Decoding stringy near-supersymmetric black holes

TL;DR

This work develops a non-planar, near-supersymmetric framework for ${\mathcal{N}}=4$ SYM by extending the superspace description of the classically-BPS sector and constructing a detailed one-loop spectrum. By representing $H=2\{Q,Q^{\dagger}\}$ in a large basis of BPS words and diagonalizing across broad charge sectors, the authors reveal a near-BPS spectrum with gap-like structure and provide an explicit weak-coupling realization of the first non-graviton black hole operator beyond cohomology. They also connect these gauge-theoretic results to holographic near-BPS physics, including insights reminiscent of ${\cal N}=2$ JT supergravity and Spin-Matrix theory, and present a precise operator expression for the smallest black hole candidate at weak coupling. Overall, the paper offers a concrete gauge-theory construction of near-BPS black-hole microstates in a highly stringy regime and outlines a path to unify weak- and strong-coupling descriptions of these states.

Abstract

Building on the recent discovery of the first candidate black hole operator in $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills, we explore the near-supersymmetric aspects of the theory that capture lightly excited, highly stringy black holes. We extend the superspace formalism describing the classically supersymmetric (1/16-BPS) sector of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills and compute a large number of one-loop anomalous dimensions. Despite being in the highly stringy regime, we find hints of a gap in the spectrum, similar to that found by a gravitational path integral. We also determine the actual expression of the first candidate black hole operator at weak gauge coupling, going beyond the cohomological construction.

Figures (3)

• Figure 1: Smooth histograms (with $\sigma=0.05$) of nonzero one-loop anomalous dimensions $\delta$ of ${\mathcal{C}}(\Delta)$ long multiplets, up to the maximal $n$ indicated in Table \ref{['tab:n']} for planar and $N=2,3,4$.
• Figure 2: Smooth histograms (with $\sigma=0.05$) of nonzero one-loop anomalous dimensions $\delta$ of non-BPS ${\mathcal{C}}(\Delta)$ primaries, up to the maximal $n$ indicated in Table \ref{['tab:n']} for planar and $N=2,3,4$.
• Figure 3: Smooth histograms (with $\sigma=0.2$) of nonzero one-loop anomalous dimensions $\delta$ of the ${\cal C}(\Delta)$ primary operators with select charges labeled as $(J_L, J_R, q_1, q_2, q_3)$. The charge sectors on the left column (${\rm SU}(\infty)_{\rm MT}$ cases) are at $n=22$, and on the right column (${\rm SU}(2)$ cases) are at $n=24$.