Black Hole Entropy and Renormalization

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that using a new regulator in 't Hooft's method reproduces the one-loop renormalization of the Bekenstein-Hawking black hole entropy, supporting previous theoretical suggestions.

Contribution

It introduces a new regulator that confirms the one-loop renormalization of black hole entropy through statistical-mechanical state counting.

Findings

Reproduces the one-loop renormalization of Bekenstein-Hawking entropy

Supports the Susskind-Uglum conjecture on black hole entropy

Provides a new computational approach for black hole entropy

Abstract

Using a new regulator, we examine 't Hooft's approach for evaluating black hole entropy through a statistical-mechanical counting of states for a scalar field propagating outside the event horizon. We find that this calculation yields precisely the one-loop renormalization of the standard Bekenstein-Hawking formula, $S={\Cal A}/(4G)$. Thus our result provides evidence confirming a suggestion by Susskind and Uglum regarding black hole entropy.