Quantum Aspects of Black Holes

Semester: 
Fall
Offered: 
2016

Starting with a review of the classical aspects of black holes,  this course will continue on to quantum aspects of black holes. We will review the classical aspects of black hole thermodynamics, the derivation of Hawking radiation, and examine different formulations of the information paradox. Towards the latter half of the course, we will discuss some advanced topics, including black hole complementarity and the information paradox in AdS/CFT, which has led to proposals that include the firewall and alternatives like state-dependence of the BH interior.

Note added (2021): A record of these lectures is preserved for archival purposes. For a more up-to-date treatment of material covered in the last 1/3 of the course, which dealt with the black hole information paradox, please see the course webpage for the 2021 course on the Black Hole Information Paradox

The lecture notes for the first 2/3 of this course may also be useful as background-material for the 2021 course.