arXiv subjects

H. Yavartanoo

Publications and source records attributed to H. Yavartanoo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Null String Holography, Null Strings Probe Projective Boundary of Their Target Spaces

We prove that the \textit{minimal null string theory} on background manifold ${\cal M}$ is classically equivalent to the ILST theory on the projective boundary of $\mathcal M$, ${\mathcal B}_{_{\text{P}}}={\partial_{_{\text{P}}}\mathcal{M}}$. We conjecture that this equivalence also holds as quantum level, which we dub \textit{null string holography}. In particular, we show classical null string theory on Poincaré patch of $D$ dimensional Anti de Sitter (AdS$_D$) background is described by ILST on $D-1$ dimensional Minkowski background, paralleling the celebrated AdS/CFT. Null strings on cosmological patch of dS$_D$ is governed by ILST on $D-1$ dimensional flat Euclidean space. For null strings on $D$ dimensional Minkowski space, depending on the coordinate patch used, the projective boundary where the ``dual'' ILST theory resides, can by dS$_{D-1}$, $D-1$ dimensional Carrollian space and $D-1$ dimensional hyperboloid, respectively including spacelike asymptotic boundary $ι^0$, asymptotic null boundaries ${\cal I}^\pm$ and timelike infinities $ι^\pm$. We comment on physical implications of the null string holography on black hole backgrounds whose projective boundary includes horizons.

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arXiv2026

What is Classical Null String Theory?

We revisit the classical definition of a null string in a D-dimensional Minkowski target space and distinguish a consistent partially-gauged Carrollian sigma-model from the null string theory. The Isberg-Lindström-Sundborg-Theodoridis (ILST) action gauges worldsheet diffeomorphisms and the common Weyl rescaling, but not the independent relative rescaling of the temporal and spatial representatives of the intrinsic Carrollian structure, Carroll-Weyl scaling. A physical string theory requires every local change of worldsheet representative to be gauged, therefore, the Carroll-Weyl symmetry should be gauged in a null string theory. In the minimal realization, the corresponding gauging is obstructed at finite tension, whereas at zero tension it yields an additional first-class constraint and the associated identification of physical configurations along its gauge orbits. The description of the null worldsheet as a congruence of null geodesics provides a complementary target-space interpretation of gauging of the Carroll-Weyl scaling. Our analysis thus provides the supplementary requirements that turns the ILST theory into the null string theory.

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arXiv2026

Null Strings Gauged and Reloaded, I: Null Strings Have Carroll-Weyl Gauge Symmetry

Null strings, strings with Carrollian worldsheets, are traditionally described by the Isberg-Lindström-Sundborg-Theodoridis (ILST) action, which is obtained via a tensionless limit of standard tensile strings. In a recent work, we observed that the ILST action enjoys an overlooked partial-gauge symmetry whose existence calls into question the consistency of standard null-string analyses found in the literature. In this paper, we show that the Carrollian geometry provides us with two Weyl scaling options, in contrast to a single Weyl scaling available for the ordinary tensile string worldsheet. Defining the null string theory by the action that realizes the two Carroll-Weyl scalings as well as the 2D diffeomorphisms as local (gauge) symmetries, we construct the new null string action. We show that the ILST action is obtained after fixing one of the two Carroll-Weyl scalings of the action that we construct, and that the residual part of this symmetry is precisely the overlooked partial-gauge symmetry. We hence clarify the Carroll-geometric origin of the overlooked symmetry and pave the way for a consistent quantization of null strings.

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arXiv2026

An Inconsistency in the Null Strings Literature: The Tale of an Overlooked Symmetry

Null strings, strings with $2d$ null worldsheets, have about half a century of literature and are relevant in many physically interesting cases, especially when strings probe cosmological or black hole horizons. We observe that the null string action possesses a previously overlooked local symmetry, the consideration of which is necessary for the consistency of null string analyses. By correctly accounting for this symmetry, we show that the number of physical propagating degrees of freedom of null strings in $D$ dimensional target space is $D-3$, in contrast to $D-2$ that one finds in the literature. In other words, null strings probe a codimension-1 null surface on a $D$ dimensional target space. The existence of this overlooked symmetry calls for a thorough revision of results in the null string literature. We briefly mention some of its physical consequences.

