Firewall argument for acoustic black holes
Date
2015-06-08
Authors
Pontiggia, Luca Terzio
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
We investigate the rewall paradox proposed by AMPS [1] by rst explaining the Information Paradox
together with Hawking's derivation of the thermal radiation emitted from a evaporating black
hole [28]. We then ask if one can apply arguments similar to that of Hawking and AMPS in the
regime of
uid mechanics, which was rst considered by Unruh [59]. We assume that a black hole,
with a geometry conformal to the Schwarzschild metric, can be formed in a
uid. The sonic hole
or \dumb" hole, which is characterized by an acoustic event horizon, is the locus of points at which
the background
uid is traveling at the local speed of sound. Since sound disturbances are coupled
to the background
uid and travel at the speed of sound, the acoustic event horizon a ects sound
disturbances in a manner analogous to how gravitational black holes a ect light [62]. Like a gravitational
black hole, which evaporates by emitting Hawking radiation, we check if an acoustic black
hole will emit in a similar kind of radiation in the form of phonons. This is done by constructing a
massless scalar eld describing phonon propagation and treating the acoustic black hole just like a
gravitational black hole. We apply the arguments put forth by Hawking and AMPS and see if there
is any validity to an \acoustic rewall" as this would require certain physical phenomena emerging
from sub-atomic scales.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. June 8, 2015.