# 1 Introduction

## 1 Introduction

Since the remarkable discovery  that a black hole has entropy proportional to the area of horizon

$$S_{BH}=\frac{A_h}{4G}$$
(1.1)   
it remains a mystery as what states are counted by this formula. A number of approaches was proposed  to answer this question within a conventional field theory. However, reproducing correctly the proportionality to the area most of these approaches normally lead to divergent expression for the entropy.

On the other hand, there is a number of indications that two-dimensional conformal symmetry may provide us with relevant description of black hole’s states. The Hilbert space of a conformal field theory realizes a representation of the (quantum) Virasoro algebra

$$[L_n,L_m]=(nm)L_{n+m}+\frac{c}{12}n(n^21)\delta _{n+m,0}$$
(1.2)   
with infinite set of generators $`L_n`$ and central charge $`c`$. The number of states in the conformal field theory at the level $`L_0`$ grows exponentially and the corresponding entropy is given by

$$S_{conf}=2\pi \sqrt{\frac{cL_0}{6}}.$$
(1.3)   
In the current literature, this formula is known as Cardy’s formula. That entropy (1.3) of an appropriately defined conformal field theory may fit the expression (1.1) was demonstrated in number of examples found within string theory . However, the relevant conformal field theory lives in flat space-time and additional arguments should be given to relate its states to the ones living in the black hole phase.

Another example which is inspiring for the present consideration is three-dimensional BTZ black hole . The feature of general relativity in three dimensions is that it can be re-formulated as $`SL(2,R)\times SL(2,R)`$ Chern-Simons theory with only dynamical degrees of freedom living on the boundary. It was argued by Carlip  some time ago that states of the boundary theory realizing a representation of (two copies of) Virasoro algebra are responsible for the entropy of BTZ black hole. An alternative elegant calculation was proposed by Strominger . He uses the fact proven in  that imposing boundary condition that 3d metric is asymptotically AdS<sub>3</sub> there is group of diffeomorphisms preserving this condition. This group is generated by two copies of the Virasoro algebra with central charge $`c=\frac{3l}{2G}`$ ($`G`$ is Newton’s constant and $`l`$ is AdS<sub>3</sub> radius). The relevant conformal theory is the Liouville theory  living on the (two-dimensional) boundary and described by the action

$$W_L=d^2z\sqrt{\gamma }\left(\frac{1}{2}(\varphi )^2+Q\varphi R+\lambda e^{2\varphi }\right),$$
(1.4)   
where $`Q`$ is related to the central charge $`c=\frac{3l}{2G}`$ as $`c=48\pi Q^2`$. The BTZ metric obeys the boundary condition and the black hole, thus, is in the Hilbert space of the conformal field theory. The counting of the degeneracy using the formula (1.3) then exactly reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawking result. This calculation, however, uses features specific for the three-dimensional gravity and it is not seen how it can be extended to higher dimensions.

A goal of the present paper is to follow a similar line of reasoning but not restricting to specific features of three dimensions. The key idea is to formulate a boundary condition describing metrics with black hole horizon. Indeed, the existence of the horizon is a requirement which essentially restricts class of possible metrics. The coordinate invariant form of this condition is formulated in the next section and is appropriate to describe both dynamical and static black holes. Remarkably, we find diffeomorphisms that preserve this condition. They act in (arbitrary small) vicinity of the horizon and form the infinite-dimensional group of conformal transformations in two dimensions. The corresponding algebra recovered at the horizon is one copy of the Virasoro algebra. The physics at the horizon is, thus, conformal that could be anticipated since it is known that fields becomes effectively massless at the horizon. For general relativity the conformal dynamics at the horizon is governed by an effective two-dimensional field theory. It is constructed in Section 3 and is shown in Section 5 to be universal theory at the horizon of black hole in any space-time dimensions. The counting states of this horizon’s conformal field theory by Cardy’s formula (1.3) exactly reproduces the result (1.1). Note, that in our approach the states responsible for the entropy (1.1) are states of the horizon itself. This differs from the picture present in  where the relevant states live at infinity.

## 2  Horizon boundary condition and 2d conformal group

In a theory of quantum gravity dealing with fluctuating space-time geometry one should be able to formulate conditions which fix the class of possible metrics. One of the conditions one usually considers is the behavior of metric at infinity. The space-time is then supposed to be asymptotically flat or asymptotically (Anti-) Sitter dependent on the physical situation. However, the fixing of the asymptotic behavior not completely specifies the topology of the space-time. This should be considered as an additional requirement restricting the class of metrics under consideration. The presence of the black hole horizon is such topological feature which should be traced in the conditions which one should impose on the space-time metrics. There are different definitions of horizon, some of them, in particular, require knowledge of global (all-time) behavior of space-time. More appropriate for our goals is the notion of $`\mathrm{𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡}`$ horizon which can be defined locally as the boundary of trapped region .