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arXiv2026

Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions in a Pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian: The Imbalanced-Pairing Kitaev Model

Although parity-time (PT)-symmetric Hamiltonians are often associated with real energy spectra, PT symmetry is neither a sufficient nor a necessary condition for a real spectrum. More generally, real spectra are associated with the broader class of pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians, of which PT-symmetric Hamiltonians constitute a simple subclass. Here, we investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of the imbalanced-pairing Kitaev model, a prototypical pseudo-Hermitian system, under a linearly time-dependent chemical potential. The dynamics are analyzed within the biorthogonal framework using the concept of dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs). We show that, under a linear ramp protocol, DQPTs occur only when the post-ramp Hamiltonian possesses a real energy spectrum. For positive values of the non-Hermiticity parameter ($γ>0$), where the energy spectrum remains entirely real, a ramp crossing a single quantum critical point gives rise to a single family of critical times, analogous to the Hermitian case. Furthermore, for ramps crossing two critical or exceptional points, the critical sweep velocity above which DQPTs disappear decreases as the non-Hermiticity parameter is reduced and vanishes in the staggered-pairing limit, $γ=-1$.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Null-strings Gauged, Reloaded and Quantized, I: Canonical Quantization in the Light-Cone Gauge

We study the light-cone quantization of null-strings in $D$ dimensional flat target-space. Incorporating the essential new gauge symmetry and the associated constraint structure of the null-string, allows one to solve for one more degree of freedom (DoF) compared to the standard light-cone gauge, reducing the physical phase space to $(D-3)$ propagating DoF. Quantization is formulated directly in the Schrödinger representation, leading to a Hilbert space of wavefunctions on the reduced configuration space. The space of physical states is built on a reduced phase space associated with the corrected gauge structure. We discuss the ground-state wavefunction and a generic class of excited states. As a direct consequence of the overlooked Carroll-Weyl gauge symmetry of the null-strings, we find the remarkable and perhaps unexpected result that null-strings exhibit a discrete spectrum. Our analysis indicate that there is no critical dimension for null-strings, and $D$ can be arbitrary.

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arXiv2026

Null Strings Gauged and Reloaded, II: Consistent Classical Treatment of the Null Strings

We observed that the null strings, tensionless strings with Carrollian worldsheets, exhibit an extra gauge symmetry, \textit{Carroll-Weyl} gauge symmetry, which cannot be obtained from ultra-relativistic Carrollian limit of tensile strings. Due to the existence of this symmetry, the BMS$_3$ algebra of constraints, which is obtained as the Carrollian limit of two Virasoro algebras of the standard tensile strings, should be replaced with an BMS$_3$ algebra extended by a weight one operator. To establish further the existence and necessity of the Carroll-Weyl gauge symmetry, we carefully work through Hamiltonian analyses of constrained/gauged systems. We also discuss the extended BMS$_3$ algebra of constraints.

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arXiv2025

Towards Quantizing Null p-branes: Light-Cone Gauge Analysis and Physical Hilbert Space

We study null $p$-branes, $p$-branes with a Carrollian $p+1$-dimensional worldvolume embedded in a generic $D$-dimensional flat Minkowski target space. This theory has a generalized BMS$_{p+1}$ gauge symmetry. By fixing the light-cone gauge, the BMS symmetry is partly fixed, leaving $p$ ``momentum constraints'' alongside $p$-dimensional area-preserving diffeomorphisms. We quantize the theory in the light-cone gauge via canonical quantization and construct the physical Hilbert space by imposing the remaining constraints using sandwich conditions: the constraints must vanish when sandwiched between any two physical states. We show that solutions to the sandwich conditions are classified into $p+1$ distinct classes, which we completely specify. In addition, we discuss special and interesting case of membranes in four dimensions and examine the physical implications of the quantized null $p$-brane and its associated physical Hilbert space.

