Dynamics of Diffeomorphism Degrees of Freedom at a Horizon

Abstract

We define a set of boundary conditions that ensure the presence of a null hypersurface with the essential characteristics of a horizon, using the formalism of weakly isolated horizons as a guide. We then determine the diffeomorphisms that preserve these boundary conditions, and derive a dynamical action for these diffeomorphisms in a neighbourhood of the horizon. The action is similar to that of Liouville theory, and the equation of motion of the gravitational degrees of freedom approaches that of a free two-dimensional conformal field theory in the near-horizon region.