Black holes reconsidered

TL;DR

This paper critically examines foundational issues in black-hole theory, proposing new observational approaches and questioning the applicability of quantum field theory in curved space-time to better understand black holes.

Contribution

It introduces the study of holonomy as an alternative to event horizons and discusses potential limitations of quantum field theory in curved space-time for black-hole analysis.

Findings

Holonomy may reveal universal features of black holes observable from afar

Quantum field theory faces difficulties with measurement and interactions in curved space-time

Traditional definitions of black holes via event horizons are problematic

Abstract

I review elements of the foundations of black-hole theory with attention to problematic issues, and describe some techniques which either seem to help with the difficulties or at least investigate their scope. The definition of black holes via event horizons has been problematic because it depends on knowing the global structure of space-time; often attempts to avoid this (e.g. apparent horizons) require knowledge of the interior geometry. I suggest studying instead the holonomy relating the exterior neighborhood of the incipient horizon to the regime of distant observers; at least in the spherically symmetric case, this holonomy will develop certain universal features, in principle observable from signals emitted from infalling objects. I discuss the theory of quantum fields in curved space-time, and the difficulties with Hawking's prediction of black-hole radiation. I then show that the usual, very natural, theory of quantum fields in curved space-time runs into difficulties when applied to measurement problems, interactions, zero-point effects and stress-energies. I suggest that we take seriously the possibility that this theory, for all its naturalness, may not be quite right.