Quantum isolated horizons and black hole entropy (original) (raw)

Isolated Horizons and Black Hole Entropy in Loop Quantum Gravity

Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications, 2012

We review the black hole entropy calculation in the framework of Loop Quantum Gravity based on the quasi-local definition of a black hole encoded in the isolated horizon formalism. We show, by means of the covariant phase space formalism, the appearance in the conserved symplectic structure of a boundary term corresponding to a Chern-Simons theory on the horizon and present its quantization both in the U (1) gauge fixed version and in the fully SU (2) invariant one. We then describe the boundary degrees of freedom counting techniques developed for an infinite value of the Chern-Simons level case and, less rigorously, for the case of a finite value. This allows us to perform a comparison between the U (1) and SU (2) approaches and provide a state of the art analysis of their common features and different implications for the entropy calculations. In particular, we comment on different points of view regarding the nature of the horizon degrees of freedom and the role played by the Barbero-Immirzi parameter. We conclude by presenting some of the most recent results concerning possible observational tests for theory.

Black holes and entropy in loop quantum gravity: An overview

2009

Black holes in equilibrium and the counting of their entropy within Loop Quantum Gravity are reviewed. In particular, we focus on the conceptual setting of the formalism, briefly summarizing the main results of the classical formalism and its quantization. We then focus on recent results for small, Planck scale, black holes, where new structures have been shown to arise, in

Horizon entropy with loop quantum gravity methods

Physics Letters B, 2015

We show that the spherically symmetric isolated horizon can be described in terms of an SU(2) connection and a su(2) valued one form, obeying certain constraints. The horizon symplectic structure is precisely the one of 3d gravity in a first order formulation. We quantize the horizon degrees of freedom in the framework of loop quantum gravity, with methods recently developed for 3d gravity with non-vanishing cosmological constant. Bulk excitations ending on the horizon act very similar to particles in 3d gravity. The Bekenstein-Hawking law is recovered in the limit of imaginary Barbero-Immirzi parameter. Alternative methods of quantization are also discussed.

Quantum Geometry of Isolated Horizons and Black Hole Entropy

2000

Using the earlier developed classical Hamiltonian framework as the point of departure, we carry out a non-perturbative quantization of the sector of general relativity, coupled to matter, admitting non-rotating isolated horizons as inner boundaries. The emphasis is on the quantum geometry of the horizon. Polymer excitations of the bulk quantum geometry pierce the horizon endowing it with area. The intrinsic

Generating functions for black hole entropy in loop quantum gravity

Physical Review D, 2008

We introduce, in a systematic way, a set of generating functions that solve all the different combinatorial problems that crop up in the study of black hole entropy in loop quantum gravity. Specifically we give generating functions for the following: the different sources of degeneracy related to the spectrum of the area operator, the solutions to the projection constraint, and the black hole degeneracy spectrum. Our methods are capable of handling the different countings proposed and discussed in the literature. The generating functions presented here provide the appropriate starting point to extend the results already obtained for microscopic black holes to the macroscopic regime-in particular those concerning the area law and the appearance of an effectively equidistant area spectrum.

Black hole entropy in loop quantum gravity

Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2012

We calculate the black hole entropy in Loop Quantum Gravity as a function of the horizon area and provide the exact formula for the leading and sub-leading terms. By comparison with the Bekenstein-Hawking formula we uniquely fix the value of the 'quantum of area' in the theory.

Detailed black hole state counting in loop quantum gravity

Physical Review D, 2010

We give a complete and detailed description of the computation of black hole entropy in loop quantum gravity by employing the most recently introduced numbertheoretic and combinatorial methods. The use of these techniques allows us to perform a detailed analysis of the precise structure of the entropy spectrum for small black holes, showing some relevant features that were not discernible in previous computations. The ability to manipulate and understand the spectrum up to the level of detail that we describe in the paper is a crucial step towards obtaining the behavior of entropy in the asymptotic (large horizon area) regime.

Phase space and black-hole entropy of higher genus horizons in loop quantum gravity

Classical and Quantum Gravity, 2008

In the context of loop quantum gravity, we construct the phase-space of isolated horizons with genus greater than 0. Within the loop quantum gravity framework, these horizons are described by genus g surfaces with N punctures and the dimension of the corresponding phase-space is calculated including the genus cycles as degrees of freedom. From this, the black hole entropy can be calculated by counting the microstates which correspond to a black hole of fixed area. We find that the leading term agrees with the A/4 law and that the sub-leading contribution is modified by the genus cycles.

Loop quantum gravity and Planck-size black hole entropy

Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2007

The Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) program is briefly reviewed and one of its main applications, namely the counting of black hole entropy within the framework is considered. In particular, recent results for Planck size black holes are reviewed. These results are consistent with an asymptotic linear relation (that fixes uniquely a free parameter of the theory) and a logarithmic correction with a coefficient equal to −1/2. The account is tailored as an introduction to the subject for non-experts.