Black Hole Information And Thermodynamics

Based on Prof. Lüst's Masters course at the University of Munich, this book begins with a short introduction to general relativity. It then presents black hole solutions, and discusses Penrose diagrams, black hole thermodynamics and entropy, the Unruh effect, Hawking radiation, the black hole information problem, black holes in supergravity and string theory, the black hole microstate counting in string theory, asymptotic symmetries in general relativity, and a particular quantum model for black holes. The book offers an up-to-date summary of all the pertinent questions in this highly active field of physics, and is ideal reading for graduate students and young researchers.

This book reflects the resurgence of interest in the quantum properties of black holes, culminating most recently in controversial discussions about firewalls. On the thermodynamic side, it describes how new developments allowed the inclusion of pressure/volume terms in the first law, leading to a new understanding of black holes as chemical systems, experiencing novel phenomena such as triple points and reentrant phase transitions. On the quantum-information side, the reader learns how basic arguments undergirding quantum complementarity have been shown to be flawed; and how this suggests that a black hole may surround itself with a firewall: a violent and chaotic region of highly excited states. In this thorough and pedagogical treatment, Robert Mann traces these new developments from their roots to our present-day understanding, highlighting their relationships and the challenges they present for quantum gravity.

In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the evolution, theory and thermodynamics of black holes. Topics discussed include the effective theory of a matter field near the event horizon of a black hole; dilatonic black holes in 4D Gauss-Bonnet gravity; the relationship between the tunnelling rate of a rotating black hole and the first law of black hole thermodynamics; alternative theories of gravity without black holes; exotic smoothness structures for the application of standard Einstein equations to black hole structures; and lower dimensional quantum black holes.

In this book, Robert Wald provides a coherent, pedagogical introduction to the formulation of quantum field theory in curved spacetime. He begins with a treatment of the ordinary one-dimensional quantum harmonic oscillator, progresses through the construction of quantum field theory in flat spacetime to possible constructions of quantum field theory in curved spacetime, and, ultimately, to an algebraic formulation of the theory. In his presentation, Wald disentangles essential features of the theory from inessential ones (such as a particle interpretation) and clarifies relationships between various approaches to the formulation of the theory. He also provides a comprehensive, up-to-date account of the Unruh effect, the Hawking effect, and some of its ramifications. In particular, the subject of black hole thermodynamics, which remains an active area of research, is treated in depth. This book will be accessible to students and researchers who have had introductory courses in general relativity and quantum field theory, and will be of interest to scientists in general relativity and related fields.

Beginning with an overview of the theory of black holes by the editor, this book presents a collection of ten chapters by leading physicists dealing with the variety of quantum mechanical and quantum gravitational effects pertinent to black holes. The contributions address topics such as Hawking radiation, the thermodynamics of black holes, the information paradox and firewalls, Monsters, primordial black holes, self-gravitating Bose-Einstein condensates, the formation of small black holes in high energetic collisions of particles, minimal length effects in black holes and small black holes at the Large Hadron Collider. Viewed as a whole the collection provides stimulating reading for researchers and graduate students seeking a summary of the quantum features of black holes.

In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the evolution, theory and thermodynamics of black holes. Topics discussed include the effective theory of a matter field near the event horizon of a black hole; dilatonic black holes in 4D Gauss-Bonnet gravity; the relationship between the tunneling rate of a rotating black hole and the first law of black hole thermodynamics; alternative theories of gravity without black holes; exotic smoothness structures for the application of standard Einstein equations to black hole structures; and lower dimensional quantum black holes.

This introduction to the fascinating subject of black holes fills a significant gap in the literature which exists between popular, non-mathematical expositions and advanced textbooks at the research level. It is designed for advanced undergraduates and first year postgraduates as a useful stepping-stone to the advanced literature. The book provides an accessible introduction to the exact solutions of Einstein's vacuum field equations describing spherical and axisymmetric (rotating) black holes. The geometry and physical properties of these spacetimes are explored through the motion of particles and light. The use of different coordinate systems, maximal extensions and Penrose diagrams is explained. The association of the surface area of a black hole with its entropy is discussed and it is shown that with the introduction of quantum mechanics black holes cease to be black and can radiate. This result allows black holes to satisfy the laws of thermodynamics and thus be consistent with the rest of physics. In this new edition the problems in each chapter have been revised and solutions are provided. The text has been expanded to include new material on wormholes and clarify various other issues.

This is a most important review volume providing a summary of black hole physics in the last 25 years. It contains a series of lectures presented to celebrate John Archibald Wheeler's invention of the term “black hole” a quarter of a century ago. In 11 lucid articles, a distinguished group of world experts discuss current issues in black hole physics, ranging from epistemological considerations to recent developments connecting black hole thermodynamics and string theory. Contents:The Path Integral Formulation of Gravitational Thermodynamics (J D Brown & J W York)Self-Dual Solutions of 2+1 Einstein Gravity with a Negative Cosmological Constant (O Coussaert & M Henneaux)String Black Holes (J Ellis)The Vacuum Fluctuation Problem in Black Hole Radiance (F Englert)“Absurd and Ridiculous”: The Collapse of Solidity (W Israel)Descent into the Maelstrom: The Black Hole Interior (W Israel)Some Speculations About Black Hole Entropy in String Theory (L Susskind)Action and Entropy of Black Holes (C Teitelboim)Horizon Operator Approach to Black Hole Quantization (G 't Hooft)The Black Hole, 25 Years Later (J A Wheeler)Lectures on Black Hole Quantum Mechanics: Lectures 1 & 2 (F Wilczek)Lectures on Black Hole Quantum Mechanics: Lectures 3 & 4 (F Wilczek) Readership: Astrophysicists. Keywords:Black Hole;Thermodynamics;String Theory;Astrophysics;Quantum Mechanics