Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1707.02325

Pure states in the SYK model and nearly-$AdS_2$ gravity

Ioanna Kourkoulou, JUAN M. MALDACENA

Published Jul 7, 2017• 66 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We consider pure states in the SYK model. These are given by a simple local condition on the Majorana fermions, evolved over an interval in Euclidean time to project on to low energy states. We find that "diagonal" correlators are exactly the same as thermal correlators at leading orders in the large $N$ expansion. We also describe "off diagonal" correlators that decay in time, and are given simply in terms of thermal correlators. We also solved the model numerically for low values of $N$ and noticed that subsystems become typically entangled after an interaction time. In addition, we identified configurations in two dimensional nearly-$AdS_2$ gravity with similar symmetries. These gravity configurations correspond to states with regions behind horizons. The region behind the horizon can be made accessible by modifying the Hamiltonian of the boundary theory using the the knowledge of the particular microstate. The set of microstates in the SYK theory with these properties generates the full Hilbert space.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1707.02325

Related papers

Quantum chaos, thermodynamics and black hole microstates in the mass deformed SYK model

Tomoki Nosaka, Tokiro Numasawa

Abstract We study various aspects of the mass deformation of the SYK model which makes the black hole microstates escapable. SYK boundary states are given by a simple local boundary condition on the Majorana fermions and then evolved in Euclidean time in the SYK Hamiltonian. We study the ground state of this mass deformed SYK model in detail. We also use SYK boundary states as a variational approximation to the ground state of the mass deformed SYK model. We compare variational approximation with the exact ground state results and they showed a good agreement. We also study the time evolution of the mass deformed ground state under the SYK Hamiltonian. We give a gravity interpretation of the mass deformed ground state and its time evolutions. In gravity side, mass deformation gives a way to prepare black hole microstates that are similar to pure boundary state black holes. Escaping protocol on these ground states simply gives a global AdS2 with an IR end of the world brane. We also study the thermodynamics and quantum chaotic properties of this mass deformed SYK model. Interestingly, we do not observe the Hawking Page like phase transition in this model in spite of similarity of the Hamiltonian with eternal traversable wormhole model where we have the phase transition.

arXiv:1912.12302•Journal of High Energy Physics•Aug 1, 2020•21 citations

Quantum Information in SYK Model

Chen‐Te Ma, Jeff Murugan, Masaki Tezuka

We investigate the bulk-boundary correspondence in the SYK model from a quantum information perspective. The SYK model describes a system of Majorana fermions with random all-to-all interactions, whose disorder average-typically taken over a Gaussian ensemble-admits a dual description in terms of JT gravity in the large-$N$, low-energy limit. This framework provides a minimal setting for exploring holography and emergent spacetime in nearly AdS$_2$. We probe the holographic principle through diagnostics of quantum chaos and entanglement. In the early-time regime, the SYK model saturates the universal bound on the Lyapunov exponent, signaling maximal chaos consistent with semiclassical black hole dynamics. In the late-time regime, its spectral statistics are governed by random matrix theory, reflecting universal features of strongly chaotic quantum systems. These dynamical properties establish a concrete link between boundary quantum chaos and bulk semiclassical gravity. In parallel, we analyze quantum entanglement and the structure of operator algebras to investigate transitions in the associated von Neumann algebras and their implications for emergent geometry. To explore the robustness of these phenomena, we consider deformations of the SYK model through modified matter couplings and alternative random distributions. Our results clarify how quantum information-theoretic structures encode bulk gravitational dynamics and provide insight into the mechanism of spacetime emergence.

arXiv:2608.15589•Aug 16, 2026•0 citations

Symmetries near the horizon

Henry W. Lin

We consider a nearly-AdS_2 gravity theory on the two-sided wormhole geometry. We construct three gauge-invariant operators in NAdS_2 which move bulk matter relative to the dynamical boundaries. In a two-sided system, these operators satisfy an SL(2) algebra (up to non perturbative corrections). In a semiclassical limit, these generators act like SL(2) transformations of the boundary time, or conformal symmetries of the two sided boundary theory. These can be used to define an operator-state mapping. A particular large N and low temperature limit of the SYK model has precisely the same structure, and this construction of the exact generators also applies. We also discuss approximate, but simpler, constructions of the generators in the SYK model. These are closely related to the “size” operator and are connected to the maximal chaos behavior captured by out of time order correlators.

