Resolving Black Hole Singularities in Jackiw-Teitelboim Gravity

Abstract

In Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity, the naive Schwarzian quantum mechanics leads to a continuous bulk spectrum, in apparent contradiction with the finite entropy of the black hole, which requires a discrete spectrum with level spacing of order $e^{-S_0}$. It was recently shown that restoring spectral discreteness with random statistics requires the introduction of a left confining potential that becomes relevant when the renormalized wormhole length reaches order $e^{S_0}$. In this work, we show how the known perturbative results of JT gravity are recovered within this modified framework. More importantly, we demonstrate that this modification has a direct dynamical consequence: it resolves the black-hole singularity. The confining potential generates a repulsive force at exponentially large wormhole length, preventing the indefinite growth that would otherwise lead to a singularity. We explain in detail how this turnaround arises and explore its implications for late-time bulk gravitational dynamics, the disappearance of horizons, and possible observational consequences.

1+25 pages, 4 figures, v2: refs added, typos fixed, v3: refs added, some improvements, typos fixed