Schwarzschild horizon dynamics and SU(2) Chern-Simons theory

Abstract

We discuss the effect of different choices in partial gauge fixing of bulk local Lorentz invariance, on the description of the horizon degrees of freedom of a Schwarzschild black hole as an SU(2) Chern-Simons theory with specific sources. A classically equivalent description in terms of an ISO(2) Chern-Simons theory is also discussed. Further, we demonstrate that both these descriptions can be partially gauge fixed to a horizon theory with U(1) local gauge invariance, with the solder form sources being subject to extra constraints in directions orthogonal to an internal vector field left invariant by U(1) transformations. Seemingly disparate approaches on characterization of the horizon theory for the Schwarzschild black hole (as well as spherical Isolated Horizons in general) are thus shown to be equivalent physically.