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arXiv:hep-th/0405231hep-th

Viscosity in Strongly Interacting Quantum Field Theories from Black Hole Physics

P. Kovtun, D. T. Son, A. O. Starinets

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 $\hbar/4πk_B$ 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.

arXiv comments
9 pages, title changed, appendix moved into the main text
Journal reference
Phys.Rev.Lett. 94 (2005) 111601
DOI
doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.111601
Subjects
hep-thHigh Energy Physics, Theory gr-qcGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmology hep-phHigh Energy Physics, Phenomenology

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  1. Entanglement Builds Space-Time. Now "Magic" Gives It Gravity 1 comment

    • Not a physicist, but I think this paper used holographic principles to predict the minimum ratio of shear viscosity to volume density of entropy in fluids https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0405231

      EremView on HNParent context

  2. Scientists find upper limit for the speed of sound 1 comment

    • Here's the arxiv link, for those who want to read the original article paywall-free: https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.04818. To be clear, this isn't an unconditional speed limit. It appears to be something like "the maximum speed of sound in matter which consists of atoms" (maybe I've…

      srlView on HNParent context

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