Black Hole Information Problem: Challenges and Perspectives
A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300). This special issue belongs to the section "Astrophysics, Cosmology, and Black Holes".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 67
Special Issue Editors
Interests: black hole physics; cosmology; quantum information; quantum communications; quantum foundation
Interests: black hole physics; analogous gravity; relativistic quantum information; gravitational wave; quantum gravity phenomenology
Interests: theoretical physics; general relativity and gravitation; quantum black holes; gravitational collapse; gravitational waves
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Studying the information loss paradox associated with black holes holds profound significance in our quest to comprehend the fundamental principles of the universe. This paradox arises from the apparent conflict between the principles of quantum mechanics and general relativity within the context of black hole physics. The crux of the matter lies in the question of whether information that falls into a black hole is irretrievably lost or if it can be recovered in some form. The current research landscape is marked by intense theoretical investigations and ongoing debates among physicists attempting to reconcile quantum mechanics and gravity. However, resolving the information loss puzzle remains an elusive goal, as it challenges some of the most cherished principles in physics.
The future of black hole information loss research is both challenging and promising. New avenues, such as the development of quantum gravity theories and advancements in our understanding of the nature of spacetime, offer hope for a breakthrough. The exploration of exotic phenomena like wormholes and the application of quantum information theory to black holes present exciting avenues for further inquiry. Ultimately, unraveling the mysteries surrounding black hole information loss not only enhances our comprehension of these cosmic enigmas but also has profound implications for the broader framework of fundamental physics. It stands as a tantalizing frontier that beckons scientists to push the boundaries of our understanding and redefine the very fabric of the cosmos.
The aim of this Special Issue is to further stimulate progress in the field of black hole information loss research and to collect articles and short reviews contributing to the development in this field. We welcome submissions on theoretical advancements in topics including but not limited to those mentioned below:
- Hawking Radiation and Information Retrieval: Stephen Hawking proposed that black holes emit radiation (Hawking radiation) and gradually lose mass. This suggests that information might be encoded in the radiation, offering a mechanism for its retrieval.
- Firewall Hypothesis: The firewall hypothesis suggests the existence of a high-energy "firewall" near the event horizon of a black hole, violating the smooth spacetime predicted by general relativity. This would resolve the information paradox but raises new questions about the firewall's nature.
- Soft Hair and Memory of Black Holes: The concept of "soft hair" proposes that black holes may possess a faint quantum structure at their event horizons, encoding information. This idea aims to resolve the information loss issue by considering subtle quantum features.
- AdS/CFT Correspondence and Holography: The AdS/CFT correspondence, a principle of string theory, suggests that a gravitational theory in a certain space (Anti-de Sitter, AdS) is equivalent to a non-gravitational, quantum theory on the boundary of that space. This holographic principle might provide insights into information preservation.
- Quantum Error Correction in Quantum Information Theory: Drawing on concepts from quantum information theory, researchers explore the possibility that information is not lost but instead becomes highly encoded and recoverable through quantum error correction mechanisms.
- Black Hole Remnants: Some scientists believe that black holes do not radiate completely and may leave behind remnants or transform into baby universes to preserve relevant information.
- Quantum Tunneling and Information Recovery: According to the principles of energy conservation and quantum tunneling, a non-thermal black hole radiation spectrum can be obtained. In this non-thermal spectrum, there exists not only a correlation capable of carrying information, but also the total entropy (i.e., the sum of the entropy of the remaining black hole and the radiation) is conserved during the black hole radiation process. These findings are entirely consistent with the requirement of unitarity in quantum mechanics, suggesting that the non-thermal radiation process of black holes, based on considerations of energy conservation, could indeed be unitary.
Prof. Dr. Qingyu Cai
Prof. Dr. Baocheng Zhang
Prof. Dr. Christian Corda
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- black hole information paradox
- Hawking radiation
- page curve
- quantum decoherence
- AdS/CFT correspondence
- holography
- firewall
- soft hair
- quantum hair
- memory of black holes
- quantum error correction
- quantum information theory
- quantum final state projection
- remnants
- baby universe
- wormholes
- quantum tunneling
- black hole interior
- black hole volume
- black hole collapse and evaporation
- two-dimensional black holes
- three-dimensional black holes
- quantum gravity theory
- analogue gravity