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arXiv2023

Carrollian Structure of the Null Boundary Solution Space

We study pure $D$ dimensional Einstein gravity in spacetimes with a generic null boundary. We focus on the symplectic form of the solution phase space which comprises a $2D$ dimensional boundary part and a $2(D(D-3)/2+1)$ dimensional bulk part. The symplectic form is the sum of the bulk and boundary parts, obtained through integration over a codimension 1 surface (null boundary) and a codimension 2 spatial section of it, respectively. Notably, while the total symplectic form is a closed 2-form over the solution phase space, neither the boundary nor the bulk symplectic forms are closed due to the symplectic flux of the bulk modes passing through the boundary. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the $D(D-3)/2+1$ dimensional Lagrangian submanifold of the bulk part of the solution phase space has a Carrollian structure, with the metric on the $D(D-3)/2$ dimensional part being the Wheeler-DeWitt metric, and the Carrollian kernel vector corresponding to the outgoing Robinson-Trautman gravitational wave solution.

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arXiv2023

Hydro & Thermo Dynamics at Causal Boundaries, Examples in 3d Gravity

We study 3-dimensional gravity on a spacetime bounded by a generic 2-dimensional causal surface. We review the solution phase space specified by 4 generic functions over the causal boundary, construct the symplectic form over the solution space and the 4 boundary charges and their algebra. The boundary charges label boundary degrees of freedom. Three of these charges extend and generalize the Brown-York charges to the generic causal boundary, are canonical conjugates of boundary metric components and naturally give rise to a fluid description at the causal boundary. Moreover, we show that the boundary charges besides the causal boundary hydrodynamic description, also admit a thermodynamic description with a natural (geometric) causal boundary temperature and angular velocity. When the causal boundary is the asymptotic boundary of the 3d AdS or flat space, the hydrodynamic description respectively recovers an extension of the known conformal or conformal-Carrollian asymptotic hydrodynamics. When the causal boundary is a generic null surface, we recover the null surface thermodynamics of [1] which is an extension of the usual black hole thermodynamics description.

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arXiv2022

Null Surface Thermodynamics

We establish that boundary degrees of freedom associated with a generic co-dimension one null surface in $D$ dimensional pure Einstein gravity naturally admit a thermodynamical description. We expect the $\textit{null surface thermodynamics}$ to universally follow as a result of the diffeomorphism invariance of the theory, not relying on other special features of the null surface or the gravity theory. Using standard surface charge analysis and covariant phase space method, we formulate laws of null surface thermodynamics which are local equations over an arbitrary null surface paralleling local versions the zeroth and first laws and the Gibbs-Duhem equation. This thermodynamical system is generally an open system and can be closed only when there is no flux of gravitons through the null surface. Our analysis extends the usual black hole thermodynamics to a universal feature of any area element on a generic null surface. We discuss the relevance of our study for the membrane paradigm and black hole microstates.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Symmetries at Causal Boundaries in 2D and 3D Gravity

We study 2d and 3d gravity theories on spacetimes with causal (timelike or null) codimension one boundaries while allowing for variations in the position of the boundary. We construct the corresponding solution phase space and specify boundary degrees freedom by analysing boundary (surface) charges labelling them. We discuss Y and W freedoms and change of slicing in the solution space. For D dimensional case we find D+1 surface charges, which are generic functions over the causal boundary. We show that there exist solution space slicings in which the charges are integrable. For the 3d case there exists an integrable slicing where charge algebra takes the form of Heisenberg \oplus\ {\cal A}_3 where {\cal A}_3 is two copies of Virasoro at Brown-Henneaux central charge for AdS_3 gravity and BMS_3 for the 3d flat space gravity.

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arXiv2021

Null boundary phase space: slicings, news and memory

We construct the boundary phase space in $D$-dimensional Einstein gravity with a generic given co-dimension one null surface ${\cal N}$ as the boundary. The associated boundary symmetry algebra is a semi-direct sum of diffeomorphisms of $\cal N$ and Weyl rescalings. It is generated by $D$ towers of surface charges that are generic functions over $\cal N$. These surface charges can be rendered integrable for appropriate slicings of the phase space, provided there is no graviton flux through $\cal N$. In one particular slicing of this type, the charge algebra is the direct sum of the Heisenberg algebra and diffeomorphisms of the transverse space, ${\cal N}_v$ for any fixed value of the advanced time $v$. Finally, we introduce null surface expansion- and spin-memories, and discuss associated memory effects that encode the passage of gravitational waves through $\cal N$, imprinted in a change of the surface charges.

