Frontiers of Quantum Black Holes

Abstract

A black hole is a theoretical prediction of Einstein’s general theory of relativity, differently from Newtonian gravity, which is a non-relativistic gravity. In recent few years, its direct detection via gravitational waves and other multi-messenger observations have made it possible to test the prediction and hence its associated general relativity. From purely theoretical points of view, general relativity cannot be a complete description due to its not being compatible with quantum mechanics, which is a successful description of microscopic objects. In this article, we introduce the conceptional development of quantum-gravity theories and give brief sketches of fundamental problems in quantum black holes. As an interesting model of quantum black holes, we consider a collapsing shell of matter to form a Hayward black hole and investigate semiclassically quantum radiation from the shell. By using the Israel’s formulation and the functional Schrödinger formulation for massless quantum radiation, we find that the Hawking temperature can be deduced from the occupation number of excited states when the shell approaches its own horizon.