Gravitation, thermodynamics and quantum theory
Abstract
During the past 30 years, research in general relativity has brought to light strong hints of a very deep and fundamental relationship between gravitation, thermodynamics and quantum theory. The most striking indication of such a relationship comes from black hole thermodynamics, where it appears that certain laws of black hole mechanics are, in fact, simply the ordinary laws of thermodynamics applied to a system containing a black hole. This paper will review the present status of black hole thermodynamics and will discuss some of the related unresolved issues concerning gravitation, thermodynamics and quantum theory.
- Publication:
-
Classical and Quantum Gravity
- Pub Date:
- December 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0264-9381/16/12A/309
- arXiv:
- arXiv:gr-qc/9901033
- Bibcode:
- 1999CQGra..16A.177W
- Keywords:
-
- General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology;
- High Energy Physics - Theory
- E-Print:
- 24 pages, plain latex, to appear in special ``Millennium Issue'' of Class. Quant. Grav