$T\bar T + \Lambda_2$ from a 2d gravity path integral

Abstract

We develop a two-dimensional gravity path integral formulation of the $T \bar T + \Lambda_2$ deformation of quantum field theory. This provides an exactly solvable generalization of the pure $T \bar T$ deformation that is relevant for de Sitter and flat space holography. The path integral sheds light on quantum aspects of these flows in curved space, most notably the Weyl anomaly, the operator relation for the trace of the energy-momentum tensor, and the renormalization of the composite $T \bar T$ operator. It also applies to both the Hagedorn and the holographic signs of such flows. We present explicit calculations for the torus and sphere partition functions that reproduce previous results in the literature, now in path integral language. Finally, we use the path integral representation in order to establish an explicit map with 3d gravity, and obtain new predictions for flat space holography.