arXiv subjects

L. Thorlacius

Publications and source records attributed to L. Thorlacius.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv1994

Hot String Soup

Above the Hagedorn energy density closed fundamental strings form a long string phase. The dynamics of weakly interacting long strings is described by a simple Boltzmann equation which can be solved explicitly for equilibrium distributions. The average total number of long strings grows logarithmically with total energy in the microcanonical ensemble. This is consistent with calculations of the free single string density of states provided the thermodynamic limit is carefully defined. If the theory contains open strings the long string phase is suppressed.

hep-th↗

arXiv1994

Conformally Invariant Boundary Conditions for Dilaton Gravity

Quantum mechanical boundary conditions along a timelike line, corresponding to the origin in radial coordinates, in two-dimensional dilaton gravity coupled to $N$ matter fields, are considered. Conformal invariance and vacuum stability severely constrain the possibilities. The simplest choice found corresponds to a nonlinear Liouville-type boundary interaction. The scattering of low-energy matter off the boundary can be computed perturbatively. It is found that weak incident pulses induce damped oscillations at the boundary while large incident pulses produce black holes. The response of the boundary to such pulses is semi-classically characterized by a second order, nonlinear ordinary differential equation which is analyzed numerically.

hep-th↗

arXiv1994

Free Fermion Representation of a Boundary Conformal Field Theory

The theory of a massless two-dimensional scalar field with a periodic boundary interaction is considered. At a critical value of the period this system defines a conformal field theory and can be re-expressed in terms of free fermions, which provide a simple realization of a hidden $SU(2)$ symmetry of the original theory. The partition function and the boundary $S$-matrix can be computed exactly as a function of the strength of the boundary interaction. We first consider open strings with one interacting and one Dirichlet boundary, and then with two interacting boundaries. The latter corresponds to motion in a periodic tachyon background, and the spectrum exhibits an interesting band structure which interpolates between free propagation and tight binding as the interaction strength is varied.

hep-th↗

arXiv1994

String Thermalization at a Black Hole Horizon

Susskind has recently shown that a relativistic string approaching the event horizon of a black hole spreads in both the transverse and longitudinal directions in the reference frame of an outside observer. The transverse spreading can be described as a branching diffusion of wee string bits. This stochastic process provides a mechanism for thermalizing the quantum state of the string as it spreads across the stretched horizon.

hep-th↗

arXiv1994

Universality and Scaling at the Onset of Quantum Black Hole Formation

In certain two-dimensional models, collapsing matter forms a black hole if and only if the incoming energy flux exceeds the Hawking radiation rate. Near the critical threshold, the black hole mass is given by a universal formula in terms of the distance from criticality, and there exists a scaling solution describing the formation and evaporation of an arbitrarily small black hole.

hep-th↗

arXiv1993

Gedanken Experiments involving Black Holes

Analysis of several gedanken experiments indicates that black hole complementarity cannot be ruled out on the basis of known physical principles. Experiments designed by outside observers to disprove the existence of a quantum-mechanical stretched horizon require knowledge of Planck-scale effects for their analysis. Observers who fall through the event horizon after sampling the Hawking radiation cannot discover duplicate information inside the black hole before hitting the singularity. Experiments by outside observers to detect baryon number violation will yield significant effects well outside the stretched horizon.

hep-th↗

arXiv1993

The Stretched Horizon and Black Hole Complementarity

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.

hep-th↗

arXiv1993

Tachyon Hair on Two-Dimensional Black Holes

Static black holes in two-dimensional string theory can carry tachyon hair. Configurations which are non-singular at the event horizon have non-vanishing asymptotic energy density. Such solutions can be smoothly extended through the event horizon and have non-vanishing energy flux emerging from the past singularity. Dynamical processes will not change the amount of tachyon hair on a black hole. In particular, there will be no tachyon hair on a black hole formed in gravitational collapse if the initial geometry is the linear dilaton vacuum. There also exist static solutions with finite total energy, which have singular event horizons. Simple dynamical arguments suggest that black holes formed in gravitational collapse will not have tachyon hair of this type.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

Cosmic Censorship in Two-Dimensional Gravity

A weak version of the cosmic censorship hypothesis is implemented as a set of boundary conditions on exact semi-classical solutions of two-dimensional dilaton gravity. These boundary conditions reflect low-energy matter from the strong coupling region and they also serve to stabilize the vacuum of the theory against decay into negative energy states. Information about low-energy incoming matter can be recovered in the final state but at high energy black holes are formed and inevitably lead to information loss at the semi-classical level.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

The Endpoint of Hawking Evaporation

The formation and semi-classical evaporation of two-dimensional black holes is studied in an exactly solvable model. Above a certain threshold energy flux, collapsing matter forms a singularity inside an apparent horizon. As the black hole evaporates the apparent horizon recedes and meets the singularity in a finite proper time. The singularity emerges naked and future evolution of the geometry requires boundary conditions to be imposed there. There is a natural choice of boundary conditions which match the evaporated black hole solution onto the linear dilaton vacuum. Below the threshold energy flux no horizon forms and boundary conditions can be imposed where infalling matter is reflected from a time-like naked singularity. All information is recovered at spatial infinity in this case.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

Hawking Radiation and Back-Reaction

The puzzles of black hole evaporation can be studied in the simplified context of 1+1 dimensional gravity. The semi-classical equations of Callan, Giddings, Harvey and Strominger provide a consistent description of the evaporation process which we describe in detail. We consider the possibility that black hole evolution leads to massive stable remnants. We show that such zero temperature remnant solutions exist but we also prove that a decaying black hole cannot evolve into one of them. Finally we consider the issue of loss of quantum information behind the global event horizon which develops in these geometries. An analogy with a well known solvable system shows that there may be less to information than meets the eye.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

Black Hole Evaporation in 1+1 Dimensions

The formation and quantum mechanical evaporation of black holes in two spacetime dimensions can be studied using effective classical field equations, recently introduced by Callan {\it et al.} We find that gravitational collapse always leads to a curvature singularity, according to these equations, and that the region where the quantum corrections introduced by Callan {\it et al.} could be expected to dominate is on the unphysical side of the singularity. The model can be successfully applied to study the back-reaction of Hawking radiation on the geometry of large mass black holes, but the description breaks down before the evaporation is complete.

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