PIRSA:25060036 Conference

DOI10.48660/25060036

Conference/School: Lee's Fest: Quantum Gravity and the Nature of Time

Major, S. (2025). Building and (hints of) seeing gravitational statistical mechanics. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/25060036

Major, Seth. Building and (hints of) seeing gravitational statistical mechanics. Perimeter Institute, Jun. 03, 2025, https://pirsa.org/25060036 

@misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:25060036,
  doi = {10.48660/25060036},
  url = {https://pirsa.org/25060036},
  author = {Major, Seth},
  keywords = {},
  language = {en},
  title = {Building and (hints of) seeing gravitational statistical mechanics},
  publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
  year = {2025},
  month = {jun},
  note = {PIRSA:25060036 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
}

Abstract

A statistical mechanics of geometry based on the quasi-local energy of constantly accelerating observers outside black holes is proposed. By assuming particle statistics for the geometric quanta, the geometry condenses in the large area limit, providing a quantum gravity cutoff for the entropy of the thermal atmosphere of geometric excitations. These excitations model the fluctuating ``shape of the black hole" and form an effectively two dimensional quantum thermal geometric atmosphere. The entropy from these ``Debye" excitations is proportional to the area. Prospects of for the observation of the fluctuations are briefly discussed.

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