arXiv subjects

Chih-Hung Wu

Publications and source records attributed to Chih-Hung Wu.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The Fate of Nucleated Black Holes in de Sitter Quantum Gravity

The Euclidean Nariai geometry has long been proposed as the instanton describing the nucleation of maximal-mass black holes in de Sitter space. We place this interpretation on firmer footing by showing that, once an observer is included, the gravitational path integral produces the imaginary phase required for a transition rate. As a warmup, we revisit the Hawking-Moss instanton and, as a byproduct, find that scalar fields can enhance black-hole nucleation, suggesting a quantum-gravity bound on scalar potentials with de Sitter solutions. We then study the subsequent semiclassical evolution of the nucleated black hole. We show that the previously claimed "anti-evaporation" channel is unphysical, arising from a quantum state with singular horizons. In a smooth state, the black hole instead undergoes standard thermal Hawking evaporation. We verify explicit agreement with the no-boundary state and argue that this evaporation is not subject to large quantum-gravity corrections. The nucleated black hole thus evaporates completely back to the maximally-entropic empty de Sitter vacuum, making the full process a Boltzmann fluctuation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2026

Quantum fate of the Choptuik naked singularity

Classical critical collapse provides a dynamical route from smooth initial data to a naked singularity, representing a sharper violation of predictability than ordinary black hole singularities. We argue that this distinction is erased by quantum backreaction. Building on the semiclassical interior analysis, where quantum self-energy of the collapsing matter generates a universal growing mode and a finite mass gap, we study the exterior naked singularity region that determines global visibility in the Einstein-scalar system. We analyze controlled exterior models in both $2+1$ and $3+1$ dimensions. In the former, smooth matching and physical boundary conditions analytically select a vacuum polarization state, whose backreaction cloaks the classically naked region by a quantum trapped branch. In the latter, numerical horizon tracing shows that near a quantum-shifted threshold the exterior develops finite-mass marginally trapped surfaces rather than a zero-mass naked endpoint. These results suggest a global quantum picture in which the Choptuik naked singularity shares the fate of an ordinary black hole singularity: quantum effects push the putative Cauchy horizon behind a quantum-generated horizon, thereby reducing the loss of predictability to the standard black hole evaporation problem.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Unveiling horizons in quantum critical collapse

Critical gravitational collapse offers a unique window into regimes of arbitrarily high curvature, culminating in a naked singularity arising from smooth initial data -- thus providing a dynamical counterexample to weak cosmic censorship. Near the critical regime, quantum effects from the collapsing matter are expected to intervene before full quantum gravity resolves the singularity. Despite its fundamental significance, a self-consistent treatment has so far remained elusive. In this work, we perform a one-loop semiclassical analysis using the robust anomaly-based method in the canonical setup of Einstein gravity minimally coupled to a free, massless scalar field. Focusing on explicitly solvable near-critical solutions in both $2+1$ and $3+1$ dimensions, we analytically solve the semiclassical Einstein equations and obtain controlled, quantitative results for several long-standing questions within the dominant $s$-wave sector. We find that regularity uniquely selects a Boulware-like quantum state, encoding genuine vacuum polarization effects from the collapsing matter. Remarkably, the resulting quantum corrections manifest as a growing mode. Horizon-tracing analyses, incorporating both classical and quantum modes, reveal the emergence of a finite mass gap, signaling a phase transition from classical Type II to quantum-modified Type I behavior, thereby providing a quantum enforcement of the weak cosmic censorship. The most nontrivial aspect of our analysis involves dealing with non-conformal matter fields in explicitly time-dependent critical spacetimes. Along the way, we uncover intriguing and previously underexplored features of quantum field theory in curved spacetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Quantum Critical Collapse Abhors a Naked Singularity

