Black Holes Hint Towards De Sitter-Matrix Theory

Abstract

De Sitter black holes and other non-perturbative configurations can be used to probe the holographic degrees of freedom of de Sitter space. For small black holes evidence was first given in seminal work of Banks, Fiol, and Morrise; and followups by Banks and Fischler; showing that dS is described by a form of matrix theory. For large black holes the evidence given here is new: Gravitational calculations and matrix theory calculations of the rates of exponentially rare fluctuations match one another in surprising detail. The occurrence of the Nariai geometry and the "inside-out" transition are especially interesting examples which I explain.