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Do holographic CFT states have unique semiclassical bulk duals?

Stefano Antonini, Pratik Rath

2025International Journal of Modern Physics D7 citationsDOI

Abstract

We discuss a situation where a holographic CFT state has multiple semiclassical bulk duals. In our example, a given holographic state has two simple, semiclassical descriptions, one with a closed universe, constructed using the gravitational path integral, and one without a closed universe, constructed using the extrapolate dictionary. This highlights an ambiguity in the AdS/CFT dictionary. We propose various options for resolving this tension although none is perfectly satisfactory. We also discuss what this implies for the black hole interior and the gravitational path integral.

Topics & Concepts

Semiclassical physicsPhysicsHolographyGravitationClassical mechanicsBlack hole (networking)AmbiguityTheoretical physicsPath (computing)State (computer science)Semiclassical gravityPath integral formulationQuantum mechanicsHolographic principleMathematical physicsQuantum electrodynamicsGravitational waveAdS black holeBlack Holes and Theoretical PhysicsQuantum chaos and dynamical systemsAlgebraic structures and combinatorial models
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