Classical critical collapse yields naked singularities from smooth initial data, challenging cosmic censorship, and shaping the spectrum of primordial black holes. We show that one-loop vacuum polarization near the threshold qualitatively changes this outcome by dressing the singularity with a horizon within a controlled semiclassical regime. In analytically tractable Einstein-scalar critical spacetimes, a one-loop $s$-wave treatment linearized around self-similar backgrounds shows that regularity uniquely selects an asymptotically Minkowskian, vacuum-polarization state. Its renormalized stress tensor carries a universal quantum growing mode that competes with the classical unstable mode, shifts the critical point, and generates a trapped surface along with a finite mass gap at the new threshold, thereby enforcing horizon formation even under arbitrary fine-tuning. In primordial collapse, the threshold shift enters exponentially into the formation fraction, while the mass gap truncates the low-mass tail, suggesting potentially important consequences for the predicted mass spectrum. These results provide a self-consistent semiclassical treatment of critical collapse and yield sharp predictions within the one-loop, near-critical, linearized regime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

The wavefunction of a quantum $S^1 \times S^2$ universe

We study quantum gravity corrections to the no-boundary wavefunction describing a universe with spatial topology $S^1\times S^2$. It has been suggested that quantum effects become increasingly important when the size of the circle is large relative to the sphere. In this paper, we confirm this claim by an explicit four-dimensional one-loop calculation of the gravitational path integral preparing such a state. In the process, we clarify some aspects of the gravitational path integral on complex spacetimes. These quantum corrections play a crucial role in ensuring that the norm of the wavefunction is naturally expressed in terms of a path integral over $S^2 \times S^2$ at the classical level. We extend some of the analysis to more general spatial topologies, as well as to the inclusion of fermions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Holographic entanglement from the UV to the IR

In AdS/CFT, observables on the boundary are invariant under renormalization group (RG) flow in the bulk. In this paper, we study holographic entanglement entropy under bulk RG flow and find that it is indeed invariant. We focus on tree-level RG flow, where massive fields in a UV theory are integrated out to give the IR theory. We explicitly show that in several simple examples, holographic entanglement entropy calculated in the UV theory agrees with that calculated in the IR theory. Moreover, we give an argument for this agreement to hold for general tree-level RG flow. Along the way, we generalize the replica method of calculating holographic entanglement entropy to bulk theories that include matter fields with nonzero spin.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Islands in Non-Minimal Dilaton Gravity: Exploring Effective Theories for Black Hole Evaporation

We start from $(3 + 1)$-dimensional Einstein gravity with minimally coupled massless scalar matter, through spherical dimensional reduction, the matter theory is non-minimally coupled with the dilaton in $(1 + 1)$-dimensions. Despite its simplicity, constructing a self-consistent one-loop effective theory for this model remains a challenge, partially due to a Weyl-invariant ambiguity in the effective action. With a universal splitting property for the one-loop action, the ambiguity can be identified with the state-dependent part of the covariant quantum stress tensor. By introducing on-shell equivalent auxiliary fields to construct minimal candidates of Weyl-invariant terms, we derive a one-parameter family of one-loop actions with unique, regular, and physical stress tensors corresponding to the Boulware, Hartle-Hawking and Unruh states. We further study the back-reacted geometry and the corresponding quantum extremal islands that were inaccessible without a consistent one-loop theory. Along the way, we elaborate on the implications of our construction for the non-minimal dilaton gravity model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

The Expressivity of Classical and Quantum Neural Networks on Entanglement Entropy

Analytically continuing the von Neumann entropy from Rényi entropies is a challenging task in quantum field theory. While the $n$-th Rényi entropy can be computed using the replica method in the path integral representation of quantum field theory, the analytic continuation can only be achieved for some simple systems on a case-by-case basis. In this work, we propose a general framework to tackle this problem using classical and quantum neural networks with supervised learning. We begin by studying several examples with known von Neumann entropy, where the input data is generated by representing $\text{Tr} ρ_A^n$ with a generating function. We adopt KerasTuner to determine the optimal network architecture and hyperparameters with limited data. In addition, we frame a similar problem in terms of quantum machine learning models, where the expressivity of the quantum models for the entanglement entropy as a partial Fourier series is established. Our proposed methods can accurately predict the von Neumann and Rényi entropies numerically, highlighting the potential of deep learning techniques for solving problems in quantum information theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Quantum Entanglement and Spectral Form Factor

