On the black hole interior in string theory

Abstract

The potential behind the horizon of an eternal black hole in classical theories is described in terms of data that is available to an external observer — the reflection coefficient of a wave that scatters on the black hole. In GR and perturbative string theory (in α′), the potential is regular at the horizon and it blows up at the singularity. The exact reflection coefficient, that is known for the SL(2, ℝ)k/U(1) black hole and includes non-perturbative α′ effects, seems however to imply that there is a highly non-trivial structure just behind the horizon.