The Large D Limit of Einstein's Equations

Understand

We review recent progress in taking the large dimension limit of Einstein's equations.

• Most of our analysis is classical in nature and concerns situations where there is a black hole horizon although we briefly discuss various extensions that include quantum gravitational effects.
• The review consists of two main parts: the first a discussion of general aspects of black holes and effective membrane theories in this large dimension limit, and the second a series of applications of this limit to interesting physical problems.
• The first part includes a discussion of quasinormal modes which leads naturally into a description of effective hydrodynamic-like equations that describe the near horizon geometry.