Super Translations Explained | Stephen Hawking

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In summary, Stephen Hawking discussed the concept of super translations in relation to black holes and how they store information about particles that pass through them. This process involves rearranging light on the boundary of the black hole, known as the event horizon. This is a non-technical explanation for the term "super translation".
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Einstein's Cat
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While reading another thread on Stephen Hawking proposal on how information can escape a black hole, I came across the theme of "super translations." Please could someone explain what these are as Google provided no explanation
 
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Stephen hawking was talking about how black holes store information about particles that go through it. The information is stored on the boundary/surface of the black hole, via something called a super translation. Please note, this is very non-technical.
 
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Isaac0427 said:
Stephen hawking was talking about how black holes store information about particles that go through it. The information is stored on the boundary/surface of the black hole, via something called a super translation. Please note, this is very non-technical.
cheers thank you
 
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? The original question was "what is super translation". Just saying "The information is stored on the boundary/surface of the black hole, via something called a super translation" does not answer that question, even non-technically.
 
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Supertranslation (in physics) A rearrangement of light in a black hole’s event horizon (the boundary surrounding the black hole) that, according to some physicists, occurs when a particle of matter enters a black hole.
 

1. What are super translations?

Super translations are a concept in theoretical physics introduced by Stephen Hawking. They refer to the idea that the laws of physics should be invariant under certain transformations, known as supertranslations, which shift the location of an object in space and time. Essentially, supertranslations are a mathematical representation of the fact that the position of an object in space and time is relative and can change without affecting the laws of physics.

2. How do super translations relate to black holes?

In the context of black holes, super translations are significant because they help resolve the black hole information paradox. This paradox arises from the fact that according to classical physics, information that falls into a black hole is lost forever. However, super translations suggest that information may be encoded in the supertranslation charges of a black hole, allowing it to be preserved. This has important implications for our understanding of the behavior of black holes.

3. Can super translations be observed or tested?

At this point, there is no direct way to observe or test super translations. They are a theoretical concept that has not yet been experimentally verified. However, their implications have been explored in various thought experiments and mathematical models, and they have been used to make predictions about the behavior of black holes and the universe as a whole.

4. How do super translations fit into the larger framework of theoretical physics?

Super translations are part of the framework of quantum gravity, which seeks to unify the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics. They are also related to other concepts in theoretical physics, such as symmetries and conservation laws. Super translations have been studied in the context of string theory, loop quantum gravity, and other approaches to quantum gravity.

5. What are the implications of super translations for our understanding of the universe?

Super translations are a relatively new concept in theoretical physics, so their implications are still being explored. However, they have the potential to help us better understand the nature of gravity, spacetime, and the behavior of black holes. They also have implications for our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics and how they may be unified in a theory of quantum gravity.

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