Quantum Phase Transitions and the Breakdown of Classical General Relativity

TL;DR

This paper proposes that black hole event horizons are quantum phase transitions of space-time, leading to deviations from classical general relativity that could produce observable signatures.

Contribution

It introduces a model where the event horizon is a quantum phase transition, altering the internal space-time structure and predicting observable effects.

Findings

Classical GR equations remain valid near the horizon but break down at the quantum critical point.

The interior of the black hole may be de Sitter space, differing from classical predictions.

Distinct spectroscopic signatures could be observed at large distances from black holes.

Abstract

It is proposed that the event horizon of a black hole is a quantum phase transition of the vacuum of space-time analogous to the liquid-vapor critical point of a bose fluid. The equations of classical general relativity remain valid arbitrarily close to the horizon yet fail there through the divergence of a characteristic coherence length. The integrity of global time, required for conventional quantum mechanics to be defined, is maintained. The metric inside the event horizon is different from that predicted by classical general relativity and may be de Sitter space. The deviations from classical behavior lead to distinct spectroscopic and bolometric signatures that can, in principle, be observed at large distances from the black hole.