Consider four-dimensional spherically symmetric metric of the general form

$$ds^2=\gamma _{ab}(x^0,x^1)dx^adx^b+r^2(x^0,x^1)(d\theta ^2+\mathrm{sin}^2\theta d\varphi ^2)$$
(2.1)   
where $`\gamma _{ab}(x^0,x^1)`$ can be considered as metric on effective 2d space-time $`M^2`$ with coordinates $`x^0,x^1`$; the radius $`r(x^0,x^1)`$ is then scalar function on $`M^2`$. For this class of metrics the apparent horizon can be defined  as a curve $``$ on $`M^2`$ such that the gradient of the radius $`r(x^0,x^1)`$

$$\gamma ^{ab}_ar_br|_{}=0$$
(2.2)   
vanishes along $``$. This condition is invariant under conformal transformation $`\gamma _{ab}e^{2\rho }\gamma _{ab}`$ where $`\rho `$ is a regular on $``$ function. Therefore, the 2d metric $`\gamma _{ab}`$ at the horizon is determined by the condition (2.2) only up to a (regular) conformal factor.

It is convenient to use conformal coordinates $`x_+,x_{}`$ in which the 2d part of the metric (2.1) takes the form $`\gamma _{ab}(z^0,z^1)dz^adz^b=e^{2\sigma (x_+,x_{})}dx_+dx_{}`$. Then locally we may choose coordinates $`x_+,x_{}`$ in such a way that the equation for the curve $``$ becomes $`x_{}=0`$. Assuming that the function $`\sigma (x^0,x^1)`$ is regular at $`x_{}=0`$, we find that the equation (2.2) reads

$$_+r(x_+,x_{})|_{x_{}=0}=0.$$
(2.3)   
Note, that the condition (2.2) is appropriate to describe dynamical black hole. The horizon, in general, may consist on different components. Then the condition (2.2) locally defines each component. For example, in static case the horizon has two intersecting components $`_+`$ ($`x_{}=0,x_+>0`$) and $`_{}`$ ($`x_+=0,x_{}<0`$). The later is defined as

$$_{}r(x_+,x_{})|_{x_+=0}=0.$$
(2.4)   
In what follows we consider only one component of the horizon defined by (2.3).

Expanding the function $`r(x_+,x_{})`$ near $`x_+=0`$ we find

$$r(x_+,x_{})=r_h+\lambda (x_+)x_{}+O(x_{}^2)$$
(2.5)   
that is consistent with the condition (2.3); $`\lambda `$ is an arbitrary function of $`x_+`$, $`r_h`$ is constant (radius of horizon). It follows from (2.5) that

$$_+r=_+\lambda (x_+)x_{}+O(x_{}^2)$$
(2.6)   
in vicinity of $``$. Now it is not difficult to find group of diffeomorphisms which preserve the condition (2.2), (2.3), (2.5). Indeed, consider vector $`\xi _+=(\xi _+^+=g(x_+),\xi _+^{}=0,0,0)`$. Then using (2.6) we have

$$_{\xi _+}(_+r)=_+(\xi _+^+_+r)=_+(g(x_+)_+\lambda (x_+))x_{}+O(x_{}^2)$$

for the Lie derivative along the vector $`\xi _+`$. Thus, the condition (2.3), (2.5), (2.6) is preserved under diffeomorphisms generated by $`\xi _+`$ provided that the function $`\lambda (x_{})`$ changes as follows

$$_{\xi _+}\lambda =g(x_+)_+\lambda (x_+).$$

This is standard transformation law for a scalar under diffeomorphisms. Note, that $`\lambda (x_+)`$ in (2.5) is indeed scalar since it can be represented in the covariant form as

$$n^\mu _\mu |_{}r=\lambda (x),$$

where $`n_\mu `$ ($`n_\mu ^2=0`$) is normal to $``$ and $`\lambda (x)`$ is function along $``$.

