Scrambling and the black hole atmosphere

TL;DR

The paper proposes that the scrambling time in black holes is equivalent to the time it takes for the black hole's atmosphere to be replaced, linking the process of information scrambling with atmospheric dynamics near the horizon.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective connecting black hole scrambling time with the atmospheric refreshment process, supported by arguments in higher dimensions and partial insights in two dimensions.

Findings

Scrambling time matches atmospheric replacement time in three or more dimensions.

Atmosphere dynamics are integral to the physical process of information scrambling.

Support for the relation is less strong in two dimensions due to less localized atmospheres.

Abstract

We argue that the scrambling time is the same, up to a numerical factor in three or more spacetime dimensions, as the time for the atmosphere to fall across the horizon or escape, to be replaced by new atmosphere. We propose that these times agree because the physical scrambling process is part and parcel of the atmosphere refreshment process. We provide some support for this relation also in two dimensions, but the atmosphere is not as localized, so the argument is less justified.