We replace a Hamiltonian with a modular Hamiltonian in the spectral form factor and the level spacing distribution function. This study establishes a connection between quantities within Quantum Entanglement and Quantum Chaos. To have a universal study for Quantum Entanglement, we consider the Gaussian random 2-qubit model. The maximum violation of Bell's inequality demonstrates a positive correlation with the entanglement entropy. Thus, the violation plays an equivalent role as Quantum Entanglement. We first provide an analytical estimation of the relation between quantum entanglement quantities and the dip when a subregion only has one qubit. The time of the first dip is monotone for entanglement entropy. The dynamics in a subregion is independent of the initial state at a late time. It is one of the signaling conditions for classical chaos. We also extend our analysis to the Gaussian random 3-qubit state, and it indicates a similar result. The simulation shows that the level spacing distribution function approaches GUE at a late time. In the end, we develop a technique within QFT to the spectral form factor for its relation to an $n$-sheet manifold. We apply the technology to a single interval in CFT$_2$ and the spherical entangling surface in $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory. The result is one for both cases, but the Rényi entropy can depend on the Rényi index. For the case of CFT$_2$, it indicates the difference between the continuum and discrete spectrum.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

U(1) CS Theory vs SL(2) CS Formulation: Boundary Theory and Wilson Line

We first derive the boundary theory from the U(1) Chern-Simons theory. The boundary action on an $n$-sheet manifold appears from its back-reaction of the Wilson line. The reason is that the U(1) Chern-Simons theory can provide an exact effective action when introducing the Wilson line. The Wilson line in the pure AdS$_3$ Einstein gravity is equivalent to entanglement entropy in the boundary theory up to classical gravity. The U(1) Chern-Simons theory deviates by a self-interaction term from the gauge formulation on the boundary. We also compare the Hayward term in the SL(2) Chern-Simons formulation to the Wilson line approach. Introducing two wedges can reproduce the entanglement entropy for a single interval at the classical level. We propose quantum generalization by combining the bulk and Hayward terms. The quantum correction of the partition function vanishes. In the end, we calculate the entanglement entropy for a single interval. The pure AdS$_3$ Einstein gravity theory shows a shift of central charge by 26 at the one-loop level. The U(1) Chern-Simons theory does not show a shift from the quantum effect. The result is the same in the weak gravitational constant limit. The non-vanishing quantum correction shows that the Hayward term is incorrect.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

A Tale of Two Butterflies: An Exact Equivalence in Higher-Derivative Gravity

We prove the equivalence of two holographic computations of the butterfly velocity in higher-derivative theories with Lagrangian built from arbitrary contractions of curvature tensors. The butterfly velocity characterizes the speed at which local perturbations grow in chaotic many-body systems and can be extracted from the out-of-time-order correlator. This leads to a holographic computation in which the butterfly velocity is determined from a localized shockwave on the horizon of a dual black hole. A second holographic computation uses entanglement wedge reconstruction to define a notion of operator size and determines the butterfly velocity from certain extremal surfaces. By direct computation, we show that these two butterfly velocities match precisely in the aforementioned class of gravitational theories. We also present evidence showing that this equivalence holds in all gravitational theories. Along the way, we prove a number of general results on shockwave spacetimes.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

An Alternative Method for Extracting the von Neumann Entropy from Renyi Entropies

An alternative method is presented for extracting the von Neumann entropy $-\operatorname{Tr} (ρ\ln ρ)$ from $\operatorname{Tr} (ρ^n)$ for integer $n$ in a quantum system with density matrix $ρ$. Instead of relying on direct analytic continuation in $n$, the method uses a generating function $-\operatorname{Tr} \{ ρ\ln [(1-z ρ) / (1-z)] \}$ of an auxiliary complex variable $z$. The generating function has a Taylor series that is absolutely convergent within $|z|<1$, and may be analytically continued in $z$ to $z = -\infty$ where it gives the von Neumann entropy. As an example, we use the method to calculate analytically the CFT entanglement entropy of two intervals in the small cross ratio limit, reproducing a result that Calabrese et al. obtained by direct analytic continuation in $n$. Further examples are provided by numerical calculations of the entanglement entropy of two intervals for general cross ratios, and of one interval at finite temperature and finite interval length.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Two-Dimensional Dilaton Gravity Theory and Lattice Schwarzian Theory