Diffeomorphisms generated by vector $`\xi _+`$ are tangential to $``$ and thus preserve $``$. In the case of horizon with two bifurcating components $`_+`$ and $`_{}`$ vector $`\xi _+`$ generates symmetry of $`_+`$ while the component $`_{}`$ is invariant under diffeomorphisms generated by vector $`\xi _{}=(\xi _{}^+=0,\xi _{}^{}=f(x_{}),0,0)`$. Note, that both vectors $`\xi _+`$ and $`\xi _{}`$ satisfy the equation

$$_a\xi _b+_b\xi _a=\frac{1}{2}\gamma _{ab}_c\xi ^c$$

for two-dimensional conformal Killing vectors and thus generate the infinite-dimensional group of conformal transformations of the space $`M^2`$. The corresponding generators $`l_n^\pm =e^{ınx_\pm }_\pm `$ form two copies of the Virasoro algebra

$$[l_n^\pm ,l_m^\pm ]=ı(mn)l_{n+m}^\pm $$
(2.7)   
with respect to the Lie bracket $`[\xi _1,\xi _2]=(\xi _1\xi _2^{}\xi _2\xi _1^{})_x`$. However, near each component ($`_+`$ or $`_{}`$) of $``$ there is only one copy of the Virasoro algebra which leaves the horizon invariant. As in the case of 2d space with boundary  the presence of horizon breaks one of the conformal symmetries. Note, that the Virasoro algebra (2.7) is algebra of diffeomorphisms of non-compact space $`R^1`$. In particular, this means that $`n`$ and $`m`$ in (2.7) are arbitrary numbers and not necessarily integers. Usually, one considers the compact version of the Virasoro algebra which is algebra of diffeomorphisms of circle $`S^1`$. For the further purposes we need the compact version of the algebra. Therefore, we consider an arbitrary large interval $`L`$ of $`R^1`$ and impose periodic boundary conditions. At the end we take $`L`$ to be infinite.

It should be noted that we did not use so far any gravitational field equations and defined a general class of (spheri-symmetric) metrics with black hole horizon. We can also see from the present analysis that the condition (2.2) defying the horizon $``$ is essentially a condition on the function $`r(x^0,x^1)`$ in the 4d metric (2.1) while the form of the 2d metric $`\gamma _{ab}(x^0,x^1)`$ remains undetermined. Another indication of this is the fact that the condition (2.2) does not change under the conformal transformation of the 2d metric. Thus, the condition (2.2) defines a class of metrics (2.1) modulo this conformal transformation. Therefore, the only gravitational dynamics of the fluctuating (of-shell) 4d metric arising on the horizon is the dynamics of the radial function $`r(x^0,x^1)`$ while for the 2d part one can take any metric from the same conformal class. In what follows we consider the static case and choose the representative metric on 2d space-time $`M^2`$ in the form

$$ds^2=g(x)dt^2+\frac{dx^2}{g(x)}$$
(2.8)   
with the function $`g(x)`$ vanishing at $`x=x_h`$, where $`x_h`$ is location of the horizon $``$ in the Schwarzschild coordinates ($`t,x`$). In assumption that we deal with a non-extreme black hole we have that

$$g(x)=\frac{2}{\beta _H}(xx_h)+O((xx_h)^2),$$
(2.9)   
where $`\beta _H`$ is constant related to the surface gravity of the horizon.

## 3  Bekenstein-Hawking entropy as central charge of the Virasoro algebra

It follows from the consideration of the previous Section that any theory of quantum gravity describing black hole should provide us with a realization of the Virasoro algebra in the region close to horizon. In this Section we demonstrate how it works for general relativity.

We start with four-dimensional Einstein-Hilbert action

$$W_{EH}=\frac{1}{16\pi G}_{M^4}d^4z\sqrt{g}R_{(4)}$$
(3.1)   
and consider it on the class of spherically symmetric metrics (2.1). We arrive at an effective two-dimensional theory described by the action

$$W=_{M^2}d^2x\sqrt{\gamma }\left(\frac{1}{2}(\mathrm{\Phi })^2+\frac{1}{4}\mathrm{\Phi }^2R+\frac{1}{2G}\right),$$
(3.2)   
where $`\mathrm{\Phi }=rG^{1/2}`$ and $`R`$ is 2d scalar curvature. This action takes the form of dilaton gravity (the radius $`r`$ playing the role of dilaton field) in two dimensions and can be transformed to the form similar to that of the Liouville theory (1.4)

$$W=_{M^2}\left(\frac{1}{2}(\varphi )^2+\frac{1}{4}q\mathrm{\Phi }_h\varphi R+U(\varphi )\right)$$
(3.3)   
by applying the transformation 

$$\gamma _{ab}=(\frac{\varphi _h}{\varphi })^{\frac{1}{2}}e^{\frac{2}{q\mathrm{\Phi }_h}\varphi }\overline{\gamma }_{ab},\varphi =\frac{1}{q}\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }^2}{\mathrm{\Phi }_h},$$
(3.4)   
where $`\mathrm{\Phi }_h=r_hG^{1/2}`$ is the classical value of the field $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ on the horizon, i.e. the horizon radius $`r_h`$ measured in the Planck units. The classical value of the field $`\varphi `$ is respectively $`\varphi _h=q^1\mathrm{\Phi }_h`$. Since we are interested in the region very close to horizon, where the 2d metric $`\gamma _{ab}`$ is determined up to conformal factor, we obtain an equivalent system provided that the conformal transformation (3.4) is regular at the horizon. The action (3.3) depends on an arbitrary constant $`q`$. So does the central charge which we will calculate in a moment. However, the final result (the statistical entropy counted in the next section) is independent of $`q`$. The potential $`U(\varphi )`$ in (3.3) is

