The enriched phase structure of black branes in canonical ensemble

TL;DR

This paper reveals a complete phase diagram for charged black p-branes in a cavity, introducing new thermodynamic phases like bubbles of nothing and extremal branes, and identifying phase transitions including an analog of Hawking-Page transition.

Contribution

It uncovers the necessity of including bubble and extremal brane phases for a complete phase structure of black p-branes in a cavity, resolving previous phase diagram puzzles.

Findings

Introduction of bubble of nothing and extremal brane phases.

Identification of a new stable bubble phase for certain dimensions.

Discovery of an analog of Hawking-Page transition.

Abstract

It is found that a necessary completion of phase structure of D-dimensional charged black p-brane ($p > 0$) in a cavity requires two additional thermodynamical phases, the so-called "bubble of nothing" and/or the extremal brane, in canonical ensemble. This finding resolves the puzzle about the missing phases which are needed for the underlying phase diagram when $\tilde d = D - p - 3 \leq 2$ and gives a new (bubble) phase which can become globally stable when $\tilde d > 2$. An analog of Hawking-Page transition is also found among other new phase transitions, giving a complete phase structure in this setup.