The stretched horizon and black hole complementarity
Abstract
Three postulates asserting the validity of conventional quantum theory, semiclassical general relativity, and the statistical basis for thermodynamics are introduced as a foundation for the study of black-hole evolution. We explain how these postulates may be implemented in a ``stretched horizon'' or membrane description of the black hole, appropriate to a distant observer. The technical analysis is illustrated in the simplified context of (1+1)-dimensional dilaton gravity. Our postulates imply that the dissipative properties of the stretched horizon arise from a course graining of microphysical degrees of freedom that the horizon must possess. A principle of black-hole complementarity is advocated. The overall viewpiont is similar to that poineered by 't Hooft but the detailed implementation is different.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- October 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.48.3743
- arXiv:
- arXiv:hep-th/9306069
- Bibcode:
- 1993PhRvD..48.3743S
- Keywords:
-
- 04.60.+n;
- 97.60.Lf;
- Black holes;
- High Energy Physics - Theory;
- General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
- E-Print:
- (some misprints in equations have been fixed), 48 pages (including figures), SU-ITP-93-15