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We study the natural norm on the space of solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation in an asymptotically de Sitter spacetime. We propose that the norm is obtained by integrating the squared wavefunctional over field configurations and dividing by the volume of the diff-and-Weyl group. We impose appropriate gauge conditions to fix the diff-and-Weyl redundancy and obtain a finite expression for the norm using the Faddeev-Popov procedure. This leads to a ghost action that has zero modes corresponding to a residual conformal subgroup of the diff-and-Weyl group. By keeping track of these zero modes, we show that Higuchi's norm for group-averaged states emerges from our prescription in the nongravitational limit. We apply our formalism to cosmological correlators and propose that they should be understood as gauge-fixed observables. We identify the symmetries of these observables. In a nongravitational theory, it is necessary to specify such correlators everywhere on a Cauchy slice to identify a state in the Hilbert space. In a theory of quantum gravity, we demonstrate a version of the principle of holography of information: cosmological correlators in an arbitrarily small region suffice to completely specify the state., Comment: (v1) 44 pages (v2) 48 pages. refs added; Appendix D added; typos fixed

We obtain solutions of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation with positive cosmological constant for a closed universe in the large-volume limit. We argue that this space of solutions provides a complete basis for the Hilbert space of quantum gravity in an asymptotically de Sitter spacetime. Our solutions take the form of a universal phase factor multiplied by distinct diffeomorphism invariant functionals, with simple Weyl transformation properties, that obey the same Ward identities as a CFT partition function. The Euclidean vacuum corresponds to a specific choice of such a functional but other choices are equally valid. Each functional can be thought of as specifying a "theory" and, in this sense, the space of solutions is like "theory space". We describe another basis for the Hilbert space where all states are represented as excitations of the vacuum that have a specific constrained structure. This gives the finite $G_N$ generalization of the basis proposed by Higuchi in terms of group averaging, which we recover in the nongravitational limit., Comment: 47 pages (v2) refs added. typos fixed

In a recent paper, Raju showed that the essential features of the monogamy paradox for old flat space black holes could be modeled using a setup in empty AdS, leading to a violation in the monogamy of entanglement there. A physically interesting question is whether such a violation in the monogamy of entanglement can be posed in empty flat space. The answer is not immediately clear since flat space gravity has an entirely different vacuum and infrared structure than the gapped and unique AdS vacuum, which was exploited in Raju's toy model. We answer this question in the affirmative, with an explicit construction. We formulate the paradox in terms of monogamy of CHSH correlations, which we use to quantify the monogamy of entanglement. Extending Raju's analysis to empty flat space, within effective field theory, we show that the entanglement of approximately local bulk modes just outside a light cone with modes just inside the light cone as well as with modes situated far away at the past of future null infinity gives rise to an O($1$) violation in the monogamy of entanglement. This cannot be resolved by small corrections of O($\sqrt{G_N}$). The issues arising from the above-mentioned vacuum and infrared features unique to flat spacetime are dealt with by introducing a physically motivated boundary projector onto states below a given infrared cutoff, which allows us to construct suitable operators at the past of future null infinity that give rise to the violation. We argue that the resolution of the paradox is that our spatially separated observables probe the same underlying degrees of freedom, i.e., such observables act on a non-factorized Hilbert space arising from the Gauss constraint, thereby circumventing the conflict with monogamy of entanglement., Comment: Minor restructuring of abstract and introduction

Departures from standard spherically symmetric solar models, in the form of perturbations such as global and local-scale flows and structural asphericities, result in the splitting of eigenfrequencies in the observed spectrum of solar oscillations. Drawing from prevalent ideas in normal-mode coupling theory in geophysical literature, we devise a procedure that enables the computation of sensitivity kernels for general Lorentz stress fields in the Sun. Mode coupling due to any perturbation requires careful consideration of self- and cross-coupling of multiplets. Invoking the isolated-multiplet approximation allows for limiting the treatment to purely self-coupling, requiring significantly less computational resources. We identify the presence of such isolated multiplets under the effect of Lorentz stresses in the Sun. Currently, solar missions allow precise measurements of self-coupling of multiplets via "$a$-coefficients" and the cross-spectral correlation signal which enables the estimation of the "structure coefficients". We demonstrate the forward problem for both self-coupling ($a$-coefficients) and cross-coupling (structure coefficients). In doing so, we plot the self-coupling kernels and estimate $a$-coefficients arising from a combination of deep-toroidal and surface-dipolar axisymmetric fields. We also compute the structure coefficients for an arbitrary general magnetic field (real and solenoidal) and plot the corresponding "splitting function", a convenient way to visualize the splitting of multiplets under 3D internal perturbations. The results discussed in this paper pave the way to formally pose an inverse problem, and infer solar internal magnetic fields., Comment: 32 pages, 8 figures, Astrophysical Journal

Observations show that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating. This requires that the dominant constituent of matter in the Universe has some unusual properties like negative pressure. This exotic component has been given the name dark energy. We work with the simplest model of dark energy, the cosmological constant introduced by Einstein. We study the evolution of spherical over-densities in such a model and show that there is a minimum over-density required for collapse: perturbations with a smaller amplitude do not collapse. This threshold is interesting as even perturbations with a positive over-density and negative energy do not collapse in finite time. Further, we show that perturbations with an amplitude larger than, but comparable to the threshold value, take a very long time to collapse. We compare the solutions with the case when dark energy is absent., Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Resonance, journal of science education