Viscosity, Black Holes, and Quantum Field Theory
Abstract
We review recent progress in applying the AdS/CFT correspondence to finite-temperature field theory. In particular, we show how the hydrodynamic behavior of field theory is reflected in the low-momentum limit of correlation functions computed through a real-time AdS/CFT prescription, which we formulate. We also show how the hydrodynamic modes in field theory correspond to the low-lying quasinormal modes of the AdS black p-brane metric. We provide a proof of the universality of the viscosity/entropy ratio within a class of theories with gravity duals and formulate a viscosity bound conjecture. Possible implications for real systems are mentioned.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0704.0240,
title = {Viscosity, Black Holes, and Quantum Field Theory},
author = {D. T. Son and A. O. Starinets},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0704.0240},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
23 pages, a review. New proof of the universality of the viscosity entropy ratio, new derivation of Kubo's formula; references added and minor typos corrected in version 2