$N$-point functions of strongly coupled fluids dual to generalized higher-derivative theories of gravity

TL;DR

This paper computes stress-tensor correlation functions in strongly coupled fluids via higher-derivative gravity theories, aiming to connect gravitational scattering amplitudes with gauge theory observables, potentially aiding experimental identification of dual fluids.

Contribution

It extends previous work by calculating connected stress-tensor correlators in higher-derivative gravity, linking graviton scattering amplitudes to gauge theory correlators in a specific kinetic regime.

Findings

Derived explicit expressions for stress-tensor correlators in higher-derivative gravity

Identified potential experimental signatures of gravitational duals in strongly coupled fluids

Enhanced understanding of holographic correspondence in complex gravitational theories

Abstract

We calculate the connected stress-tensor correlation functions that are dual to a certain class of graviton scattering amplitudes in an asymptotically anti-de Sitter, black brane spacetime. This is a continuation of a previous study in which one-particle-irreducible amplitudes were calculated for arbitrarily higher-derivative gravity in a particular kinetic regime of high energies and large scattering angles. The utility of this regime is twofold: It is particularly well suited for translating scattering amplitudes into the language of the gauge theory and it emphasizes the contributions from higher-derivative corrections (which would otherwise be perturbatively suppressed). Using the new results, we show how it could be possible to identify, experimentally, the gravitational dual to a strongly coupled fluid such as the quark-gluon plasma.