Negative modes and the thermodynamics of Reissner-Nordstroem black holes

Journal Article · Sun Mar 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.79.064006· OSTI ID:21260157

Monteiro, R; Santos, J E ^[1]

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1. DAMTP, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA (United Kingdom)

We analyze the problem of negative modes of the Euclidean section of the Reissner-Nordstroem black hole in four dimensions. We find analytically that a negative mode disappears when the specific heat at constant charge becomes positive. The sector of perturbations analyzed here is included in the canonical partition function of the magnetically charged black hole. The result obeys the usual rule that the partition function is only well-defined when there is local thermodynamical equilibrium. We point out the difficulty in quantizing Einstein-Maxwell theory, where the so-called conformal factor problem is considerably more intricate. Our method, inspired by Kol [Phys. Rev. D 77, 044039 (2008)], allows us to decouple the divergent gauge volume and treat the metric perturbations sector in a gauge-invariant way.

• OSTI ID: 21260157
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 79; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BLACK HOLES
DISTURBANCES
EINSTEIN-MAXWELL EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
EUCLIDEAN SPACE
FOUR-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
GAUGE INVARIANCE
PARTITION FUNCTIONS
PERTURBATION THEORY
SPECIFIC HEAT
THERMODYNAMICS