Holographic isotropization linearized

TL;DR

This paper extends the linearized holographic model of isotropization in strongly coupled plasmas, improving understanding of entropy production and the interior dynamics, with better accuracy for states far from equilibrium.

Contribution

It elaborates on previous linearized models by including interior-sensitive observables and next-to-leading-order corrections, enhancing the description of isotropization.

Findings

Linearized approximation reproduces boundary stress tensor within 20% accuracy.

Leading-order terms better describe far-from-equilibrium states.

Entropy production on the event horizon analyzed with improved models.

Abstract

The holographic isotropization of a highly anisotropic, homogeneous, strongly coupled, non-Abelian plasma was simplified in arXiv:1202.0981 by linearizing Einstein's equations around the final, equilibrium state. This approximation reproduces the expectation value of the boundary stress tensor with a 20% accuracy. Here we elaborate on these results and extend them to observables that are directly sensitive to the bulk interior, focusing for simplicity on the entropy production on the event horizon. We also consider next-to-leading-order corrections and show that the leading terms alone provide a better description of the isotropization process for the states that are furthest from equilibrium.