Related papers: New theoretical approaches to black holes
We study the probability that a horizon appears when concentric shells of matter collide, by computing the horizon wave-function of the system. We mostly consider the collision of two ultra-relativistic shells, both shrinking and expanding,…
We describe the null geometry of a multiple black hole event horizon in terms of a conformal rescaling of a flat space null hypersurface. For the prolate spheroidal case, we show that the method reproduces the pair-of-pants shaped horizon…
I report on recent progress in the exciting field of Numerical Relativity, with special attention to black hole horizons.
I discuss black hole evaporation in two different coordinate systems and argue that the results of the two are compatible once one takes the holographic principle into account. de Sitter space is then discussed along similar lines. Finally…
This work devises a formalism to obtain the equations of motion for a black hole-fluid configuration. Our approach is based on a Post-Newtonian expansion and adapted to scenarios where obtaining the relevant dynamics requires long…
Black hole horizon is usually defined as the limit for existence of timelike worldline or when a spatially bound surface turns oneway (it is crossable only in one direction). It would be insightful and physically appealing to find its…
Recently, several ways of obtaining observational proof of the existence of black-hole horizons have been proposed. We argue here that such proof is fundamentally impossible: observations can provide arguments, sometimes very strong ones,…
We propose here that the well-known black hole paradoxes such as the information loss and teleological nature of the event horizon are restricted to a particular idealized case, which is the homogeneous dust collapse model. In this case,…
It is known that the event horizon of a black hole can often be identified from the zeroes of some curvature invariants. The situation in lower dimensions has not been thoroughly clarified. In this work we investigate both (2+1)- and…
The Kerr-Newman metric is the unique vacuum solution of the General Relativistic field equations, in which any singularities or spacetime pathologies are hidden behind horizons. They are believed to describe the spacetimes of massive…
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…
In this paper we abandon the idea that even a "quantum" black hole, of Planck size, can still be described as a classical, more or less complicated, geometry. Rather, we consider a genuine quantum mechanical approach where a Planckian black…
We initiate the development of a horizon-based initial (or rather final) value formalism to describe the geometry and physics of the near-horizon spacetime: data specified on the horizon and a future ingoing null boundary determine the…
Vacuum Einstein equations when projected on to a black hole horizon is analogous to the dynamics of fluids. In this work we address the question, whether certain properties of semi-classical black holes could be holographically mapped into…
Black holes are the elementary particles of gravity, the final state of sufficiently massive stars and of energetic collisions. With a forty-year long history, black hole physics is a fully-blossomed field which promises to embrace several…
In this chapter I focus on asking and answering the following questions: (1) What is a black hole? Answer: There are three types of black holes, namely mathematical black holes, physical black holes and astrophysical black holes. An…
This is an introductory, up-to-date review of the essentials of black hole thermodynamics. The main topics surveyed are: (i) the four laws of thermodynamics as applied to a black hole horizon, and the current status of their proofs; (ii)…
What is going on (as of August 2008) at the interface between theoretical general relativity, string-inspired models, and observational astrophysics? Quite a lot. In this mini-survey I will make a personal choice and focus on four specific…
The mass of a black hole has traditionally been identified with its energy. We describe a new perspective on black hole thermodynamics, one that identifies the mass of a black hole with chemical enthalpy, and the cosmological constant as…
After summarizing the development of black hole thermodynamics in the seventies, we describe a recent microscopic model. This model suggests that the Bekenstein-Hawking area formula holds for extremal black holes as well as for ordinary…