REVIEW
Black hole entropy from Quantum Geometry
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Submitted 14 Jul 2004 · 14 references
Pith's verdict: A genuine error in the ABCK counting, correctly identified; the exclusion of the old Barbero-Immirzi value is sound even though the lower bound is deferred to the companion paper.
T0 · AI review
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Referee report
The paper
The paper claims
A counting error in the quantum-geometry account of black-hole entropy: removing a spurious ordering of spin labels raises the number of horizon states and forces the Barbero-Immirzi parameter into a new range.
The reading
What carries the argument
The load-bearing device is the reduction of horizon state counting to a one-dimensional combinatorial problem. Each horizon state is labelled by a sequence of non-zero half-integers $m_i$ that must sum to zero and whose area weights $sqrt{|m_i|(|m_i|+1)}$ must fit under the fixed horizon area. Dropping the sum-to-zero condition and keeping only the area budget gives an over-counting set with recurrence $N^+_k = 2 N^+_{k-1} + ... + 2 N^+_0 + 1$, solved by $N^+_k = 3^k$, hence the upper bound. Replacing $sqrt{|m|(|m|+1)}$ by $|m| + 1/2$ gives a second recurrence $N^-_k = 2 N^-_{k-2} + ... + 2 N^-_0 + 1$ with solution $N^-_k = (2/3) 2^k + (-1)^k / 3$, and a random-walk argument supplies the fraction $C/sqrt{k}$ of those sequences whose entries sum to zero, giving the lower bound. The same random-walk estimate yields the limiting spin distribution $P(m) = e^{-2 pi gamma_M sqrt{|m|(|m|+1)}}$, which is the exponential of minus the entropy of a single puncture of that spin, and which sums to one by the defining equation for $gamma_M$.
Extended reading notes
Core claim
The paper's central claim is that the Ashtekar-Baez-Corichi-Krasnov state count undercounts horizon states because it assumes the spin labels $j_1, ..., j_n$ at the punctures can be sorted, $j_1 <= ... <= j_n$, and treats that as a constraint on admissible states. The authors replace the recipe with a clean combinatorial problem: count finite sequences $(m_1, ..., m_n)$ of non-zero half-integers with $m_1 + ... + m_n = 0$ and $8 pi gamma ell_{Pl}^2 sum_i sqrt(|m_i|(|m_i|+1)) <= a$, plus the empty sequence. From this they derive the bounds $(ln 2 / 4 pi gamma ell_{Pl}^2) a <= ln N(a) <= (ln 3 / 4 pi gamma ell_{Pl}^2) a$, which translate into a permitted window $ln 2 / pi <= gamma <= ln 3 / pi$ for the Barbero-Immirzi parameter. The previously derived value $gamma = ln 2 / (pi sqrt{3})$ falls outside that window, so it cannot be right. The authors state plainly that they could not themselves prove the entropy is proportional to the area, and they point to a companion paper for the exact asymptotics $ln N(a) = (gamma_M / gamma) a / (4 ell_{Pl}^2) - (1/2) ln a + O(1)$, where $gamma_M$ solves $1/2 - sum_{j != 0} e^{-2 pi gamma_M sqrt{j(j+1)}} = 0$.
Load-bearing premise
The lower bound, which is what excludes the old value of the Barbero-Immirzi parameter, rests on the claim that a fraction of order $1/sqrt{k}$ of the counted sequences have entries summing to zero; here that is argued by a random-walk heuristic and delegated to a companion paper for an exact proof.
Editorial extensions
If this is right
- The Barbero-Immirzi parameter, which multiplies the spectra of every geometric operator in the theory, is confined to $ln 2 / pi <= gamma <= ln 3 / pi$, and the previously published value $ln 2 / (pi sqrt{3})$ is excluded.
- Punctures with spin greater than $1/2$ contribute to the leading term of the entropy, so the horizon is not well described by a model in which each puncture carries a single bit.
- The conjectured match between Quantum Geometry and the black-hole quasi-normal mode spectrum, which assumed a minimum spin of 1 rather than $1/2$, loses its original basis and must be re-derived.
- Taking the companion paper's exact result as given, the entropy is proportional to the horizon area in the leading order with a coefficient $gamma_M / gamma$, and carries a sub-leading $- (1/2) ln a$ correction.
- The probability that a given puncture carries label $m$ falls off as $e^{-2 pi gamma_M sqrt{|m|(|m|+1)}}$, i.e. as the exponential of minus the entropy of that puncture, independent of how $gamma$ is fixed.
Reading between the lines
- Because the limiting spin distribution is exactly a Boltzmann weight in the puncture area, the horizon state count reads like a partition function over independent punctures; that suggests the $- (1/2) ln a$ term is the standard logarithmic correction from a gas of such punctures rather than an accident of the recurrence.
