Black holes have more states than those giving the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy: a simple argument

TL;DR

This paper argues that black holes have more internal states than traditionally estimated by Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, suggesting a need to reconsider the understanding of black hole microstates.

Contribution

It provides a simple argument indicating the number of distinguishable internal states exceeds the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy estimate.

Findings

Number of internal black hole states is greater than e^{S_{BH}}

Local observers inside the black hole can distinguish more states

Challenges the assumption that black hole states are limited to Bekenstein-Hawking entropy

Abstract

It is often assumed that the maximum number of independent states a black hole may contain is $N_{BH}=e^{S_{BH}}$, where $S_{BH}=A/4$ is the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy and $A$ the horizon area in Planck units. I present a simple and straightforward argument showing that the number of states that can be distinguished by local observers inside the hole must be greater than this number.