Thermodynamics of Large AdS Black Holes

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum corrections to large AdS black holes, revealing that despite increasing temperature, back-reaction remains mild and observers do not perceive thermal radiation, with implications for gauge theory and string thermodynamics.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of quantum effects on large AdS black holes, highlighting the mild back-reaction and the dual gauge theory interpretation of positive specific heat.

Findings

Back-reaction on geometry is mild despite high temperature.

Observers outside large AdS black holes do not detect thermal radiation.

Positive specific heat relates to dual gauge theory, not gravity.

Abstract

We consider leading order quantum corrections to the geometry of large AdS black holes in a spherical reduction of four-dimensional Einstein gravity with negative cosmological constant. The Hawking temperature grows without bound with increasing black hole mass, yet the semiclassical back-reaction on the geometry is relatively mild, indicating that observers in free fall outside a large AdS black hole never see thermal radiation at the Hawking temperature. The positive specific heat of large AdS black holes is a statement about the dual gauge theory rather than an observable property on the gravity side. Implications for string thermodynamics with an AdS infrared regulator are briefly discussed.