2001/05/17 by Jacob D. Bekenstein, Avi Mayo, Avraham E. Mayo · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Black brane #Black hole (networking) #Black hole thermodynamics #Channel (broadcasting) #Classical mechanics #Computer science #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Entropy (arrow of time) #Extremal black hole #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Spacetime #Telecommunications #Theoretical physics #White hole #gr-qc
paper · pdf · doi:10.1023/a:1015278813573
published as Gen.Rel.Grav. 33 (2001) 2095-2099 · 5 pages, REVTEX, This essay received Second Award in the Annual Essay Competition of the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 2001
arxiv created 2001/05/17 · openalex publication_date 2001/12/01 · arxiv updated 2015/06/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The holographic principle has revealed that physical systems in 3-D space, black holes included, are basically two-dimensional as far as their information content is concerned. This conclusion is complemented by one sketched here: as far as entropy or information flow is concerned, a black hole behaves as a one-dimensional channel. We define a channel in flat spacetime in thermodynamic terms, and contrast it with common entropy emitting systems. A black hole is more like the former: its entropy output is related to the emitted power as it would be for a one-dimensional channel, and disposal of an information stream down a black hole is limited by the power invested in the same way as for a one-dimensional channel.