Black Holes and Quantum Mechanics

Professor Gerard 't Hooft, Universiteit Utrecht,

Heinrich Hertz Lecture 2003

Arguments from quantum field theory, thermodynamics and superstring physics indicate that black holes have got a well defined quantum structure. The quantum mechanical states are characterized by observables distributed uniformly over the horizon of the black holes. Deep and fundamental problems occur when we try to relate this picture to locality and relativistic invariance of the laws of nature:

• What will an observer see when he falls into a black hole?
• Are we forced by the nature of the holographic laws of physics introduced above, to revise our notion of "reality"?
• Are black holes classical or quantum particles?

Professor Gerard 't Hooft
Universiteit Utrecht

"BLACK HOLES AND QUANTUM MECHANICS"

Arguments from quantum field theory, thermodynamics and superstring physics indicate that black holes have got a well defined quantum structure. The quantum mechanical states are characterized by observables distributed uniformly over the horizon of the black holes. Deep and fundamental problems occur when we try to relate this picture to locality and relativistic invariance of the laws of nature:

• What will an observer see when he falls into a black hole?

• Are we forced by the nature of the holographic laws of physics introduced above, to revise our notion of "reality"?

• Are black holes classical or quantum particles?