Asymptotically anti-de Sitter wormholes

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum theory for asymptotically anti-de Sitter wormholes using path integral and algebraic methods, ensuring a finite, gauge-invariant action and characterizing physical states as superpositions of wormholes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum framework for AdS wormholes, combining path integral and algebraic quantization with a finite, gauge-invariant action formulation.

Findings

Finite, gauge-invariant Euclidean action for AdS wormholes

Wormhole wave functions derived within the quantum model

Physical states are superpositions of wormhole configurations

Abstract

Starting with a procedure for dealing with general asymptotic behaviors, we construct a quantum theory for asymptotically anti-de Sitter wormholes. We follow both the path integral formalism and the algebraic quantization program proposed by Ashtekar. By adding suitable surface terms, the Euclidean action of the asymptoically anti-de Sitter wormholes can be seen to be finite and gauge invariant. This action determines an appropriate variational problem for wormholes. We also obtain the wormhole wave functions of the gravitational model and show that all the physical states of the quantum theory are superpositions of wormhole states.