A Covariant Entropy Conjecture
Abstract
We conjecture the following entropy bound to be valid in all space-times admitted by Einstein's equation: Let A be the area of any two-dimensional surface. Let L be a hypersurface generated by surface-orthogonal null geodesics with non-positive expansion. Let S be the entropy on L. Then S does not exceed A/4. We present evidence that the bound can be saturated, but not exceeded, in cosmological solutions and in the interior of black holes. For systems with limited self-gravity it reduces to Bekenstein's bound. Because the conjecture is manifestly time reversal invariant, its origin cannot be thermodynamic, but must be statistical. Thus it places a fundamental limit on the number of degrees of freedom in nature.
Cite
@article{arxiv.hep-th/9905177,
title = {A Covariant Entropy Conjecture},
author = {Raphael Bousso},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/9905177},
year = {2010}
}
Comments
41 pages, 7 figures. v2,v3: references added