Invitation to Contribute to Special Issue (Holographic Thermodynamics and the Weak Gravity Conjecture)

• 2026-02-02

Rationale and Background:
The connection between thermodynamics, gravity, and holography has become one of the most active and foundational areas in modern theoretical physics. The holographic principle, initially motivated by black hole thermodynamics and later formalized in the context of AdS/CFT correspondence, provides a deep framework to understand the quantum aspects of spacetime. Meanwhile, the Weak Gravity Conjecture (WGC) offers fundamental constraints on low-energy effective field theories and provides insights into the limits of gravitational interactions relative to other forces.

Despite significant progress in these fields individually, there remains a rich and largely unexplored intersection where holographic thermodynamics, black hole physics, and the weak gravity conjecture converge. Investigating these intersections can lead to deeper understanding of:

• Quantum structure of spacetime
• Constraints on effective field theories from gravitational consistency
• Thermodynamic signatures of black holes, photon spheres, and horizon topology
• Emergent phenomena linking quantum fields, geometry, and gravitation

Scope of the Special Issue:
This special issue aims to gather high-quality original research and comprehensive review articles that explore the theoretical, computational, and conceptual aspects of holographic thermodynamics and the weak gravity conjecture. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

1. Holographic Thermodynamics – Studies on entropy bounds, thermodynamic relations in holographic setups, and applications to black hole physics.
2. Weak Gravity Conjecture (WGC) – Investigations of WGC in various dimensions, its implications for string theory, quantum gravity, and effective field theories.
3. Photon Spheres and Topology – Analyses of geometric structures such as photon spheres, causal horizons, and their thermodynamic properties.
4. Quantum Gravity Models – Novel approaches to emergent or semiclassical gravity, including implications for holography and thermodynamic constraints.
5. Phenomenological Implications – Connections between theoretical predictions and observational or experimental constraints, if applicable.

Objectives:

• To consolidate recent advancements in holographic thermodynamics and the weak gravity conjecture.
• To encourage interdisciplinary dialogue between quantum field theory, gravitational physics, and thermodynamics.
• To attract leading international researchers and produce a high-impact collection of articles in this emerging area.

Role of Guest Editor:
As Guest Editor, I will coordinate the peer-review process, ensure the academic quality of submissions, and facilitate communication between authors and the editorial board of JHAP. My goal is to produce a cohesive and impactful special issue that highlights novel theoretical insights and promotes further research in the interface of holography, thermodynamics, and quantum gravity.