Entropy and black-hole thermodynamics
The concept of entropy is examined with an eye toward gaining insight into the nature of black-hole thermodynamics. Definitions of entropy are given for ordinary classical and quantum-mechanical systems which lead to plausibility arguments for the ordinary laws of thermodynamics. The treatment of entropy for a classical system is in the spirit of the information-theory viewpoint, but by explicitly incorporating the coarse-grained observable into the definition of entropy, we eliminate any nonobjective features. The definition of entropy for a quantum-mechanical system is new, but directly parallels the classical treatment. We then apply these ideas to a self-gravitating quantum system which contains a black hole. Under some assumptions: which, although nontrivial, are by no means exotic: about the nature of such a system, it is seen that the same plausibility arguments which lead to the ordinary laws of thermodynamics for ordinary systems now lead to the laws of black-hole mechanics, including the generalized second law of thermodynamics. Thus, it appears perfectly plausible that black-hole thermodynamics is nothing more than ordinary thermodynamics applied to a self-gravitating quantum system.
- Research Organization:
- Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
- OSTI ID:
- 5774118
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., D; (United States) Vol. 20:6; ISSN PRVDA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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657006 -- Theoretical Physics-- Statistical Physics & Thermodynamics-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
CLASSICAL MECHANICS
ENTROPY
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
MECHANICS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTUM MECHANICS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMICS