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Luca Griguolo

Publications and source records attributed to Luca Griguolo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Quantum JT Gravity in a box as a P\"oschl-Teller Scattering Problem

We present a canonical quantization of Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity with finite Dirichlet boundary conditions, using the geodesic length between the two boundaries and its conjugate momentum as reduced phase space variables. The dynamics is recast as the scattering problem of a nonrelativistic particle in a repulsive P\"oschl-Teller potential, naturally embedded within a hyperbolic reduction of the $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{R})$ Casimir. We obtain exact wavefunctions of the universe and the disk partition function, interpreted as a transition matrix element between states of vanishing bare length. In the asymptotic limit, the theory reduces to Liouville quantum mechanics and reproduces the standard Schwarzian spectral density. At finite cutoff, however, the spectral measure exhibits genuinely nonperturbative corrections, absent in existing $T\bar T$ treatments. We also obtain closed form expressions for thermal two-point functions in terms of Wilson functions and propose diagrammatic rules for time- and out-of-time-ordered four-point functions. We further address the issue of the branch cut singularity of the quasi-local energy and propose a UV completion of the model in which the Brown-York charge is analytically continued beyond the black hole horizon. This continuation naturally extends the scattering problem to configurations that foliate the black hole interior.

hep-th

A new perspective on dilaton gravity at finite cutoff

The formulation of two-dimensional quantum gravity at finite cutoff remains an open problem. We revisit this question in JT gravity from two perspectives: the closed-channel bulk path integral and the path integral over boundary curves. First, we study the radial evolution of a closed universe and derive the trumpet wavefunction as a transition amplitude between a geodesic boundary and a finite Dirichlet boundary. Our analysis recovers the Hartle--Hawking wavefunction without imposing asymptotic boundary conditions, allowing the trumpet to be glued to a cap wavefunction to reconstruct the smooth disk. Second, we derive an exact Riccati equation for the extrinsic curvature of a finite-cutoff boundary curve in the Euclidean Poincar\'e disk. A WKB expansion of this equation yields all perturbative corrections in the cutoff parameter and captures nonperturbative effects. From this, we compute the quadratic boundary action and the one-loop partition function at finite cutoff, finding agreement with both the bulk approach and the expected one-loop effective action for the $T\bar{T}$ deformation of the Schwarzian theory. Extracting lessons from JT gravity, we then argue that similar relationships hold for general dilaton gravities with arbitrary potentials $V(\phi)$ and propose an exact expression for their finite cutoff partition functions. We finally investigate several signatures of UV completeness in these settings, introducing a canonical quantization approach within the finite cutoff framework.

hep-th

Probing the dynamics of stringy flux tubes with large $R$-charge

We study the generalized cusp anomalous dimension, or quark-antiquark potential on the three-sphere, in the presence of a large $R$-charge $L$ and at strong coupling. Considering the insertion of a local scalar operator of charge $L$ on a cusped Wilson loop, we investigate the general solution of the dual string configuration for any value of cusp angles, paying particular attention to the different ranges of the physical parameters and obtaining a unified description that simultaneously captures the near BPS, the antiparallel lines and the large-$L$ regimes. We observe, in the limit of small separation between the lines, a non-analytic change in the behavior of the cusp anomaly at a critical value of $L$: one crosses from a region dominated by the familiar Coulomb-like singularity to a ``deconfined" situation describing the leading L\"uscher corrections at large $L$ of the generalized cusp anomalous dimension. We derive the equations for small fluctuations around the classical string solution, generalizing previous analysis of the uncharged case, and we study the behavior of the spectrum near the transition region. Finally, we speculate on the field theory origin of the transition and on its implications for the fusion of Wilson lines.

hep-th

Lattice defect networks in 2d Yang-Mills

We construct defect networks in pure Yang-Mills theory in two dimensions using a refinement of the lattice approach. The refinement preserves the locality properties of individual defects, and is compatible with solvability of the theory via subdivision invariance. We explicitly demonstrate closure of the building blocks under fusion.

hep-th

Sine-dilaton gravity vs double-scaled SYK: exploring one-loop quantum corrections

We provide non-trivial checks of the recently proposed duality between double-scaled SYK and a 2d dilaton gravity model with sine potential, studying the path integral at one-loop level. Specifically, we compute the logarithmic correction to the free energy of sine-dilaton gravity and, up to potential ordering ambiguities, we find a match with the corresponding quantity in double-scaled SYK. The computation relies on the description of sine-dilaton gravity in terms of a version of the q-Schwarzian theory, the quantum deformation of the standard Schwarzian model dual to JT gravity. A crucial aspect of the calculation is selecting the correct Hartle-Hawking vacuum for the gravitational theory, which implies a specific choice of boundary conditions for the one-loop determinant, computed using a generalization of the Gel'fand-Yaglom's theorem. We also evaluate the gravitational one-loop correction to the boundary to boundary propagator of a non-minimally coupled matter field in the bulk theory, showing a perfect agreement with the corresponding quantum correction of matter correlators in double-scaled SYK.

hep-th

Into the wedge of $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal gauge theories

We study $\frac{1}{4}$-BPS Wilson loops in four-dimensional SU$(N$) ${\mathcal{N}}=2$ super-Yang-Mills theories with conformal matter in an arbitrary representation $\mathcal{R}$. These operators are formed of two meridians on the two-sphere separated by an arbitrary opening angle. We conjecture that these observables are encoded in a modification of Pestun's matrix model. The matrix representation of these operators resembles that of the $\frac12$-BPS circular Wilson loop, differing only for a rescaling in the exponent. We compare the matrix model predictions with an explicit three-loop calculation in flat space based on standard Feynman-diagram techniques, finding perfect agreement. Finally, exploiting the matrix model representation of these Wilson loops, we study the large-$N$ limit at strong coupling of $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal QCD, finding a surprising transition in the vacuum expectation value for a critical opening angle.

hep-th

1/2 BPS Wilson loops in non-conformal N = 2 gauge theories and localization: a three-loop analysis

We study the 1/2 BPS circular Wilson loop in four-dimensional SU(N), $N = 2$ SYM theories with massless hypermultiplets and non-vanishing $\beta$-function. Using super-symmetric localization on $S_4$ , we map the path-integral associated with this observable onto an interacting matrix model. Despite the breaking of conformal symmetry at the quantum level, we show that, within a specific regime, the matrix model predictions remain consistent with the perturbative results in flat space up to order $g^6$ . At this order, our analysis reveals that the reorganization of Feynman diagrams based on the matrix model interaction potential, widely tested in (super)conformal models, also applies to these non-conformal set-ups and is realized by interference mechanisms.

hep-th

Supersymmetric localization and non-conformal $\mathcal{N}=2$ SYM theories in the perturbative regime

We examine the relation between supersymmetric localization on $\mathbb{S}^4$ and standard QFT results for non-conformal theories in flat space. Specifically, we consider 1/2 BPS circular Wilson loops in four-dimensional SU($N$) $\mathcal{N}$= 2 SYM theories with massless hypermultiplets in an arbitrary representation $\mathcal{R}$ such that the $\beta$-function is non-vanishing. On $\mathbb{S}^4$, localization maps this observable into an interacting matrix model. Although conformal symmetry is broken at the quantum level, we show that within a specific regime of validity the matrix model predictions are consistent with perturbation theory in flat space up to order $g^6$. In particular, at this order, localization predicts two classes of corrections proportional to $\zeta(3)$ whose diagrammatic origins in field theory are remarkably different. One class of $\zeta(3)$-like corrections emerges via interference effects between evanescent terms and the ultraviolet (UV) poles associated with the bare coupling constant, while the second one stems from a Feynman integral which retains the same form in flat space and on the sphere.

hep-th

Localization and resummation of unstable instantons in 2d Yang-Mills

We compute the exact all-orders perturbative expansion for the partition function of 2d $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ Yang-Mills theory on closed surfaces around higher critical points. We demonstrate that the expansion can be derived from the lattice partition function for all genera using a distributional generalization of the Poisson summation formula. We then recompute the expansion directly, using a stationary phase version of supersymmetric localization. The result of localization is a novel effective action which is itself a distribution rather than a function of the supersymmetric moduli. We comment on possible applications to A-twisted models and their analogs in higher dimensions.

hep-th

Asymptotics of Weil-Petersson volumes and two-dimensional quantum gravities

We propose a refined expression for the large genus asymptotics of the Weil-Petersson volumes of the moduli space of super-Riemann surfaces with an arbitrary number of boundaries. Our formula leverages the connection between JT supergravity and its matrix model definition, utilizing some basic tools of resurgence theory. The final result holds for arbitrary boundary lengths and preserves the polynomial structure of the super-volumes. As a byproduct we also obtain a prediction for the large genus asymptotics of generalized $\Theta$-class intersection numbers. We extend our proposal to the case of the quantum volumes relevant for the Virasoro minimal string/Liouville gravity. Performing the classical limit on the quantum volumes, we recover a formula for the ordinary Weil-Petersson building blocks of JT gravity.

hep-th

BPS Wilson loops in mass-deformed ABJM theory: Fermi gas expansions and new defect CFT data

We compute the expectation values of BPS Wilson loops in the mass-deformed ABJM theory using the Fermi gas technique. We obtain explicit results in terms of Airy functions, effectively resumming the full 1/N expansion up to exponentially small terms. In the maximal supersymmetric case, these expressions enable us to derive multi-point correlation functions for topological operators belonging to the stress tensor multiplet, in the presence of a 1/2--BPS Wilson line. From the one-point correlator, we recover the ABJM Bremsstrahlung function, confirming nicely previous results obtained through latitude Wilson loops. Likewise, higher point correlators can be used to extract iteratively new defect CFT data for higher dimensional topological operators. We present a detailed example of the dimension-two operator appearing in the OPE of two stress tensor multiplets.

hep-th

The resurgence of the plateau in supersymmetric ${\cal N}=1$ Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity

Significant progresses have been made recently in understanding the spectral form factor of Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity, particularly at late times where non-perturbative effects are expected to play a dominant role. By focusing on a peculiar regime of large time and fixed temperature, called $\tau$-scaling limit, it was found that it is possible to analytically investigate the late-time plateau directly through the gravitational genus expansion. We extend this analysis to the supersymmetric $\mathcal{N}=1$ generalization of the bosonic theory, revealing an interesting structure. First, we notice that in the $\tau$-scaling limit the perturbative sum over genera truncates after a single term, which solely accounts for the ramp behaviour. Instead a non-perturbative completion, responsible for the plateau, is encoded into an exact formula coming from the properties of the chiral gaussian ensemble, governing the spectral properties of the supersymmetric theory. We are able to recover the non-perturbative contributions by slightly deforming the genus of the involved surfaces and using resurgence theory. We derive a closed-form analytical expression for the late-time plateau and a trans-series expansion that captures the ramp-plateau transition.

hep-th

Supersymmetric localization of (higher-spin) JT gravity: a bulk perspective

We study two-dimensional Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity on the disk topology by using a BF gauge theory in the presence of a boundary term. The system can be equivalently written in a supersymmetric way by introducing auxiliary gauginos and scalars with suitable boundary conditions on the hemisphere. We compute the exact partition function thanks to supersymmetric localization and we recover the result obtained from the Schwarzian theory by accurately identifying the physical scales. The calculation is then easily extended to the higher-spin generalization of Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity, finding perfect agreement with previous results. We argue that our procedure can also be applied to boundary-anchored Wilson line correlators.

hep-th

Constant primary operators and where to find them: The strange case of BPS defects in ABJ(M) theory

We investigate the one-dimensional defect SCFT defined on the $1/2$ BPS Wilson line/loop in ABJ(M) theory. We show that the supermatrix structure of the defect imposes a covariant supermatrix representation of the supercharges. Exploiting this covariant formulation, we prove the existence of a long multiplet whose highest weight state is a constant supermatrix operator. At weak coupling, we study this operator in perturbation theory and confirm that it acquires a non-trivial anomalous dimension. At strong coupling, we conjecture that this operator is dual to the lowest bound state of fluctuations of the fundamental open string in AdS$_4\times \mathbb{CP}_3$ around the classical $1/2$ BPS solution. Quite unexpectedly, this operator also arises in the cohomological equivalence between bosonic and fermionic Wilson loops. We also discuss some regularization subtleties arising in perturbative calculations on the infinite Wilson line.

hep-th

The phase diagram of $T\bar{T}$-deformed Yang-Mills theory on the sphere

We study the large-$N$ dynamics of $T\bar{T}$-deformed two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory at genus zero. The 1/$N$-expansion of the free energy is obtained by exploiting the associated flow equation and the complete phase diagram of the theory is derived for both signs of the rescaled deformation parameter $τ$. We observe a third-order phase transition driven by instanton condensation, which is the deformed version of the familiar Douglas-Kazakov transition separating the weakly-coupled from the strongly-coupled phase. By studying said phases, we compute the deformation of both the perturbative sector and the Gross-Taylor string expansion. Nonperturbative corrections in $τ$ drive the system into an unexplored disordered phase separated by a novel critical line meeting tangentially the Douglas-Kazakov one at a tricritical point. The associated phase transition is induced by the collision of large-$N$ saddle points, determining its second-order character.

hep-th

Exact $T\bar{T}$-deformation of two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory on the sphere

We study the $T\bar{T}$ deformation of two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory at genus zero by carrying out the analysis at the level of its instanton representation. We first focus on the perturbative sector by considering its power expansion in the deformation parameter $μ$. By studying the resulting asymptotic series through resurgence theory, we determine the nonperturbative contributions that enter the result for $μ<0$. We then extend this analysis to any flux sector by solving the relevant flow equation. Specifically, we impose boundary conditions corresponding to two distinct regimes: the quantum undeformed theory and the semiclassical limit of the deformed theory. The full partition function is obtained as a sum over all magnetic fluxes. For any $μ>0$, only a finite portion of the quantum spectrum survives and the partition function reduces to a sum over a finite set of representations. For $μ<0$, nonperturbative contributions regularize the partition function through an intriguing mechanism that generates nontrivial subtractions.

hep-th

Exact $T\overline{T}$ deformation of two-dimensional Maxwell theory

$T\overline{T}$-deformed two-dimensional quantum Maxwell theory on the torus is examined, taking into account nonperturbative effects in the deformation parameter $μ$. We study the deformed partition function solving the relevant flow equation at the level of individual flux sectors. Summing exactly the "instanton" series, we obtain a well-defined expression for the partition function at arbitrary $μ$. For $μ>0$, the quantum spectrum of the theory experiences a truncation, the partition function reducing to a sum over a finite set of positive-energy states. For $μ<0$ instead, the appearance of nonperturbative contributions in $μ$ drastically modifies the structure of the partition function, regularizing its naive divergences through instanton-like subtractions. For each flux sector, we show that the semiclassical contribution is dominated by the deformed classical action. The theory is observed to undergo infinite-order phase transitions for certain values of $μ$, associated with the vanishing of Polyakov-loop correlators.

hep-th

Nonperturbative effects and resurgence in JT gravity at finite cutoff

We investigate the nonperturbative structure of Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity at finite cutoff, as given by its proposed formulation in terms of a $T\bar{T}$-deformed Schwarzian quantum mechanics. Our starting point is a careful computation of the disk partition function to all orders in the perturbative expansion in the cutoff parameter. We show that the perturbative series is asymptotic and that it admits a precise completion exploiting the analytical properties of its Borel transform, as prescribed by resurgence theory. The final result is then naturally interpreted in terms of the nonperturbative branch of the $T\bar{T}$-deformed spectrum. The finite-cutoff trumpet partition function is computed by applying the same strategy. In the second part of the paper, we propose an extension of this formalism to arbitrary topologies, using the basic gluing rules of the undeformed case. The Weil-Petersson integrations can be safely performed due to the nonperturbative corrections and give results that are compatible with the flow equation associated with the $T\bar{T}$ deformation. We derive exact expressions for general topologies and show that these are captured by a suitable deformation of the Eynard-Orantin topological recursion. Finally, we study the "slope" and "ramp" regimes of the spectral form factor as functions of the cutoff parameter.

hep-th