•May 27, 2022•82 citations

Symmetries near the horizon

Henry W. Lin, Juan Maldacena, Ying Zhao

A bstract We consider a nearly-AdS 2 gravity theory on the two-sided wormhole geometry. We construct three gauge-invariant operators in NAdS 2 which move bulk matter relative to the dynamical boundaries. In a two-sided system, these operators satisfy an SL(2) algebra (up to non perturbative corrections). In a semiclassical limit, these generators act like SL(2) transformations of the boundary time, or conformal symmetries of the two sided boundary theory. These can be used to define an operator-state mapping. A particular large N and low temperature limit of the SYK model has precisely the same structure, and this construction of the exact generators also applies. We also discuss approximate, but simpler, constructions of the generators in the SYK model. These are closely related to the “size” operator and are connected to the maximal chaos behavior captured by out of time order correlators.

arXiv:1904.12820•Journal of High Energy Physics•Aug 1, 2019•90 citations

Probing typical black hole microstates

Jan De Boer A, Rik van Breukelen, Sagar F. Lokhande +2 more

Abstract We investigate the possibility that the geometry dual to a typical AdS black hole microstate corresponds to the extended AdS-Schwarzschild geometry, including a region spacelike to the exterior. We argue that this region can be described by the mirror operators, a set of state-dependent operators in the dual CFT. We probe the geometry of a typical state by considering state-dependent deformations of the CFT Hamiltonian, which have an interpretation as a one-sided analogue of the Gao-Jafferis-Wall traversable wormhole protocol for typical states. We argue that the validity of the conjectured bulk geometry requires that out-of-time-order correlators of simple CFT operators on typical pure states must exhibit the same chaotic effects as thermal correlators at scrambling time. This condition is related to the question of whether the product of operators separated by scrambling time obey the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis. We investigate some of these statements in the SYK model and discuss similarities with state-dependent perturba- tions of pure states in the SYK model previously considered by Kourkoulou and Maldacena. Finally, we discuss how the mirror operators can be used to implement an analogue of the Hayden-Preskill protocol.

arXiv:1901.08527•Journal of High Energy Physics•Jan 1, 2020•30 citations

Large NNN Tensor and SYK Models

Jae-Won Kim

The SYK model proposed by Sachdev, Ye, and Kitaev consists of Majorana fermions that interact randomly four at a time. The model develops a dense spectrum above the ground state, due to which the model becomes nearly conformal. This suggests that a holographic dual may exist, which makes the SYK model interesting in the study of quantum gravity. It has been found that the SYK model is similar to large $N$ tensor models: in both models, only the melonic diagrams survive in the large $N$ limit. In this thesis, we explore the large $N$ tensor model with $O(N)^3$ symmetry containing two flavors of Majorana fermions in the fundamental representation. Its quartic Hamiltonian depends on a real parameter $β$. We derive the kernels of the four point functions. With the spectra that we find from the kernels, we calculate the scaling dimensions of several types of conformal primaries. We also find a duality relation between two Hamiltonians of different values of $β$. This is not a perfect duality, because the normalization of energy scales with the transformation. Nevertheless, the ratios of the energies are the same, and the operator dimensions are preserved. In addition, we discover that for $β> 1$ or $β< 0$ the scaling dimensions of one of the conformal primaries become complex, rendering the model unstable.

