Gravitation, Thermodynamics, and Quantum Theory

TL;DR

This paper reviews the deep connections between gravitation, thermodynamics, and quantum theory, focusing on black hole thermodynamics and its implications for fundamental physics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of black hole thermodynamics and discusses unresolved issues linking gravity, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics.

Findings

Black hole laws resemble thermodynamic laws

Hints of a fundamental relationship between gravity and thermodynamics

Unresolved issues in quantum aspects of black holes

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 article will review the present status of black hole thermodynamics and will discuss some of the related unresolved issues concerning gravitation, thermodynamics, and quantum theory.