Sound modes and stability of momentum dissipated black branes in holography

Abstract: We systematically investigate the sound modes of momentum dissipated holographic systems. In particular, we focus on the Einstein-linear axions and the Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton-axion theories in four-dimensional bulk spacetime dimensions. The sound velocities of the two theories are computed respectively and the sound attenuation of the Einstein-Maxwell-axion theory is also calculated analytically. We also obtain numeral dispersion relations in the two theories which match with our analytical results. Our results show that the sound velocity of the Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory with additional linear axion fields is equivalent to that of 2 + 1 - dimensional Banados-Teitelboim-Zanelli black holes. It allowed us to compare our solution of the Einstein-linear axions theory with that of systems without translational invariance from another method. After the computation on the sound velocity, we calculate the quasinormal modes of scalar-type fluctuations in the Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton-axion theory. The results show that a dynamical instability is observed under the condition that the null energy condition is violated.