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arXiv · gr-qc/9901033

Gravitation, Thermodynamics, and Quantum Theory

Robert M. Wald
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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.

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Robert M. Wald. 1999-01-12. Gravitation, Thermodynamics, and Quantum Theory. https://doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381%2F16%2F12a%2F309

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