Black-hole formation and thermalization in open JT gravity

Abstract

Black-hole formation is expected, via holography, to correspond to thermalization in the boundary theory. For open quantum systems, an initial pure state generically evolves into a mixed state irreversibly, suggesting that horizon formation in the bulk should arise. In this paper, we extend the holographic Lindblad prescription to a non-Markovian setting and apply it to JT gravity coupled to a scalar field. Using numerical simulations in the semiclassical and high-temperature regime, we demonstrate the dynamical formation of black holes.