Dynamics of First Order Transitions with Gravity Duals

TL;DR

This paper investigates the dynamics of first order phase transitions in confining gauge theories with gravity duals, resolving a contradiction related to the area theorem by analyzing the gravitational description of the process.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the phase transition dynamics in gravity duals, addressing the violation of the area theorem during the transition.

Findings

Resolved the apparent contradiction with the area theorem

Described the bubble nucleation and expansion in gravity duals

Clarified the phase transition process in confining gauge theories

Abstract

A first order phase transition usually proceeds by nucleating bubbles of the new phase which then rapidly expand. In confining gauge theories with a gravity dual, the deconfined phase is often described by a black hole. If one starts in this phase and lowers the temperature, the usual description of how the phase transition proceeds violates the area theorem. We study the dynamics of this phase transition using the insights from the dual gravitational description, and resolve this apparent contradiction.