$$U(\varphi )=\frac{1}{2G}(\frac{\varphi _h}{\varphi })^{\frac{1}{2}}e^{\frac{2}{q\mathrm{\Phi }_h}\varphi }$$

but its form is not important for our consideration.

Varying the action (3.3) with respect to the dilaton $`\varphi `$ and metric $`\overline{\gamma }_{ab}`$ we obtain the equation of motion for $`\varphi `$

$$\mathrm{}\varphi =\frac{1}{4}q\mathrm{\Phi }_hR+U^{}(\varphi )$$
(3.5)   
as well as constraints

$$T_{ab}\frac{1}{2}_a\varphi _b\varphi \frac{1}{4}\overline{\gamma }_{ab}(\varphi )^2+\frac{1}{4}q\mathrm{\Phi }_h(\overline{\gamma }_{ab}\mathrm{}\varphi _a_b\varphi )\frac{1}{2}\overline{\gamma }_{ab}U(\varphi )=0.$$
(3.6)   
The theory of the scalar field $`\varphi `$ described by the action (3.3) is not conformal. Indeed, we find that the trace of (3.6)

$$\overline{\gamma }^{ab}T_{ab}=\frac{1}{4}q\mathrm{\Phi }_h\mathrm{}\varphi U(\varphi )$$
(3.7)   
does not vanish. However, the theory becomes conformal being considered in infinitely small vicinity of the horizon. The 2d metric there takes the form (2.8)-(2.9). Operating with this metric it is convenient to use the coordinate

$$z=^x\frac{dx}{g(x)}=\frac{\beta _H}{2}\mathrm{ln}(xx_h)$$

so that the vicinity of the horizon ($`(xx_h)`$ is small) looks as region of infinite negative $`z`$. The metric function (2.9)

$$g(z)=g_0e^{\frac{2}{\beta _H}z}$$

exponentially vanishes at the horizon. In the coordinates $`(t,z)`$ the equation (3.5) reads

$$_t^2\varphi +_z^2\varphi =\frac{1}{4}q\mathrm{\Phi }_hRg(z)+g(z)U^{}(\varphi ).$$
(3.8)   
Note, that the 2d scalar curvature $`R`$ may be non-zero at the horizon due to terms $`(xx_h)^2`$ present in the metric and neglected in (2.9). We see that due to the exponentially decaying factor $`g(z)`$ the r.h.s. of eq.(3.8) exponentially vanishes for large negative $`z`$. Therefore, in the region very close to horizon (infinite $`z`$) the r.h.s. of (3.8) becomes negligible and we obtain the equation

$$_t^2\varphi _z^2\varphi =0$$
(3.9)   
describing free field propagating in flat space-time with coordinates $`(t,z)`$. Expressing the constraints (3.6) in terms of the coordinates $`(t,z)`$ we find that

$`T_{00}={\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}((_t\varphi )^2+(_z\varphi )^2){\displaystyle \frac{q\mathrm{\Phi }_h}{4}}(_z^2\varphi {\displaystyle \frac{g_x^{}}{2}}_z\varphi )+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}g(z)U(\varphi ),`$   
$`T_{0z}={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}_t\varphi _z\varphi {\displaystyle \frac{q\mathrm{\Phi }_h}{4}}(_z_t\varphi {\displaystyle \frac{g_x^{}}{2}}_t\varphi ),`$   
$`T_{zz}={\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}((_t\varphi )^2+(_z\varphi )^2)+{\displaystyle \frac{q\mathrm{\Phi }_h}{4}}(_t^2\varphi +{\displaystyle \frac{g_x^{}}{2}}_z\varphi ){\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}g(z)U(\varphi ).`$ (3.10)   
The trace is

$$T_{00}+T_{zz}=\frac{1}{4}q\mathrm{\Phi }_h\left(_t^2\varphi +_z^2\varphi \right)g(z)U(\varphi ).$$

