Statistical Mechanics and Black Hole Entropy

TL;DR

The paper confronts the black hole entropy puzzle by formulating a horizon-boundary state picture within a path-integral sewing framework. It develops the mechanism first in scalar fields, then in abelian and nonabelian Chern-Simons theory, and finally in (2+1)-dimensional gravity, showing that horizon-boundary degrees of freedom yield a boundary-WZW sector that can reproduce the BTZ entropy. In 3+1 dimensions the approach remains tentative but suggests that edge observables arising from diffeomorphism breaking at the boundary could provide the microscopic states responsible for black hole entropy. If successful, this horizon-boundary perspective offers a concrete microscopic account of black hole thermodynamics and guides extensions toward realistic 3+1 gravity.

Abstract

I review a new (and still tentative) approach to black hole thermodynamics that seeks to explain black hole entropy in terms of microscopic quantum gravitational boundary states induced on the black hole horizon.

Figures (1)

• Figure 1: The manifold $M$ is formed by "sewing" $M_1$ and $M_2$ along $\Sigma$.