Spacetime topology change and black hole information

TL;DR

This paper explores how topology change involving black hole collapse and baby universe creation could resolve the information loss paradox while remaining consistent with quantum mechanics and without altering low-energy physics.

Contribution

It demonstrates that topology change can be unitary and consistent with quantum mechanics, avoiding non-locality and requiring only assumptions about quantum gravity at Planck scales.

Findings

Topology change can be unitary and consistent with quantum mechanics.

Violations of cluster decomposition are likely unobservably small.

Topology change does not require modifications to low-energy physics.

Abstract

Topology change -- the creation of a disconnected baby universe -- due to black hole collapse may resolve the information loss paradox. Evolution from an early time Cauchy surface to a final surface which includes a slice of the disconnected region can be unitary and consistent with conventional quantum mechanics. We discuss the issue of cluster decomposition, showing that any violations thereof are likely to be unobservably small. Topology change is similar to the black hole remnant scenario and only requires assumptions about the behavior of quantum gravity in planckian regimes. It does not require non-locality or any modification of low-energy physics.