In the region of large $`z`$ this quantity vanishes on the equation of motion (3.9). This, in particular, guarantees that the Poisson algebra of constraints (3.10) closes and and in the region of infinite $`z`$ they form the Virasoro algebra. We conclude that the theory of the scalar field $`\varphi `$ described by the action (3.3) is conformal being considered at the horizon (actually, in arbitrary small vicinity of the horizon). The conformal transformations are generated by charges

$$T[\xi ]=_{L/2}^{L/2}𝑑zT_{++}\xi (z),$$
(3.11)   
where

$`T_{++}=T_{00}+T_{0z}`$   
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}(_t\varphi +_z\varphi )^2{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}q\mathrm{\Phi }_h\left(_z(_z+_t)\varphi {\displaystyle \frac{1}{\beta _H}}(_z+_t)\varphi \right).`$ (3.12)   
A general solution of the eq.(3.9) is sum of right- and left-moving plane waves $`\varphi =\varphi _+(t+z)+\varphi _{}(tz)`$. However, only the right-moving part contributes to $`T_{++}`$. It is worth noting that the present analysis can be done in terms of the original scalar field $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ (3.2). Then in the limit of large $`z`$ the trace of the corresponding stress-energy tensor vanishes under additional condition that $`(_t\mathrm{\Phi })^2+(_z\mathrm{\Phi })^2=0`$ which indicates that one should consider only a part of modes. This is also consistent with our discussion in Section 2.

In the region of large $`z`$ we may use the translation invariance $`zz+Z,Z=const`$ in order to adjust $`z`$ to lie in the interval $`\frac{L}{2}z\frac{L}{2}`$. After all we take the limit of infinite $`L`$. Considering field $`\varphi `$ on this interval we assume the periodic boundary condition to be imposed. The vector field $`\xi (z)`$ is also periodic, $`\xi (z+L)=\xi (z)`$.

From (3.3) we find the Poisson algebra

$$\{\varphi (z,t),_t\varphi (z^{},t)\}=\delta (zz^{})$$

and, as a consequence, we have

$$\{(_t+_z)\varphi (z,t),(_t+_z)\varphi (z^{},t)\}=_z\delta (zz^{})_z^{}\delta (zz^{}).$$

We now in a position to compute the Poisson algebra of the charges (3.11). The result is

$$\{T[\xi _1],T[\xi _2]\}=T[[\xi _1,\xi _2]]+(\frac{q\mathrm{\Phi }_h}{4})^2_{L/2}^{L/2}C[\xi _1,\xi _2]𝑑z,$$
(3.13)   
where $`[\xi _1,\xi _2]=\xi _1\xi _2^{}\xi _2\xi _1^{}`$ and

$$C[\xi _1,\xi _2]=(\xi _1^{}+\beta _H^1\xi _1)(\xi _2^{}+\beta _H^1\xi _2)^{}(\xi _1^{}+\beta _H^1\xi _1)^{}(\xi _2^{}+\beta _H^1\xi _2)$$

is a deformation of the well known two-cycle $`(\xi _1^{}\xi _2^{\prime \prime }\xi _2^{}\xi _1^{\prime \prime })`$ of the algebra of $`Diff(S^1)`$. That (3.13) is identical to the Virasoro algebra (2.7) is easy to recognize by expanding $`\xi (z)`$ in Fourier series $`\xi _n=e^{ı\frac{2\pi }{L}nz}`$ and introducing the Virasoro generators

$$L_n=\frac{L}{2\pi }_{L/2}^{L/2}𝑑ze^{ı\frac{2\pi }{L}nz}T_{++}.$$
(3.14)   
They form the algebra

$$ı\{L_k,L_n\}=(kn)L_{n+k}+\frac{c}{12}k(k^2+(\frac{L}{2\pi \beta _H})^2)\delta _{n+k,0}$$
(3.15)   
with the central charge $`c=3\pi q^2\mathrm{\Phi }_h^2`$. Since the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy is $`S_{BH}=\pi \mathrm{\Phi }_h^2`$ we thus obtain that the central charge of the Virasoro algebra (3.15)

$$c=3q^2S_{BH}$$
(3.16)   
is proportional to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy.

## 4  Zero-mode configuration and the counting of the states

In order to use Cardy’s formula (1.3) and count the number of states we need to know value of $`L_0`$. It is typically determined by zero mode configuration which is, in fact, classical configuration. In our case the classical configuration (up to exponentially small terms $`O(e^{\frac{2\pi }{\beta _H}})`$) is just a constant $`\varphi =\varphi _h`$. But $`L_0`$ vanishes for this configuration. To resolve this problem note that a more general zero-mode configuration is allowed to exist near the horizon

$$\varphi _0=\alpha +Pz,$$
(4.1)   
which is obviously a solution of the field equations. This configuration infinitely grows close to horizon and should be excluded in the region of infinite $`z`$. But it may present if we consider our system in a box. In order to make (4.1) periodic with the period $`L`$ we first consider this function on the interval $`0zL/2`$ and then continue it to the interval $`L/2z0`$ as $`\varphi _0(z)=\varphi _0(z)`$. Our condition for the function $`\varphi _0`$ is that it becomes $`\varphi _h`$ at the right end of the interval

