Revisiting the second order formalism of JT gravity

Abstract

We revisit the gravity path integral formalism of JT gravity. We explain how to gauge fix the path integral in the presence of asymptotic boundaries and conical defects, and resolve an ambiguity regarding the dilaton gravity operator that creates a conical defect. Along the way we study JT gravity coupled to matter on surfaces with defects of special opening angles, obtaining expressions for partition and two-point functions of matter fields. The two point function involves a summation over all geodesics on the surface, including self-intersecting geodesics, which we formally manage to include.