REVIEW: Thermodynamics of black holes

The thermodynamics of self-gravitating systems is reviewed and applied to the study of black holes. Black holes appear to conform to a straightforward generalization of standard laboratory thermodynamics, and the meaning, with respect to systems containing black holes, of concepts such as temperature, entropy, specific heats, phase transitions, and irreversibility is described. Quantum aspects are examined from the viewpoint of Hawking's application of quantum theory to black holes. Topics include the mechanism by which the black hole produces thermal radiation, the energetics of back-reaction on the hole, the thermal states of quantum holes, and the entropy of the hole. Also considered are accelerated mirrors and observers in Minkowski space and superradiance from rotating holes.