2021/08/17 by Steven B. Giddings
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Black hole (networking) #Black hole information paradox #Black hole thermodynamics #Classical mechanics #Computer science #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Gravitation #Hawking #Horizon #Micro black hole #Perturbation (astronomy) #Physics #Quantum #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #Quantum entanglement #Quantum mechanics #Slicing #Statistical physics #Theoretical physics #Time evolution #gr-qc #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/jhep12(2021)025
41 pages, 5 figures
arxiv created 2021/08/17 · openalex publication_date 2021/12/01 · arxiv updated 2021/12/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
A bstract This paper systematically treats the evolving quantum state for two-dimensional black holes, with particular focus on the CGHS model, but also elucidating features generalizing to higher dimensions. This is done in Schrödinger picture(s), to exhibit the dynamic evolution of the state at intermediate times. After a review of classical solutions, also connecting to descriptions of higher-dimensional black holes, it overviews the canonical quantum treatment of the full evolution, including gravitational dynamics. Derived in an approximation to this, following conversion to “perturbation picture”, is the evolution of the quantum matter on the background geometry. Features of the evolving matter state are described, based on choice of a time slicing to put the evolution into ADM form. The choices of slicing as well as coordinates on the slices result in different quantum “pictures” for treating the evolution. If such a description is based on smooth trans-horizon slices, that avoids explicit reference to ultra-planckian modes familiar from traditional treatments, and exhibits the Hawking excitations as emerging from a “quantum atmosphere” with thickness comparable to the inverse temperature. Detailed study of the state exhibits the entanglement structure between Hawking quanta and the partner excitations inside the black hole, and the corresponding “missing information”. This explicit description also allows direct study of the evolution and features, e.g. as seen by infalling observers, of these partner excitations, helping to address various puzzles with them. Explicit treatment of the evolving state, and its extension to higher dimensions, provides further connections to information theory and a starting point for study of corrections that can unitarize evolution, arising from new quantum gravity effects — whether wormholes or something entirely different.