$$\varphi _0|_{z=\frac{L}{2}}=\varphi _h.$$

At the point $`z=0`$ we impose the condition

$$(_z\varphi _0+\beta _H^1\varphi _0)|_{z=0}=0,$$
(4.2)   
which means that for the zero-mode the boundary term $`(n^a_a+k)\varphi `$ (where $`n^a`$ is normal and $`k`$ is extrinsic curvature) which appears in the (on-shell) gravitational action vanishes on the inner boundary $`z=0`$. Both conditions result in the following form of the configuration (4.1)

$$\varphi _0=2\varphi _h(\frac{z\beta _H}{L2\beta _H})$$
(4.3)   
in the interval $`0zL/2`$, that gives us $`P=_z\varphi _0\frac{2\varphi _h}{L}`$ for large $`L`$. We see, in particular, that $`P`$ vanishes when $`L`$ becomes infinitely large that is in accordance with our wish to have constant as the classical configuration in the infinite region. Provided that we are happy with the imposed conditions the value of $`L_0`$ is calculated as follows

$$L_0=\frac{L^2P^2}{8\pi }=\frac{\varphi _h^2}{2\pi }=\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_h^2}{2\pi q^2}.$$
(4.4)   
In the case of extreme black hole $`\beta _H^1=0`$ in (4.2) and the zero-mode configuration (4.1) is constant $`\varphi _0=\varphi _h`$. We find then that $`L_0=0`$.

Applying now the general formula (1.3) for the entropy of states in a conformal field theory we find from (3.16) and (4.4 that) for a non-extreme black hole the corresponding entropy

$$S_{conf}=\pi \mathrm{\Phi }_h^2=S_{BH}$$
(4.5)   
exactly reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawking expression. Note that we need only one copy of the Virasoro algebra to get the correct answer. This is in agreement with the discussion in Section 2.

## 5  Generalization for $`d>4`$ and $`d=3`$

The analysis we present above can be extended to dimensions other than four. The spherically symmetric metric in space-time with $`d`$ dimensions is

$$ds^2=\gamma _{ab}(x^0,x^1)dx^adx^b+r^2(x^0,x^1)d\mathrm{\Omega }_{S^{d2}}^2,$$
(5.1)   
where $`d\mathrm{\Omega }_{S^{d2}}^2`$ is metric on $`(d2)`$-dimensional sphere $`S^{d2}`$ of unit radius. General relativity in $`d`$ dimensions is described by the action

$$W=\frac{1}{16\pi G_d}_{M^d}𝑑z^d\sqrt{g_{(d)}}R_{(d)},$$
(5.2)   
where $`G_{(d)}`$ is Newton’s constant. Being considered on the class of metrics (5.1) the action (5.2) reduces to the effective two-dimensional theory (omitting the total derivative term)

$$W_{(d)}=\frac{\mathrm{\Sigma }_{d2}}{16\pi G_d}_{M^2}\left(r^{d2}R+(d3)(d2)r^{d4}(r)^2+(d3)(d2)r^{d4}\right),$$
(5.3)   
where $`\mathrm{\Sigma }_{d2}=\frac{2\pi ^{\frac{d1}{2}}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }(\frac{d1}{2})}`$ is area of the sphere $`S^{d2}`$. Re-defying the dilaton field $`r`$ as

$$\mathrm{\Phi }^2=Cr^{d2},C=\frac{\mathrm{\Sigma }_{d2}}{2\pi G_d}(\frac{d3}{d2}),$$
(5.4)   
the action (5.3) takes the form similar to (3.2)

$$W_{(d)}=_{M^2}\left(\frac{1}{2}(\mathrm{\Phi })^2+\frac{1}{8}(\frac{d2}{d3})\mathrm{\Phi }^2R+\frac{1}{8}(d2)^2C^{\frac{2}{d2}}\mathrm{\Phi }^{2(\frac{d4}{d2})}\right).$$
(5.5)   
In $`d`$ dimensions the horizon is $`(d2)`$-dimensional sphere and the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy is proportional to the area of this sphere

$$S_{BH}^{(d)}=\frac{\mathrm{\Sigma }_{d2}}{4G_d}r_h^{d2}=(\frac{d2}{d3})\frac{\pi }{2}\mathrm{\Phi }_h^2,$$
(5.6)   
where the value of the field $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ on the horizon is related to the horizon radius $`r_h`$ according to (5.4).

