Abstract
In the standard formalism of quantum gravity, black holes appear to form statistical distributions of quantum states. Now, however, we can present a theory that yields pure quantum states. It shows how particles entering a black hole can generate firewalls, which however can be removed, replacing them by the ‘footprints’ they produce in the out-going particles. This procedure can preserve the quantum information stored inside and around the black hole. We then focus on a subtle but unavoidable modification of the topology of the Schwarzschild metric: antipodal identification of points on the horizon. If it is true that vacuum fluctuations include virtual black holes, then the structure of space-time is radically different from what is usually thought.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1134-1149 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Foundations of Physics |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2018 |
Keywords
- Antipodal identification
- Black hole unitarity
- Firewalls
- Gravitational backreaction
- Microstates
- Vacuole
- Virtual black holes