Abstract
The information loss paradox is often presented as an unavoidable consequence of well-established physics. However, in order for a genuine paradox to ensue, not-trivial assumptions about, e.g., quantum effects on spacetime, are necessary. In this work we will be explicit about these additional, speculative assumptions required. We will also sketch a map of the available routes to tackle the issue, highlighting the, often overlooked, commitments demanded of each alternative. Finally, we will display the strong link between black holes, the issue of information loss and the measurement problem.
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Notes
A Cauchy hypersurface is a subset of spacetime which is intersected exactly once by every inextensible, non-spacelike curve.
Future null infinity is the set of points which are approached asymptotically by null rays which can escape to infinity.
This is a process, studied in [21], by which a rotating black hole can convert some of its “rotation energy” into kinetic energy.
The ADM mass is a quantity associated with the asymptotic behavior of the induced spatial metric of a Cauchy hypersurface. In asymptotically flat spacetimes, it is known to be independent of the hypersurface on which it is evaluated (see [2]).
Note however that the argument can be easily reversed to show exactly the opposite. Since Hawking’s result shows that unitarity breaks when black holes are present, one must conclude that quantum evolution cannot be unitary even in a quantum field theory on flat spacetimes.
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We acknowledge partial financial support from DGAPA-UNAM Project IG100316. DS was further supported by CONACyT Project 101712.
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Okon, E., Sudarsky, D. Black Holes, Information Loss and the Measurement Problem. Found Phys 47, 120–131 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-016-0048-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-016-0048-1