After applying the transformation

$$\mathrm{\Phi }^2=2(\frac{d3}{d2})q\mathrm{\Phi }_h\varphi ,\gamma _{ab}=(\frac{\varphi _h}{\varphi })^{\frac{d3}{d2}}e^{\frac{2}{q\mathrm{\Phi }_h}\varphi }\overline{\gamma }_{ab}$$
(5.7)   
the action (5.5) takes the Liouville type form (3.3)

$$W_{(d)}=_{M^2}\left(\frac{1}{2}(\varphi )^2+\frac{1}{4}q\mathrm{\Phi }_h\varphi R+U_{(d)}(\varphi )\right).$$
(5.8)   
As in eq.(3.3), $`q`$ here is an arbitrary parameter. Note, that the transformation (5.7) for the metric is independent of $`d`$. The classical value of the field $`\varphi `$ on the horizon is given by

$$\varphi _h=\frac{1}{2q}(\frac{d2}{d3})\mathrm{\Phi }_h.$$
(5.9)   
Only the potential term $`U_{(d)}(\varphi )`$ in (5.8) depends on the dimension $`d`$. Its form can be found explicitly but is not important for further consideration. As we explained in Section 3, in the region near horizon the potential term effectively disappears (being multiplied on the function $`g(z)`$ exponentially decaying at the horizon) in the field equation for $`\varphi `$ and the constraints. So that the action (5.8) defines at the horizon a conformal theory the form of which is universal for any dimension $`d`$. The corresponding Virasoro algebra was analyzed in Sections 3 and 4. It has

$$c=3\pi q^2\mathrm{\Phi }_h^2andL_0=\frac{\varphi _h^2}{2\pi }.$$
(5.10)   
From (5.9) and (5.4) we find that the central charge (5.10)

$$c=6q^2(\frac{d3}{d2})S_{BH}^{(d)}$$
(5.11)   
is proportional to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy (5.6). On the other hand, we have

$$L_0=\frac{1}{8\pi q^2}(\frac{d2}{d3})^2\mathrm{\Phi }_h^2,$$
(5.12)   
where eq.(5.9) was used. Substituting (5.10)-(5.12) into Cardy’s formula (1.3)

$$S_{conf}=\frac{\pi }{2}(\frac{d2}{d3})\mathrm{\Phi }_h^2=S_{BH}^{(d)}$$
(5.13)   
we find the precise agreement with the Bekenstein-Hawking expression (5.6) for the entropy of black hole in $`d`$ dimensions.

It is seen from the equations (5.3)-(5.8) that the case $`d=3`$ is special and should be considered separately. In this case the kinetic and potential terms are absent in (5.3). In order to obtain a non-trivial solution of the gravitational equations we have to add $`\lambda `$-term to the Einstein-Hilbert action in three dimensions. The resultant effective 2d theory is

$$W_{(3)}=\frac{1}{8G_3}_{M^2}\left(r(R+\lambda )\right).$$
(5.14)   
After applying the transformation

$$r=2qG_3\mathrm{\Phi }_h\varphi ,\gamma _{ab}=e^{\frac{2}{q\mathrm{\Phi }_h}\varphi }\overline{\gamma }_{ab}$$
(5.15)   
it takes the form (5.8) with the potential

$$U_{(3)}=\frac{1}{4}\lambda q\mathrm{\Phi }_h\varphi e^{\frac{2}{q\mathrm{\Phi }_H}\varphi }.$$

Note that in this case $`\mathrm{\Phi }_h`$ is an arbitrary parameter like $`q`$. We keep it only in order to illustrate the universality of the action (5.8) governing the conformal dynamics at the horizon for any $`d3`$. The classical value of new dilaton field $`\varphi `$ on the horizon now is $`\varphi _h=(2qG\mathrm{\Phi }_h)^1r_h`$. The corresponding conformal field theory has $`c`$ and $`L_0`$ as in (5.10) and, as we can see, the combination $`(q\mathrm{\Phi }_h)`$ indeed drops out in the product $`cL_0=\frac{3}{8}\frac{r_h^2}{G^2}`$. Applying the formula (1.3) we then obtain

$$S_{conf}=\frac{\pi r_h}{2G_3}$$
(5.16)   
in agreement with the Bekenstein-Hawking formula in three dimensions. Note, that we did not use the Chern-Simons form of the 3d gravity when obtained the correct answer for the entropy.

