Cargese Lectures on the Kerr/CFT Correspondence

TL;DR

Addresses how Kerr black holes may be described by a dual 2D CFT via the Kerr/CFT correspondence. The approach uses the near-horizon extremal Kerr (NHEK) geometry and its asymptotic symmetry group to derive a Virasoro algebra with central charge c=12J/ħ and reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawley entropy through Cardy’s formula. It also reveals a hidden conformal symmetry for generic Kerr through low-frequency wave equations and SL(2,R) Casimir structures, yielding matching entropy and scattering with a CFT interpretation. The lectures discuss extensions beyond extremality, possible string-theory embeddings, and open problems guiding future work.

Abstract

We give a short introduction, beginning with the Kerr geometry itself, to the basic results, motivation, open problems and future directions of the Kerr/CFT correspondence.