We report a holographic study of a two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory with the Dirichlet boundary condition for the cases of non-vanishing and vanishing cosmological constants. Our result shows that the boundary theory of the two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory with the Dirichlet boundary condition for the case of non-vanishing cosmological constants is the Schwarzian term coupled to a dilaton field, while for the case of vanishing cosmological constant, a theory does not have a kinetic term. We also include the higher derivative term $R^2$, where $R$ is the scalar curvature that is coupled to a dilaton field. We find that the form of the boundary theory is not modified perturbatively. Finally, we show that a lattice holographic picture is realized up to the second-order perturbation of boundary cut-off $ε^2$ under a constant boundary dilaton field and the non-vanishing cosmological constant by identifying the lattice spacing $a$ of a lattice Schwarzian theory with the boundary cut-off $ε$ of the two-dimensional dilaton gravity theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Maximally Entangled State and Bell's Inequality in Qubits

A maximally entangled state is a quantum state which has maximum von Neumann entropy for each bipartition. Through proposing a new method to classify quantum states by using concurrences of pure states of a region, one can apply Bell's inequality to study intensity of quantum entanglement of maximally entangled states. We use a class of seven-qubit quantum states to demonstrate the method, where we express all coefficients of the quantum states in terms of concurrences of pure states of a region. When a critical point of an upper bound of Bell's inequality occurs in our quantum states, one of the quantum state is a ground state of the toric code model on a disk manifold. Our result also implies that the maximally entangled states does not suggest local maximum quantum entanglement in our quantum states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Pre-Hawking radiation cannot prevent the formation of apparent horizon

As an attempt to solve the black hole information loss paradox, recently there has been the suggestion that, due to semi-classical effects, a pre-Hawking radiation must exist during the gravitational collapse of matter, which in turn prevents the apparent horizon from forming. Assuming the pre-Hawking radiation does exist, here we argue the opposite. First we note that the stress energy tensor near the horizon for the pre-Hawking radiation is far too small to do anything to the motion of a collapsing shell. Thus the shell will always cross the apparent horizon within a finite proper time. Moreovall, the amount of energy that can be radiated must be less than half of the total initial energy (if the particle starts at rest at infinity) before the shell becomes a null shell and cannot radiate any more without becoming tachyonic. We conclude that for any gravitational collapsing process within Einstein gravity and semi-classical quantum field theory, the formation of the apparent horizon is inevitable. Pre-Hawking radiation is therefore not a valid solution to the information paradox.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Broken bridges: A counter-example of the ER=EPR conjecture

In this paper, we provide a counter-example to the ER=EPR conjecture. In an anti-de Sitter space, we construct a pair of maximally entangled but separated black holes. Due to the vacuum decay of the anti-de Sitter background toward a deeper vacuum, these two parts can be trapped by bubbles. If these bubbles are reasonably large, then within the scrambling time, there should appear an Einstein-Rosen bridge between the two black holes. Now by tracing more details on the bubble dynamics, one can identify parameters such that one of the two bubbles either monotonically shrinks or expands. Because of the change of vacuum energy, one side of the black hole would evaporate completely. Due to the shrinking of the apparent horizon, a signal of one side of the Einstein-Rosen bridge can be viewed from the opposite side. We analytically and numerically demonstrate that within a reasonable semi-classical parameter regime, such process can happen. Bubbles are a non-perturbative effect, which is the crucial reason that allows the transmission of information between the two black holes through the Einstein-Rosen bridge, even though the probability is highly suppressed. Therefore, the ER=EPR conjecture cannot be generic in its present form and its validity maybe restricted.

hep-th↗