The Low Energy Limit of BFSS Quantum Mechanics

TL;DR

This paper explores the low-energy behavior of BFSS quantum mechanics through holography, revealing multiple thermodynamic phases, phase transitions, and unexpected microcanonical phenomena.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the phase structure and thermodynamics of BFSS quantum mechanics at low energies, including new insights into phase dominance and topology changes.

Findings

Identification of three distinct thermodynamic phases.

Observation of phase transitions and dominance shifts among phases.

Discovery of unexpected microcanonical behavior at low energies.

Abstract

We investigate the low-energy regime of BFSS quantum mechanics using its holographic dual. We identify three distinct thermodynamic phases (black holes) and analyze their thermodynamic properties extensively, including phase transitions amongst the several phases. While the properties of the canonical ensemble aligns with existing conjectures on BFSS thermodynamics, we uncover intriguing and unexpected behavior in the microcanonical ensemble. Specifically, for sufficiently low energies, we observe the dominance of the localized phase. Surprisingly, we also identify an energy range where the non-uniform phase becomes dominant. The transition between these phases is mediated by a Kol-type topology-changing phenomenon.