Black hole entropy from an SU(2)-invariant formulation of Type I isolated horizons

TL;DR

This paper reformulates the description of spherically symmetric isolated horizons in loop quantum gravity using an SU(2) invariant approach, clarifying the quantum degrees of freedom and modifying the entropy calculation.

Contribution

It introduces an SU(2) invariant formulation of isolated horizons, simplifying the quantum description and providing new insights into horizon entropy in loop quantum gravity.

Findings

Horizon degrees of freedom are described by SU(2) Chern-Simons theory.

The formulation offers a clearer quantum description of isolated horizons.

The approach leads to modifications in the horizon entropy calculation.

Abstract

A detailed analysis of the spherically symmetric isolated horizon system is performed in terms of the connection formulation of general relativity. The system is shown to admit a manifestly SU(2) invariant formulation where the (effective) horizon degrees of freedom are described by an SU(2) Chern-Simons theory. This leads to a more transparent description of the quantum theory in the context of loop quantum gravity and modifications of the form of the horizon entropy.