `melting' of the mesons. We study the high temperature phase in which the D7-branes extend through the black hole horizon. In this phase, we compute the spectral function for vector, scalar and pseudoscalar modes on the D7-brane probe. We also compute the diffusion constant for the flavour currents.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Coupling constant dependence of the shear viscosity in N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory

Gauge theory - gravity duality predicts that the shear viscosity of N=4 supersymmetric SU(N_c) Yang-Mills plasma at temperature T in the limit of large N_c and large 't Hooft coupling g^2_{YM} N_c is independent of the coupling and equals to πN_c^2 T^3/8. In this paper, we compute the leading correction to the shear viscosity in inverse powers of 't Hooft coupling using the α'-corrected low-energy effective action of type IIB string theory. We also find the correction to the ratio of shear viscosity to the volume entropy density (equal to 1/4πin the limit of infinite coupling). The correction to 1/4πscales as (g^2_{YM} N_c)^{-3/2} with a positive coefficient.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Hydrodynamics of R-charged black holes

We consider hydrodynamics of N=4 supersymmetric SU(N_c) Yang-Mills plasma at a nonzero density of R-charge. In the regime of large N_c and large 't Hooft coupling the gravity dual description involves an asymptotically Anti- de Sitter five-dimensional charged black hole solution of Behrnd, Cvetic and Sabra. We compute the shear viscosity as a function of chemical potentials conjugated to the three U(1) \subset SO(6)_R charges. The ratio of the shear viscosity to entropy density is independent of the chemical potentials and is equal to 1/4π. For a single charge black hole we also compute the thermal conductivity, and investigate the critical behavior of the transport coefficients near the boundary of thermodynamic stability.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Transport coefficients of strongly coupled gauge theories: insights from string theory

The transport properties of certain strongly coupled thermal gauge theories can be determined from their effective description in terms of gravity or superstring theory duals. Here we provide a short summary of the results for the shear and bulk viscosity, charge diffusion constant, and the speed of sound in supersymmetric strongly interacting plasmas. We also outline a general algorithm for computing transport coefficients in any gravity dual. The algorithm relates the transport coefficients to the coefficients in the quasinormal spectrum of five-dimensional black holes in asymptotically anti de Sitter space.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2005

Sound waves in strongly coupled non-conformal gauge theory plasma

Using gauge theory/gravity duality we study sound wave propagation in strongly coupled non-conformal gauge theory plasma. We compute the speed of sound and the bulk viscosity of N=2^* supersymmetric SU(N_c) Yang-Mills plasma at a temperature much larger than the mass scale of the theory in the limit of large N_c and large 't Hooft coupling. The speed of sound is computed both from the equation of state and the hydrodynamic pole in the stress-energy tensor two-point correlation function. Both computations lead to the same result. Bulk viscosity is determined by computing the attenuation constant of the sound wave mode.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Quasinormal modes and holography

Quasinormal frequencies of electromagnetic and gravitational perturbations in asymptotically AdS spacetime can be identified with poles of the corresponding real-time Green's functions in a holographically dual finite temperature field theory. The quasinormal modes are defined for gauge-invariant quantities which obey incoming-wave boundary condition at the horizon and Dirichlet condition at the boundary. As an application, we explicitly find poles of retarded correlation functions of R-symmetry currents and the energy-momentum tensor in strongly coupled finite temperature N=4 supersymmetric SU(Nc) Yang-Mills theory in the limit of large Nc.

hep-th↗