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arXiv2021

Chiral Massive News: Null Boundary Symmetries in Topologically Massive Gravity

We study surface charges on a generic null boundary in three dimensional topological massive gravity (TMG). We construct the solution phase space which involves four independent functions over the two dimensional null boundary. One of these functions corresponds to the massive chiral propagating graviton mode of TMG. The other three correspond to three surface charges of the theory, two of which can always be made integrable, while the last one can become integrable only in the absence of the chiral massive graviton flux through the null boundary. As the null boundary symmetry algebra we obtain Heisenberg $\oplus$ Virasoro algebra {with} a central charge proportional to the gravitational Chern-Simons term of TMG. We also discuss that the flux of the chiral massive gravitons appears as the (Bondi) news through the null surface.

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arXiv2020

Ehlers as EM duality in the double copy

Given a solution to 4D Einstein gravity with an isometry direction, it is known that the equations of motion are identical to those of a 3D $σ$-model with target space geometry $SU(1,1)/U(1)$. Thus, any transformation by $SU(1, 1) \cong SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ is a symmetry for the action and allows one to generate new solutions in 4D. Here we clarify and extend recent work on electromagnetic (EM) duality in the context of the classical double copy. In particular, for pure gravity, we identify an explicit map between the Maxwell field of the single copy and the scalars in the target space, allowing us to identify the $U(1) \subset SL(2, \mathbb{R})$ symmetry dual to EM duality in the single copy. Moreover, we extend the analysis to Einstein-Maxwell theory, where we highlight the role of Ehlers-Harrison transformations and, for spherically symmetric charged black hole solutions, we interpret the equations of motion as a truncation of the putative single copy for Einstein-Yang-Mills theory.

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arXiv2020

Symmetries at Null Boundaries: Two and Three Dimensional Gravity Cases

We carry out in full generality and without fixing specific boundary conditions, the symmetry and charge analysis near a generic null surface for two and three dimensional (2d and 3d) gravity theories. In 2d and 3d there are respectively two and three charges which are generic functions over the codimension one null surface. The integrability of charges and their algebra depend on the state-dependence of symmetry generators which is a priori not specified. We establish the existence of infinitely many choices that render the surface charges integrable. We show that there is a choice, the "fundamental basis", where the null boundary symmetry algebra is the Heisenberg+Diff(d-2) algebra. We expect this result to be true for d>3 when there is no Bondi news through the null surface.

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arXiv2018

Extreme Kerr black hole microstates with horizon fluff

We present a one-function family of solutions to 4D vacuum Einstein equations. While all diffeomorphic to the same extremal Kerr black hole, they are labeled by well-defined conserved charges and are hence distinct geometries. We show that this family of solutions forms a phase space the symplectic structure of which is invariant under a $U(1)$ Kac-Moody algebra generated by currents $\mathbb{J}_n$ and Virasoro generators $\mathbb{L}_n$ with central charge six times angular momentum of the black hole. This symmetry algebra is well-defined everywhere in the spacetime, near the horizon or in the asymptotic flat region. Out of the appropriate combination of $\mathbb{J}_n$ charges, we construct another Virasoro algebra at the same central charge. Requiring that these two Virasoro algebras should describe the same system leads us to a proposal for identifying extreme Kerr black hole microstates, dubbed as extreme Kerr fluff. Counting these microstates, we not only correctly reproduce the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of extreme Kerr black hole, but also its expected logarithmic corrections.

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arXiv2018

Yang-Baxter Deformations Beyond Coset Spaces (a slick way to do TsT)

Yang-Baxter string sigma-models provide a systematic way to deform coset geometries, such as $AdS_p \times S^p$, while retaining the $σ$-model integrability. It has been shown that the Yang-Baxter deformation in target space is simply an open-closed string map that can be defined for any geometry, not just coset spaces. Given a geometry with an isometry group and a bivector that is assumed to be a linear combination of antisymmetric products of Killing vectors, we show the equations of motion of (generalized) supergravity reduce to the Classical Yang-Baxter Equation associated with the isometry group, proving the statement made in [1]. These results bring us closer to the proof of the "YB solution generating technique" for (generalized) supergravity advertised in [1] and in particular provide an economical way to perform TsT transformations.

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