A quantum S-matrix for two-dimensional black hole formation and evaporation

Erik Verlinde, Herman Verlinde

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study the black hole information paradox in the context of a two-dimensional toy model given by dilaton gravity coupled to N massless scalar fields. After making the model well-defined by imposing reflecting boundary conditions at a critical value of the dilaton field, we quantize the theory and define a quantum S-matrix for the case that N = 24. This S-matrix maps pure initial states to pure out-states and we further argue that in the semiclassical regime it describes the formation and subsequent Hawking evaporation of two-dimensional black holes. Finally, we note an interesting correspondence between the dilaton gravity S-matrix and that of the c = 1 matrix model.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)43-58
Number of pages16
JournalNuclear Physics, Section B
Volume406
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 27 1993

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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