Is the Entropy of Black Holes Measurable for Non-Exotic Black Holes?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the measurement of black hole entropy, particularly in relation to non-exotic black holes. Participants explore theoretical frameworks, such as string theory, and the applicability of entropy formulas like S = k ln W in the context of astrophysical black holes versus exotic black holes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how the entropy of black holes can be measured to confirm theoretical predictions, particularly those from string theory.
  • There is mention that the entropy relation S = k ln W has primarily been applied to "exotic" black holes, which possess properties like supersymmetry and Yang-Mills charge, unlike typical astrophysical black holes.
  • One participant notes that recent work in string theory has begun to address non-supersymmetric black holes, although these are not representative of astrophysical black holes.
  • A detailed explanation of the Hawking-Unruh effect is provided, discussing its implications for observers near black holes and the relationship between acceleration and temperature near the event horizon.
  • Another participant highlights the distinction between exotic black holes and astrophysical black holes, suggesting that the quantum gravity phenomena relevant to exotic black holes do not significantly affect stellar black holes.
  • Corrections to earlier posts regarding mathematical expressions are acknowledged by one participant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the applicability of entropy measurements to black holes, with some asserting that current methods are limited to exotic black holes while others explore the implications for astrophysical black holes. No consensus is reached regarding the measurement of entropy in non-exotic black holes.

Contextual Notes

The discussion involves complex theoretical concepts and mathematical expressions that may not be fully resolved, particularly regarding the conditions under which entropy can be measured and the properties of different types of black holes.

RasslinGod
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My physics professor told us that string theory correctly predicts the entropy ofa black hoole. that leaves me wondering...how do u even measure what it's entropy is to even confirm a theoreticla calculation?

is S= k ln W even used at all?
 
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RasslinGod said:
My physics professor told us that string theory correctly predicts the entropy ofa black hoole. that leaves me wondering...how do u even measure what it's entropy is to even confirm a theoreticla calculation?

is S= k ln W even used at all?

As far I know, this relation has been used only for "exotic" black holes, i.e., black holes that have one or more of supersymmetry, Yang-Mills charge, and extra macroscopic spatial dimensions.

Also as far as I know, astrophysical black holes have none of these properties.
 
Recently people in strings have been doing non-supersymmetric as well.. of course these are not even close to astorphysical black holes...
 
Hawking and Unruh effect

There is the Hawking-Unruh effect, which tend to merge in a way for an accelerated frame near a black hole. To examine this it is best to transform to another set of coordinates to look at this. The Kruskal-Szekeres coordinates are better. These are given by

[tex] u~=~\sqrt(r/2M - 1)e^{r/4M}cosh(t/2M),[/tex]
[tex] v~=~\sqrt(r/2M - 1)e^{r/4M}sinh(t/2M).[/tex]

It is clear that

[tex] (r/2M~-~1)e^{r/2M}~=~u^2~-~v^2[/tex]
and

[tex] tanh(t/4M)~=~v/u.[/tex]

This has the advantage that there is no funny business at [itex]r~=~2M[/itex]. These coordinates provide a chart which covers the whole space. The [itex]u^2~-~v^2[/itex] equation shows that the inner and outer regions of the black hole are given by a branch cut connecting two sheets.

Consider [itex](r/2M~-~1)e^{r/2M}~=~x^2[/itex], and so [itex]x^2~=~u^2~-~v^2[/itex]. The u and v satisfy hyperbolic equations for a constant r and so

[tex] u~=~sinh(gs),~ v~=~cosh(gs).[/tex]

It is clear that for [itex]udu~-~vdv~=~e^{r/2M}/4M dr[/itex] that [itex]g~=~1/(r/2M~-~1)e^{t/2M}/4M[/itex] , and so the acceleration diverges as [itex]r~\itex~2m[/itex] in order to hold a particle fixed near the event horizon.

The hyperbolic equations above are then identical in form to the ones which obtain for the Unruh effect. The spacetime trajectory in the u and v coordinates is then hyperbolic. Thus for an observer sitting on a frame fixed next to the event horizon of the black hole there would be a huge thermal bath of particles which would become very hot [itex]T~\rightarrow~\infty[/itex] as [itex]r~\rightarrow~2M[/itex]. The four velocities [itex]U_u[/itex] and [itex]U_v[/itex] will then satisfy

[tex] U_u = 1/(4M(r/2M - 1))e^{t/2M}cosh(gs), U_v = 1/4M((r/2M - 1))e^{t/2M}sinh(gs),[/tex]

with

[tex] (U^u)^2~-~(U_v)^2~=~16M^2(1~-~r/2M)e^{-t/2M},[/tex]

and so the temperature of the black hole is [itex]T~\sim~1/2\pi g[/itex] and

[tex] T~=~\frac {e^{t/M}}{8\pi M}\sqrt{1~-~r/2M}).[/tex]

Now for [itex]r~\rightarrow~\infty[/itex] and [itex]t~\rightarrow~\infty[/itex] this recovers the standard black hole temperature result of

[tex] T~=~\frac{1}{8\pi M}.[/tex]

Thus for an observer held close to the event horizon of a black the additional acceleration effectively heats up the black hole on that frame.

I think this might also indicate that for a distant observer there is a question as to what she would see of her compatriot held fixed near the black hole. This might be an interesting problem to examine.
 
I made a couple of Tex errors on the above discussion which I corrected

L. C.
 
George Jones said:
As far I know, this relation has been used only for "exotic" black holes, i.e., black holes that have one or more of supersymmetry, Yang-Mills charge, and extra macroscopic spatial dimensions.

Also as far as I know, astrophysical black holes have none of these properties.

These exotic black holes are BPS black holes, and pertain to issues of quantum gravity or dualities between D-branes and gauge charges. The astrophysical black hole is massive and these putative physics are in some infinitesimal region (or a small number of Planck lengths) from the event horizon. Hence for a stellar black hole these BPS things don't contribute much of anything.

Lawrence B. Crowell
 

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