2007/02/28 by S. Carlip · 1 citation
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Black hole (networking) #Black hole thermodynamics #Classical mechanics #Conformal field theory #Conformal map #Conformal symmetry #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Entropy (arrow of time) #Euclidean geometry #Mathematics #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Theoretical physics #gr-qc #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.99.021301
published as Phys.Rev.Lett.99:021301,2007 · 4 pages, revtex; v2: changes in emphasis in abstract and introduction, typos fixed
arxiv created 2007/05/25 · openalex publication_date 2007/07/10 · arxiv updated 2010/04/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
To explain black hole thermodynamics in quantum gravity, one must introduce constraints to ensure that a black hole is actually present. I show that for a large class of black holes, such "horizon constraints" allow the use of conformal field theory techniques to compute the density of states, reproducing the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy in a nearly model-independent manner. One standard string theory approach to black hole entropy arises as a special case, lending support to the claim that the mechanism may be "universal." I argue that the relevant degrees of freedom are Goldstone-boson-like excitations arising from the weak breaking of symmetry by the constraints.