Horizon Edge Partition Functions in Λ > 0 Quantum Gravity

Physical Review Letters 2026 Open access

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Authors: Y. T. Albert Law, Varun Lochab
DOI: 10.1103/c683-tqw8
Cited by: 3
References: 146

Abstract

We obtain the spectra of codimension-2 horizon "edge" degrees of freedom for gravity and higher-spin gauge fields in de Sitter space and in the static Nariai spacetime, advancing previous Lorentzian and Euclidean analyses of one-loop thermodynamics. The edge spectra exhibit universal shift symmetries, revealing a novel symmetry-breaking structure in one-loop partition functions with a positive cosmological constant. For the graviton, these modes admit a geometric interpretation as fluctuations of the cosmic horizon, which also persists in the Nariai case.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories Black Holes and Theoretical Physics Advanced Mathematical Theories and Applications

Publication details

Journal / source
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Volume
136
Issue
15
Pages
151601–151601
Publication date
20 March 2026
Language
EN