- If the exact count is accepted, matching to the Bekenstein-Hawking coefficient fixes $gamma = gamma_M$, turning a free parameter of the theory into a computable pure number and giving a sharp numerical target for anyone solving the defining equation.
- The paper asserts in a footnote that counting with an area window $[a - delta a, a + delta a]$ instead of the strict inequality gives the same answer, but does not show it; a reader who wants the entropy claim to be robust should check that the window does not change the coefficient of the leading term.
- Any revival of the quasi-normal-mode link now needs a mechanism that suppresses higher spins, since the correction here shows they dominate rather than decouple.
Original abstract
Quantum Geometry (the modern Loop Quantum Gravity using graphs and spin-networks instead of the loops) provides microscopic degrees of freedom that account for the black-hole entropy. However, the procedure for state counting used in the literature contains an error and the number of the relevant horizon states is underestimated. In our paper a correct method of counting is presented. Our results lead to a revision of the literature of the subject. It turns out that the contribution of spins greater then 1/2 to the entropy is not negligible. Hence, the value of the Barbero-Immirzi parameter involved in the spectra of all the geometric and physical operators in this theory is different than previously derived. Also, the conjectured relation between Quantum Geometry and the black hole quasi-normal modes should be understood again.
The compiled record
The paper's own sentences, arranged, kept beside the review and separate from it. Each label is drawn from a closed vocabulary; the number beside it is the probability the classifier gave that label. Numbers in the tables are the authors', checked by code. No sentence in this record was written by a model.
The abstract, sentence by sentence
Quantum Geometry (the modern Loop Quantum Gravity using graphs and spin-networks instead of the loops) provides microscopic degrees of freedom that account for the black-hole entropy. However, the procedure for state counting used in the literature contains an error and the number of the relevant horizon states is underestimated. In our paper a correct method of counting is presented. Our results lead to a revision of the literature of the subject. It turns out that the contribution of spins greater then 1/2 to the entropy is not negligible. Hence, the value of the Barbero-Immirzi parameter involved in the spectra of all the geometric and physical operators in this theory is different than previously derived. Also, the conjectured relation between Quantum Geometry and the black hole quasi-normal modes should be understood again.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | Quantum Geometry (the modern Loop Quantum Gravity using graphs and spin-networks instead of the loops) provides microscopic degrees of freedom that account for the black-hole entropy. | background 1.00 | 0.11 | 0.12 | asserted 1.00 |
| s1 | However, the procedure for state counting used in the literature contains an error and the number of the relevant horizon states is underestimated. | gap 0.85 | 0.21 | 0.14 | asserted 1.00 |
| s2 | In our paper a correct method of counting is presented. | contribution 0.73 | 0.93 | 0.12 | asserted 1.00 |
| s3 | Our results lead to a revision of the literature of the subject. | interpretation 0.85 | 0.32 | 0.13 | asserted 0.99 |
| s4 | It turns out that the contribution of spins greater then 1/2 to the entropy is not negligible. | result 0.99 | 0.88 | 0.23 | asserted 1.00 |
| s5 | Hence, the value of the Barbero-Immirzi parameter involved in the spectra of all the geometric and physical operators in this theory is different than previously derived. | result 0.75 | 0.85 | 0.28 | asserted 1.00 |
| s6 | Also, the conjectured relation between Quantum Geometry and the black hole quasi-normal modes should be understood again. | interpretation 0.89 | 0.19 | 0.06 | asserted 0.43 |
What was examined, and what was not
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References
How later papers used it
86 later papers cite it
2 later papers by other authors are listed below: 2 used its method or tool.
Uses its method or tool 2 of 3 papers with this label
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Gave a complete computation of the black hole degeneracy spectrum and entropy for the first eigenvalues of the area spectrum according to this paper's DL prescription.
Detailed black hole state counting in loop quantum gravity (2011) · 0.84 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
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Took from this paper the idea that the counting problem can be simplified by implementing the two conditions of another work in separate steps.
Toward explaining black hole entropy quantization in loop quantum gravity (2007) · 1.00 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
How the literature uses it
84 arXiv papers cite this in 148 sentences
Papers citing it · 101 sentences without a confident label
Contests it 4 papers
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The concept of `quantum hair' $N$ introduced in [ref] has been adored by several authors resulting in a series of papers where it has been naively overlooked that as a consequence of the introduction of `quantum hair' $N$, $$ can neither be uniquely determined as in [ref] , nor it is a free parameter as opposed to the claim of [ref] .
The Microcanonical Entropy of Quantum Isolated Horizon, `quantum hair' $N$ and the Barbero-Immirzi parameter fixation · Introduction · contest 0.77
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Another significant attempt was to fix the Immirzi parameter in the framework of Loop Quantum Gravity [ref] but it was unsuccessful [ref] .
