Comments on Lorentzian topology change in JT gravity

Abstract

We propose a definition for the Lorentzian Jackiw-Teitelboim (JT) gravity path integral that includes Lorentzian topology changing configurations. The construction is inspired by the bosonic string genus expansion on singular Lorentzian worldsheets, with geometries known as lightcone diagrams playing a prominent role. The Lorentzian path integral is defined through a suitable analytic continuation of the Euclidean path integral, and includes metrics that become degenerate at isolated points allowing for Lorentzian topology changing transitions. We discuss the relation between Euclidean JT amplitudes and the proposed Lorentzian amplitudes.