The Stretched Horizon and Black Hole Complementarity
Abstract
Three postulates asserting the validity of conventional quantum theory, semi-classical general relativity and the statistical basis for thermodynamics are introduced as a foundation for the study of black hole evolution. We explain how these postulates may be implemented in a ``stretched horizon'' or membrane description of the black hole, appropriate to a distant observer. The technical analysis is illustrated in the simplified context of 1+1 dimensional dilaton gravity. Our postulates imply that the dissipative properties of the stretched horizon arise from a course graining of microphysical degrees of freedom that the horizon must possess. A principle of black hole complementarity is advocated. The overall viewpoint is similar to that pioneered by 't~Hooft but the detailed implementation is different.
Cite
@article{arxiv.hep-th/9306069,
title = {The Stretched Horizon and Black Hole Complementarity},
author = {L. Susskind and L. Thorlacius and J. Uglum},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/9306069},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
(some misprints in equations have been fixed), 48 pages (including figures), SU-ITP-93-15