Ontology of AdS/CFT classical on the bulk?

Thread starter SupremeFunky
Start date Feb 27, 2011
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Ads/cft Classical Ontology

In summary, AdS/CFT is a duality between a theory of gravity in a curved space and a quantum field theory in flat space. It allows for the study of strongly coupled systems in a controlled way, providing insights into phenomena such as black holes and quantum gravity. The ontology of AdS/CFT classical on the bulk includes the metric, AdS radius, and fields, which are encoded in the boundary theory. In the classical limit, the correspondence works as a mapping between classical solutions and observables. Conformal symmetry is crucial for the duality to hold, and while there is currently no direct experimental evidence for it in the real world, it has been extensively tested in theoretical calculations and may be further supported by future experiments.

Feb 27, 2011

SupremeFunky

Is it true in AdS/CFT the ontology on the boundary is quantum (whatever that may be), and the ontology in the bulk is classical?

If that were true it would be a new "interpretation" of quantum mechanics.

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Feb 27, 2011

atyy

Science Advisor

No, the bulk is quantum too.

At low energies, the bulk is well approximated by classical gravity, but at high energies it is a string theory, which is quantum.

Related to Ontology of AdS/CFT classical on the bulk?

1. What is AdS/CFT and why is it important in the study of theoretical physics?

AdS/CFT (Anti-de Sitter/Conformal Field Theory) is a duality between two seemingly different theories - a theory of gravity in a curved space (AdS) and a quantum field theory in flat space (CFT). This duality allows us to study strongly coupled systems in a controlled way, which is a major challenge in theoretical physics. It has been used to gain insights into various phenomena, such as black holes, quantum gravity, and the behavior of quark-gluon plasma in high-energy physics.

2. What is the ontology of AdS/CFT classical on the bulk?

The ontology of AdS/CFT classical on the bulk refers to the fundamental entities and their relationships in the AdS space, which is the curved space in the AdS/CFT duality. This includes the metric of the space, the AdS radius, and the fields that describe the dynamics of the system. These entities and their interactions are encoded in the holographic boundary theory, which is the CFT in the AdS/CFT duality.

3. How does the AdS/CFT correspondence work in the classical limit?

In the classical limit, the AdS/CFT correspondence can be understood as a mapping between classical solutions in the AdS space and the observables of the CFT theory on its boundary. This means that the bulk dynamics of the AdS space can be fully described by the CFT observables, and vice versa. This correspondence is possible due to the holographic principle, which states that the information of a system can be encoded on its boundary.

4. What is the role of conformal symmetry in AdS/CFT correspondence?

Conformal symmetry is a crucial ingredient in the AdS/CFT correspondence. It ensures that the CFT on the boundary of the AdS space is scale-invariant, which is a necessary condition for the duality to hold. In the AdS space, conformal symmetry manifests as isometries of the space, which are necessary for the AdS/CFT correspondence to hold.

5. Is there any evidence for the AdS/CFT correspondence in the real world?

Currently, there is no direct experimental evidence for the AdS/CFT correspondence in the real world. However, the duality has been extensively tested and verified in the context of theoretical calculations and has provided insights into various phenomena, such as the behavior of quark-gluon plasma in high-energy physics. Future experiments, such as those at the Large Hadron Collider, may provide further evidence for the AdS/CFT correspondence.