What Is the Connection Between Black Hole Entropy and the Holographic Principle?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between black hole entropy and the holographic principle, specifically addressing Stephen Hawking's computation that black hole entropy is proportional to one-quarter of the Planck area. It clarifies that the computation of black hole entropy does not rely on the holographic principle, which posits that information is encoded on the boundary of a volume rather than within it. The conversation also highlights the lack of observational evidence for Hawking radiation, while noting that similar effects have been observed in other contexts, such as sound waves in fluids. The distinction between Hawking's contributions and those of Leonard Susskind regarding the holographic principle is also emphasized.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of black hole thermodynamics
  • Familiarity with the Planck area concept
  • Knowledge of the holographic principle
  • Basic principles of quantum mechanics and general relativity
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Bekenstein's work on black hole entropy, specifically Phys. Rev. D 7, 2333
  • Explore Hawking's original paper on black hole radiation, Nature 248, 30 - 31 (1974)
  • Investigate experimental evidence for Hawking radiation in analog systems, such as water waves
  • Research the implications of the holographic principle in modern theoretical physics
USEFUL FOR

The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, cosmologists, and students interested in black hole physics, entropy, and the foundations of quantum gravity.

Edward Wij
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How exactly did Hawking compute that black hole entropy is 1/4 that of a Planck area and concluded about the holographic principle where information of a volume is located on the area of black hole? And if there was no holographic principle, how big should entropy of the black hole be with reference to Planck area (would it be say 1/8 or twice that of Planck area for example)? How is this computed?

What observational evidence is there for these? Do all observations still obey the holographic principle?
 
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Edward Wij said:
How exactly
Black Holes and Entropy
Bekenstein, Phys. Rev. D 7, 2333, abstract

Black hole explosions?
Hawking, Nature 248, 30 - 31 (01 March 1974), abstract

There is no observational evidence for hawking radiation from black holes at all - but that is not unexpected as the radiation is so weak. There are some experiments that see similar effects in other types of effective horizons (water waves, I think currents, and whatever).
 
Edward Wij said:
the holographic principle where information of a volume is located on the area of black hole?

Hawking didn't come up with this principle, and it is a separate concept from the computation of entropy in terms of the horizon area. See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_principle

Edward Wij said:
if there was no holographic principle, how big should entropy of the black hole be with reference to Planck area (would it be say 1/8 or twice that of Planck area for example)?

The computation of the black hole entropy, as above, does not depend on the holographic principle; it is the same whether that principle is true or false.
 
mfb said:
There is no observational evidence for hawking radiation from black holes at all - but that is not unexpected as the radiation is so weak. There are some experiments that see similar effects in other types of effective horizons (water waves, I think currents, and whatever).
Yes, the primary evidence for Hawking Radiation from black holes is that when we create a horizon in some other wave medium (such as sound waves in a fluid), we get Hawking radiation emitted from the horizon.
 
PeterDonis said:
Hawking didn't come up with this principle, and it is a separate concept from the computation of entropy in terms of the horizon area. See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_principle
The computation of the black hole entropy, as above, does not depend on the holographic principle; it is the same whether that principle is true or false.

Ok I realized now, but I wondered this (and caused of my initial confusion). Since Hawking was the first one to discover about the computation of entropy in the terms of the horizon area, how come he didn't conclude that all information of physical systems can be located in the area and not volume. How come it needs others (Susskind) to realize this?
 
Edward Wij said:
Since Hawking was the first one to discover about the computation of entropy in the terms of the horizon area, how come he didn't conclude that all information of physical systems can be located in the area and not volume. How come it needs others (Susskind) to realize this?

I couldn't say. Anyway, that's not a question of physics, it's a question of history and human psychology.
 

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