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Cited by 1,741Black Holes and Theoretical PhysicsNoncommutative and Quantum Gravity TheoriesRelativity and Gravitational Theory

The holographic principle

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Bousso, Raphael·2002·Reviews of Modern Physics
DOI 10.1103/revmodphys.74.825
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Abstract

There is strong evidence that the area of any surface limits the information content of adjacent spacetime regions, at $1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{69}$ bits per square meter. This article reviews the developments that have led to the recognition of this entropy bound, placing special emphasis on the quantum properties of black holes. The construction of light sheets, which associate relevant spacetime regions to any given surface, is discussed in detail. This article explains how the bound is tested, and its validity is demonstrated in a wide range of examples. A universal relation between geometry and information is thus uncovered. It has yet to be explained. The holographic principle asserts that its origin must lie in the number of fundamental degrees of freedom involved in a unified description of spacetime and matter. It must be manifest in an underlying quantum theory of gravity. This article surveys some successes and challenges in implementing the holographic principle.

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  • The causal-patch description of spacetime derives from the holographic principle and black-hole complementarity.

    “An interesting perspective on the likelihood of different initial conditions for the universe arises from the causal-patch description of spacetime [52, 53, 54, 55]. 1 This view derives from two profound lessons of black-hole physics: the holographic principle [59, 60, 61] and blackhole complementarity [62].”

    From Spontaneous inflation and the origin of the arrow of time (2004) · cites this paper as [61]

    In “Properties and implications” (page unavailable), Bousso connects a holographic theory of cosmology with an observer’s causally connected region and says black-hole complementarity suggests restricting attention to one causal region. The paper supports the conceptual connection, but presents it as a suggestion rather than establishing that the causal-patch description derives from both principles. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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Sorted by citations

Authors
Bousso, R.
Venue
Reviews of Modern Physics
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Published
2002-08-05
Volume
74
Issue
3
Pages
825-874
ISSN
  • 0034-6861 (ISSN-L)
  • 1539-0756
DOI
10.1103/revmodphys.74.825
OpenAlex
W2062750063
Cited by
1,741
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 127 · 2025: 173 · 2024: 110 · 2023: 104 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 65 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 71 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 84 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 54 · 2014: 77 · 2013: 74 · 2012: 49
FWCI
27.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
link.aps.org/licenses/aps-default-license (vor)
Locations
  • Reviews of Modern Physics (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
National Science Foundation
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Black Holes and Theoretical Physics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Relativity and Gravitational Theory
Keywords
holographic principle, entropy bounds, black holes, light sheet, quantum information, quantum gravity, degrees of freedom

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