## 6  Remarks

6.1 Classical central charge

It should be noted that the central charge $`c=3\pi q^2\mathrm{\Phi }_h^2`$ of the Virasoro algebra considered in this paper is classical. It appears before quantization on the level of the Poisson bracket. (On the quantum level the central charge is $`(1+c)`$ and is dominated by the classical value for large $`c`$.) Therefore, it is a reasonable question if namely this value of $`c`$ describes the degrees of freedom of the theory and should be used in the computation of the entropy by formula (1.3). This question also arises  in Strominger’s calculation of the entropy of BTZ black hole and is directly related to the problem of degrees of freedom in the Liouville model (1.4). Indeed, the large value of the classical central charge $`c=\frac{3}{2}\frac{l}{G}`$ seems to be in contradiction with the fact that the Liouville model is a theory of just one scalar field  and, hence, the effective central charge $`c_{eff}=1`$. For Strominger’s calculation this problem is not yet resolved in the literature. In our approach, however, there is a hope to overcome this problem. As we have seen, both the central charge $`c`$ and $`L_0`$ (5.10) depend on an arbitrary parameter $`q`$ and do not have an absolute meaning. Only the combination $`cL_0`$, which should be substituted into Cardy’s formula, has the absolute meaning not being dependent on $`q`$. Note, that it is an important difference between our approach and the one which uses the Liouville model where the classical central charge is fixed and absolute (see, however, ). It should be noted that most of the complications of dealing with the Liouville model are due to the exponential potential term. The conformal field theory (with stress tensor (3.12)) appearing in our approach is simpler for analysis since the potential term effectively vanishes at the horizon.

6.2 Non-spherical gravitational excitations and matter fields

In a quantum theory of gravity we should take into account all possible fluctuations of the metric. Therefore, we should be able to incorporate in our analysis the gravitational excitations which are not spherical. A way of doing this is to consider all non-spherical excitations as a set of fields propagating on the spherically symmetric background. In this respect they are similar to the quantum matter fields and should be considered in the same way. Then, expanding all fields in terms of the spherical harmonics $`Y_{l,m}`$ we obtain an infinite set of fields labeled by $`(l,m)`$ which are functions on 2d space $`M^2`$. The corresponding 2d theory can be analyzed and shown to be conformal at the horizon by the same reasons as in Section 3. The contribution $`S_Q`$ of this infinite set of fields to the entropy, though proportional (in the leading order) to the horizon area, is expected to diverge (either due to the infinite number of the fields or when one takes the limit of infinite $`L`$ (see, for example, )). Presumable, $`S_Q`$ is what in the literature known as the quantum correction  to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. The spherically symmetric excitations of the gravitational field, thus, are responsible for the “classical” Bekenstein-Hawking entropy while all other excitations produce a correction. It was suggested in  that the divergence of $`S_Q`$ can be absorbed in the renormalization of Newton’s constant $`G`$ so that the total entropy, $`S_{BH}+S_Q`$, remains finite. It would be interesting to see how this renormalization works in terms of the 2d conformal field theory at the horizon.

6.3 The Hilbert space and unitary evolution

The conformal description we present in this paper may help to understand the quantum evolution of a system including a black hole as a part. In this description one should assign with black hole horizon elements $`|>`$ of the Hilbert space realizing a representation of the Virasoro algebra. In combination with states $`|\psi >`$ at asymptotic infinity they form the complete Hilbert space. Considering the evolution in the space of elements $`|>\times |\psi >`$ there are no reasons why it should not be unitary. Note in this respect the useful analogy between horizon and boundary. In a field theory  on space-time with boundary $``$ one should take into account the so-called boundary states $`|>`$ which live on the boundary. Only then an unitary S-matrix can be constructed.

While this paper was in preparation there appeared an interesting preprint  which overlaps with our consideration. In particular, both $`c`$ and $`L_0`$ of the Virasoro algebra found in  are proportional to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy though depend on the choice of period. Only the combination $`cL_0`$ is unambiguous. This is in agreement with our result.

I thank Steve Carlip for correspondence and suggestion to generalize my analysis to higher dimensions. I also would like to thank Gerard ’t Hooft for interesting discussions.

Note added: It is interesting to note that in the Section 2 the equation $`x_{}=0`$ determining the location of the horizon $``$ can be replaced by a more general one: $`x_{}=f(x_+)`$, $`(f^{}(x_+)0)`$. The horizon in this case is dynamically evolving. Introducing then new coordinates $`z_+=x_{}+f(x_+)`$ and $`z_{}=x_{}f(x_+)`$ the horizon is now located at $`z_{}=0`$. The condition (2.2) can be re-formulated near $`z_{}=0`$ as $`(r)^2=\lambda (z_+)z_{}+O(z_{}^2)`$. It is invariant under diffeomorphisms generated by vector $`\widehat{\xi }=\xi (z_+)_{z_+}`$. The basis vectors $`\widehat{\xi }_n=e^{ınz_+}_{z_+}`$ again form the Virasoro algebra.