Quantum Tunneling in Black Holes · Overview · contest 0.84
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An error in the state counting for the derivation of black hole entropy in [ref] was corrected by Domagala and Lewandowski in [ref] , showing that the dominance of spin $1/2$ representations was incorrect.
New Variables for Classical and Quantum Gravity in all Dimensions V. Isolated Horizon Boundary Degrees of Freedom · Introduction · contest 0.79
Uses its method or tool 3 papers
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By using an interval of the form $[0,a_κ]$, Domagala and Lewandowski [ref] proved that the black hole entropy can be obtained according to the following prescription involving only the $m_I$ bulk labels:
Detailed black hole state counting in loop quantum gravity · The ABCK quantum isolated horizon and the DL counting · 0.83
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It will also be useful to introduce the shorthand [equation] Finally we take from [ref] the idea that the counting problem can be simplified by implementing the two conditions of [ref] in separate steps.
Toward explaining black hole entropy quantization in loop quantum gravity · Counting states by counting paths · 1.00
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We want to mention here that we restrict our analysis in the main body of the paper to the prescription given by Domagala and Lewandowski in [ref] to compute the entropy.
Statistical description of the black hole degeneracy spectrum · Introduction · 0.89
Uses its data or values 10 papers
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Some studies such as [ref] suggest that $γ≈0.2375$, therefore $α≈1.1663$.
Quantum Black Holes: Perihelion Advance, Quasi Normal Modes and Classical/ Topological Thermodynamics · Schwarzschild-like black hole in LQG · 0.97
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For the area gap $Δ$ we use the value $Δ= 5.17$ that comes from the black hole entropy calculations [ref] .
Quantum Gravity in the Sky: Interplay between fundamental theory and observations · Introduction · 1.00
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Logarithmic corrections due to the counting of the microstates of BH in LQG give as values $α̃=-1/2$ [ref] and $α̃=-3/2$ [ref] .
Entropy in Loop Quantum Cosmology · Generalized Second Law in LQC. · 0.93
Compares with it 7 papers
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For example, exactly in the framework of the standard model, we insert the following numbers of fundamental modes: $N_0=4$ (Higgs), $N_1/2=45$, $N_1=12$, $N_l=3$ (neutrinos), yielding $γ=1/9≈0.11$, which is quite close to the (a bit obsolete) Ashtekar–Baez–Corichi–Krasnov value, $γ_abck=ln2/π√(3)≈0.13$ [ref] , [ref] (see [ref] , for a better estimation).
A relation between the Barbero-Immirzi parameter and the standard model · Introduction · 0.97
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The coefficient $-1/2$ of the subleading logarithmic correction term matches the results of $U(1)$ Chern-Simons theory approaches [ref] .
Entropy of black holes with arbitrary shapes in loop quantum gravity · Entropy of Isolated Horizons with Arbitrary Shapes · 0.97
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Let us now return to the problem if and how our expression for the entropy ([ref]) can be reconciled with the Loop Quantum Gravity calculation [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] according to which the black hole entropy computed by counting the black hole horizon microstates equals [equation] where $γ_M$ is a parameter, whose numerical value is between $0.2$ and $0.3$, accompanied by higher order corrections; see [ref] for detailed discussion.
Gravity as a constrained BF theory: Noether charges and Immirzi parameter · Discussion: what about the Immirzi parameter? · 0.99
Cites it as support 2 papers
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Computations of black hole entropy via state counting [ref] , as well as entanglement entropy [ref] , are consistent with this expectation.
Path integral renormalisation in loop quantum cosmology · Introduction · 1.00
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They must be, to a certain extent, distinguishable to account for a linear area-entropy relation [ref] .
Black hole horizons from within loop quantum gravity · Gauge invariant solutions · 0.96
Cites it as background 14 papers
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The theory [ref] predicts the area-dependence of the entropy as [equation] $γ$ is the Barbero-Immirzi-parameter, and $γ_c$ a numerical constant[$γ_c$ depends on the precise definition of which states are counted as surface states.
Toward explaining black hole entropy quantization in loop quantum gravity · Introduction · 0.86
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These calculations have a long and continuing history (see for example [ref] and for reviews [ref] ), including some controversy over the correct evaluation of the number of states.
Renormalization and black hole entropy in Loop Quantum Gravity · Introduction · 1.00
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The main approaches to the problem of counting the configurations giving the statistical entropy in the microcanonical area ensemble for a back hole are those of DL [ref] and ENP [ref] .
The thermodynamic limit and black hole entropy in the area ensemble · Black hole area ensembles · 0.94
Discussion
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