Viscosity in strongly interacting quantum field theories from black hole physics
Viscosity in strongly interacting quantum field theories from black hole physics
The ratio of shear viscosity to volume density of entropy can be used to characterize how close a given fluid is to being perfect. Using string theory methods, we show that this ratio is equal to a universal value of [h-bar]/4pikB for a large class of strongly interacting quantum field theories whose dual description involves black holes in anti–de Sitter space. We provide evidence that this value may serve as a lower bound for a wide class of systems, thus suggesting that black hole horizons are dual to the most ideal fluids.
quantum field theory, black holes, string theory
111601-1
Kovtun, P.K.
3d723e74-baf9-4166-9ff4-f453bda66dc5
Son, D.T.
ed0be92f-7091-46f3-b475-9b907022dc11
Starinets, A.O.
c38a7047-d3e8-46f0-877e-a7a23534a246
22 March 2005
Kovtun, P.K.
3d723e74-baf9-4166-9ff4-f453bda66dc5
Son, D.T.
ed0be92f-7091-46f3-b475-9b907022dc11
Starinets, A.O.
c38a7047-d3e8-46f0-877e-a7a23534a246
Kovtun, P.K., Son, D.T. and Starinets, A.O.
(2005)
Viscosity in strongly interacting quantum field theories from black hole physics.
Physical Review Letters, 94 (11), .
(doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.111601).
Abstract
The ratio of shear viscosity to volume density of entropy can be used to characterize how close a given fluid is to being perfect. Using string theory methods, we show that this ratio is equal to a universal value of [h-bar]/4pikB for a large class of strongly interacting quantum field theories whose dual description involves black holes in anti–de Sitter space. We provide evidence that this value may serve as a lower bound for a wide class of systems, thus suggesting that black hole horizons are dual to the most ideal fluids.
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Published date: 22 March 2005
Keywords:
quantum field theory, black holes, string theory
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Local EPrints ID: 49101
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/49101
ISSN: 0031-9007
PURE UUID: e3daee1f-24d4-4825-9c04-6bb681ed9531
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Date deposited: 24 Oct 2007
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 09:53
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Author:
P.K. Kovtun
Author:
D.T. Son
Author:
A.O. Starinets
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