arXiv:1811.04330•APS•Nov 11, 2018•2 citations
Pure states in the SYK model and nearly-AdS2AdS_2AdS2​ gravity
We consider pure states in the SYK model. These are given by a simple local condition on the Majorana fermions, evolved over an interval in Euclidean time to project on to low energy states. We find that "diagonal" correlators are exactly the same as thermal correlators at leading orders in the large NNN expansion. We also describe "off diagonal" correlators that decay in time, and are given simply in terms of thermal correlators. We also solved the model numerically for low values of NNN and noticed that subsystems become typically entangled after an interaction time. In addition, we identified configurations in two dimensional nearly-AdS2AdS_2AdS2​ gravity with similar symmetries. These gravity configurations correspond to states with regions behind horizons. The region behind the horizon can be made accessible by modifying the Hamiltonian of the boundary theory using the the knowledge of the particular microstate. The set of microstates in the SYK theory with these properties generates the full Hilbert space.
Abstract We study various aspects of the mass deformation of the SYK model which makes the black hole microstates escapable. SYK boundary states are given by a simple local boundary condition on the Majorana fermions and then evolved in Euclidean time in the SYK Hamiltonian. We study the ground state of this mass deformed SYK model in detail. We also use SYK boundary states as a variational approximation to the ground state of the mass deformed SYK model. We compare variational approximation with the exact ground state results and they showed a good agreement. We also study the time evolution of the mass deformed ground state under the SYK Hamiltonian. We give a gravity interpretation of the mass deformed ground state and its time evolutions. In gravity side, mass deformation gives a way to prepare black hole microstates that are similar to pure boundary state black holes. Escaping protocol on these ground states simply gives a global AdS2 with an IR end of the world brane. We also study the thermodynamics and quantum chaotic properties of this mass deformed SYK model. Interestingly, we do not observe the Hawking Page like phase transition in this model in spite of similarity of the Hamiltonian with eternal traversable wormhole model where we have the phase transition.
We investigate the bulk-boundary correspondence in the SYK model from a quantum information perspective. The SYK model describes a system of Majorana fermions with random all-to-all interactions, whose disorder average-typically taken over a Gaussian ensemble-admits a dual description in terms of JT gravity in the large-NNN, low-energy limit. This framework provides a minimal setting for exploring holography and emergent spacetime in nearly AdS2_22​. We probe the holographic principle through diagnostics of quantum chaos and entanglement. In the early-time regime, the SYK model saturates the universal bound on the Lyapunov exponent, signaling maximal chaos consistent with semiclassical black hole dynamics. In the late-time regime, its spectral statistics are governed by random matrix theory, reflecting universal features of strongly chaotic quantum systems. These dynamical properties establish a concrete link between boundary quantum chaos and bulk semiclassical gravity. In parallel, we analyze quantum entanglement and the structure of operator algebras to investigate transitions in the associated von Neumann algebras and their implications for emergent geometry. To explore the robustness of these phenomena, we consider deformations of the SYK model through modified matter couplings and alternative random distributions. Our results clarify how quantum information-theoretic structures encode bulk gravitational dynamics and provide insight into the mechanism of spacetime emergence.
We consider a nearly-AdS_2 gravity theory on the two-sided wormhole geometry. We construct three gauge-invariant operators in NAdS_2 which move bulk matter relative to the dynamical boundaries. In a two-sided system, these operators satisfy an SL(2) algebra (up to non perturbative corrections). In a semiclassical limit, these generators act like SL(2) transformations of the boundary time, or conformal symmetries of the two sided boundary theory. These can be used to define an operator-state mapping. A particular large N and low temperature limit of the SYK model has precisely the same structure, and this construction of the exact generators also applies. We also discuss approximate, but simpler, constructions of the generators in the SYK model. These are closely related to the “size” operator and are connected to the maximal chaos behavior captured by out of time order correlators.
A bstract We consider a nearly-AdS 2 gravity theory on the two-sided wormhole geometry. We construct three gauge-invariant operators in NAdS 2 which move bulk matter relative to the dynamical boundaries. In a two-sided system, these operators satisfy an SL(2) algebra (up to non perturbative corrections). In a semiclassical limit, these generators act like SL(2) transformations of the boundary time, or conformal symmetries of the two sided boundary theory. These can be used to define an operator-state mapping. A particular large N and low temperature limit of the SYK model has precisely the same structure, and this construction of the exact generators also applies. We also discuss approximate, but simpler, constructions of the generators in the SYK model. These are closely related to the “size” operator and are connected to the maximal chaos behavior captured by out of time order correlators.
Abstract We investigate the possibility that the geometry dual to a typical AdS black hole microstate corresponds to the extended AdS-Schwarzschild geometry, including a region spacelike to the exterior. We argue that this region can be described by the mirror operators, a set of state-dependent operators in the dual CFT. We probe the geometry of a typical state by considering state-dependent deformations of the CFT Hamiltonian, which have an interpretation as a one-sided analogue of the Gao-Jafferis-Wall traversable wormhole protocol for typical states. We argue that the validity of the conjectured bulk geometry requires that out-of-time-order correlators of simple CFT operators on typical pure states must exhibit the same chaotic effects as thermal correlators at scrambling time. This condition is related to the question of whether the product of operators separated by scrambling time obey the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis. We investigate some of these statements in the SYK model and discuss similarities with state-dependent perturba- tions of pure states in the SYK model previously considered by Kourkoulou and Maldacena. Finally, we discuss how the mirror operators can be used to implement an analogue of the Hayden-Preskill protocol.
The SYK model proposed by Sachdev, Ye, and Kitaev consists of Majorana fermions that interact randomly four at a time. The model develops a dense spectrum above the ground state, due to which the model becomes nearly conformal. This suggests that a holographic dual may exist, which makes the SYK model interesting in the study of quantum gravity. It has been found that the SYK model is similar to large NNN tensor models: in both models, only the melonic diagrams survive in the large NNN limit. In this thesis, we explore the large NNN tensor model with O(N)3O(N)^3O(N)3 symmetry containing two flavors of Majorana fermions in the fundamental representation. Its quartic Hamiltonian depends on a real parameter βββ. We derive the kernels of the four point functions. With the spectra that we find from the kernels, we calculate the scaling dimensions of several types of conformal primaries. We also find a duality relation between two Hamiltonians of different values of βββ. This is not a perfect duality, because the normalization of energy scales with the transformation. Nevertheless, the ratios of the energies are the same, and the operator dimensions are preserved. In addition, we discover that for β>1β> 1β>1 or β<0β< 0β<0 the scaling dimensions of one of the conformal primaries become complex, rendering the model unstable.