PIRSA:25060036

Building and (hints of) seeing gravitational statistical mechanics

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}}
          }

Seth Major Hamilton College

Talk numberPIRSA:25060036
DOI10.48660/25060036
Collection
Talk Type Conference

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.