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

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the relationship between black hole entropy and the holographic principle, including the computations of black hole entropy, the implications of the holographic principle, and the observational evidence related to these concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how Hawking computed that black hole entropy is 1/4 of a Planck area and its implications for the holographic principle, suggesting a need for clarity on the absence of the principle and its effect on entropy calculations.
  • Another participant notes that there is no observational evidence for Hawking radiation from black holes, but mentions that similar effects have been observed in other systems, such as water waves.
  • Some participants clarify that the holographic principle is distinct from the computation of black hole entropy, asserting that the entropy calculation does not rely on the validity of the holographic principle.
  • There is a discussion about why Hawking did not conclude that all information of physical systems could be located on the area rather than the volume, with one participant attributing this to historical and psychological factors rather than physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between black hole entropy and the holographic principle, with some asserting their independence while others question the implications of their connection. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the historical context of these ideas.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the lack of observational evidence for Hawking radiation and the potential limitations of current understanding regarding the holographic principle and black hole entropy calculations.

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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