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We consider a novel approach to address the black hole information paradox. The idea is based on adapting, to the situation at hand, the modified versions of quantum theory involving spontaneous stochastic dynamical collapse of quantum states, which have been considered in attempts to deal with shortcomings of the standard Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, in particular, the issue known as "the measurement problem." The new basic hypothesis is that the modified quantum behavior is enhanced in the region of high curvature so that the information encoded in the initial quantum state of the matter fields is rapidly erased as the black hole singularity is approached. We show that in this manner the complete evaporation of the black hole via Hawking radiation can be understood as involving no paradox. Calculations are performed using a modified version of quantum theory known as "continuous spontaneous localization" (CSL), which was originally developed in the context of many-particle nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. We use a version of CSL tailored to quantum field theory and applied in the context of the two -dimensional Callan-Giddings-Harvey-Strominger model. Although the role of quantum gravity in this picture is restricted to the resolution of the singularity, related studies suggest that there might be further connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study gravitational lensing by a recently proposed black hole solution in loop quantum gravity. We highlight the fact that the quantum gravity corrections to the Schwarzschild metric in this model evade the "mass suppression" effects (that the usual quantum gravity corrections are susceptible to) by virtue of one of the parameters in the model being dimensionless, which is unlike any other quantum gravity motivated parameter. Gravitational lensing in the strong and weak deflection regimes is studied, and a sample consistency relation is presented which could serve as a test of this model. We discuss that, though the consistency relation for this model is qualitatively similar to what would have been in Brans-Dicke, in general it can be a good discriminator between many alternative theories. Although the observational prospects do not seem to be very optimistic even for a galactic supermassive black hole case, time delay between relativistic images for a billion solar mass black holes in other galaxies might be within reach of future relativistic lensing observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the SL(2, R) duality in a dimensionally reduced spacetime in (the bosonic sector of) five- dimensional minimal supergravity, we construct general Kaluza-Klein black hole solutions which carry six independent charges: its mass, angular momentum along four dimensions, and electric and magnetic charges of the Maxwell fields, in addition to Kaluza-Klein electric and magnetic monopole charges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of particle, event, and apparent horizons in Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker space are discussed. The apparent horizon is trapping when the Ricci curvature is positive. This simple criterion coincides with the condition for the Kodama-Hayward apparent horizon temperature to be positive and also discriminates between the timelike and spacelike character of the apparent horizon. We discuss also the entropy of apparent cosmological horizons in extended theories of gravity and we use the generalized 2nd law to discard an exact solution of Brans-Dicke gravity as unphysical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]