Wave functions for quantum black hole formation in scalar field collapse

Abstract

We study quantum mechanically self-similar black hole formation by a collapsing scalar field and find the wave functions that give the correct semiclassical limit. In contrast with classical theory, the wave functions for black hole formation even in the supercritical case have not only incoming flux but also outgoing flux. From this result we compute the rate for black hole formation. In the subcritical case our result agrees with the semiclassical tunneling rate. Furthermore, we show how to recover the classical evolution of black hole formation from the wave function by defining the Hamilton-Jacobi characteristic function as W=ℏ Im In ψ. We find that the quantum-corrected apparent horizon deviates from the classical value only slightly without any qualitative change even in the critical case. ©2000 The American Physical Society.