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Main Authors: Gupta, Divij, Headrick, Matthew, Sasieta, Martin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.08945
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author Gupta, Divij
Headrick, Matthew
Sasieta, Martin
author_facet Gupta, Divij
Headrick, Matthew
Sasieta, Martin
contents We propose a generalization of the RT and HRT holographic entanglement entropy formulas to spacetimes with asymptotically Minkowski as well as asymptotically AdS regions. We postulate that such spacetimes represent entangled states in a tensor product of Hilbert spaces, each corresponding to one asymptotic region. We show that our conjectured formula has the same general properties and passes the same general tests as the standard HRT formula. We provide further evidence for it by showing that in many cases the Minkowski asymptotic regions can be replaced by AdS ones using a domain wall. We illustrate the use of our formula by calculating entanglement entropies between asymptotic regions in Brill-Lindquist spacetimes, finding phase transitions similar to those known to occur in AdS. We construct networks of universes by gluing together Brill-Lindquist spaces along minimal surfaces. Finally, we discuss a variety of possible extensions and generalizations, including to universes with asymptotically de Sitter regions; in the latter case, we identify an ambiguity in the homology condition, leading to two different versions of the HRT formula which we call ``orthodox'' and ``heterodox'', with different physical interpretations.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_08945
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Entangled universes
Gupta, Divij
Headrick, Matthew
Sasieta, Martin
High Energy Physics - Theory
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
We propose a generalization of the RT and HRT holographic entanglement entropy formulas to spacetimes with asymptotically Minkowski as well as asymptotically AdS regions. We postulate that such spacetimes represent entangled states in a tensor product of Hilbert spaces, each corresponding to one asymptotic region. We show that our conjectured formula has the same general properties and passes the same general tests as the standard HRT formula. We provide further evidence for it by showing that in many cases the Minkowski asymptotic regions can be replaced by AdS ones using a domain wall. We illustrate the use of our formula by calculating entanglement entropies between asymptotic regions in Brill-Lindquist spacetimes, finding phase transitions similar to those known to occur in AdS. We construct networks of universes by gluing together Brill-Lindquist spaces along minimal surfaces. Finally, we discuss a variety of possible extensions and generalizations, including to universes with asymptotically de Sitter regions; in the latter case, we identify an ambiguity in the homology condition, leading to two different versions of the HRT formula which we call ``orthodox'' and ``heterodox'', with different physical interpretations.
title Entangled universes
topic High Energy Physics - Theory
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.08945