The anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory (AdS/CFT) correspondence implies that small perturbations of a black hole correspond to small deviations from thermodynamic equilibrium in a dual field theory. For gauge theories with an Einstein gravity dual, the AdS/CFT correspondence predicts a universal value for the ratio of the shear viscosity to the entropy density, $η/s=1/4π$. It was conjectured recently that all fluids conform to the lower bound $η/s \geq 1/4π$. This {\it conjectured} bound has been the focus of much recent attention. However, despite the flurry of research in this field we still lack a proof for the general validity of the bound. In this essay we show that this mysterious bound is actually a direct outcome of the interplay between gravity, quantum theory, and thermodynamics.
The approach of extended irreversible thermodynamics consists of promoting the dissipative fluxes to non-equilibrium thermodynamic variables. In a relativistic context, this naturally leads to the formulation of the theory of Israel and Stewart (1979), which is, to date, one of the most successful theories for relativistic dissipation. Although the generality of the principle makes it applicable to any dissipative fluid, a connection of the Israel-Stewart theory with microphysics has been established, through kinetic theory, only for the case of ideal quantum gases. By performing a convenient …
We describe the evolution of the early and late universe from thermodynamic considerations, using the generalized non-extensive Tsallis entropy with a variable exponent. A new element in our analysis is the inclusion of a bulk viscosity in the description of the cosmic fluid. Using the generalized Friedmann equation, a description of the early and the late universe is obtained.
We describe a new paradox for ideal fluids. It arises in the accretion of an \textit{ideal} fluid onto a black hole, where, under suitable boundary conditions, the flow can violate the generalized second law of thermodynamics. The paradox indicates that there is in fact a lower bound to the correlation length of any \textit{real} fluid, the value of which is determined by the thermodynamic properties of that fluid. We observe that the universal bound on entropy, itself suggested by the generalized second law, puts a lower bound on the correlation length of any fluid in terms of its specific en…
A finite temperature extension of the effective holographic models for QCD (EHQCD), proposed in Ref.[1], is investigated in the present work. EHQCD models are characterized by two parameters, the conformal dimension of the relevant operator that deforms the CFT and the associated coupling. We find that black hole solutions appear at temperatures higher than some temperature $T_{min}$ and can be categorized in two classes: large and small black holes. A large black hole is thermally stable and it is therefore interpreted as the gravity dual of a non-conformal plasma. A small black hole, on the …
We derive the equations of motion for Palatini F(R) gravity by applying an entropy balance law T dS= δQ+δN to the local Rindler wedge that can be constructed at each point of spacetime. Unlike previous results for metric F(R), there is no bulk viscosity term in the irreversible flux δN. Both theories are equivalent to particular cases of Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor gravity. We show that the thermodynamical approach can be used ab initio also for this class of gravitational theories and it is able to provide both the metric and scalar equations of motion. In this case, the presence of an addition…
We study the membrane paradigm for horizons in Lanczos-Lovelock models of gravity in arbitrary D dimensions and find compact expressions for the pressure p and viscosity coefficients ηand ζof the membrane fluid. We show that the membrane pressure is intimately connected with the Noether charge entropy S_Wald of the horizon when we consider a specific m-th order Lanczos-Lovelock model, through the relation pA/T=(D-2m)/(D-2)S_Wald, where T is the temperature and A is the area of the horizon. Similarly, the viscosity coefficients are expressible in terms of entropy and quasi-local energy associat…
We provide a proof of the necessary and sufficient condition on the profile of the temperature, chemical potential, and angular velocity for a charged perfect fluid in dynamic equilibrium to be in thermodynamic equilibrium not only in fixed but also in dynamical electromagnetic and gravitational fields. In passing, we also present the corresponding expression for the first law of thermodynamics for such a charged star.
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, therm…
The shear viscosity bound violation in Einstein gravity for anisotropic black branes is discussed, with the aim of constraining the deviation of the shear viscosity-entropy density ratio from the shear viscosity bound using causality and thermodynamics analysis. The results show that no stringent constraints can be imposed. The diffusion bound in anisotropic phases is also studied. Ultimately, it is concluded that shear viscosity violation always occurs in cases where the equation of motion of the metric fluctuations cannot be written in a form identical to that of the minimally coupled massle…
In this paper, bulk viscosity is introduced in new holographic dark energy (HDE) to describe the effects of cosmic non-perfect fluid on the evolution of the universe in modified $f(R,T)$ gravity. Assuming $f(R,T)=R+λT$, where $R$ is the Ricci scalar, $T$, the trace of energy-momentum tensor and $λ$ is a constant, we derive a general function of Hubble parameter with bulk viscous form to provide a procedure for the viscous new HDE model building. Especially, we assume the total bulk viscosity coefficient proportional to the velocity of the expansion of the universe in such a way that $ζ=ζ_0+ζ_1…
We define, by an integral of geometric quantities over a spherical shell of arbitrary radius, an invariant gravitational entropy. This definition relies on defining a gravitational energy and pressure, and it reduces at the horizon of both black branes and black holes to Wald's Noether charge entropy. We support the thermodynamic interpretation of the proposed entropy by showing that, for some cases, the field theory duals of the entropy, energy and pressure are the same as the corresponding quantities in the field theory. In this context, the Einstein equations are equivalent to the field the…
In discussing fundamentals of general-relativistic irreversible continuum thermodynamics, this theory is shown to be characterized by the feature that no thermodynamical degrees of freedom are ascribed to gravitation. However, accepting that black hole thermodynamics seems to oppose this harmlessness of gravitation one is called on consider other approaches. Therefore, in brief some gravitational and thermodynamical alternatives are reviewed.
We explore the relationship between the first law of thermodynamics and gravitational field equation at a static, spherically symmetric black hole horizon in Hořava-Lifshtiz theory with/without detailed balance. It turns out that as in the cases of Einstein gravity and Lovelock gravity, the gravitational field equation can be cast to a form of the first law of thermodynamics at the black hole horizon. This way we obtain the expressions for entropy and mass in terms of black hole horizon, consistent with those from other approaches. We also define a generalized Misner-Sharp energy for static, s…
We construct a generalized Smarr formula which could provide a thermodynamic route to derive the covariant field equation of general theories of gravity in dynamic spacetimes. Combining some thermodynamic variables and a new chemical potential conjugated to the number of degree of freedom on the holographic screen, we find a universal Cardy-Verlinde formula and give its braneworld interpretation. We demonstrate that the associated AdS-Bekenstein bound is tighten than the previous expression for multi-charge black holes in the gauged supergravities. The Cardy-Verlinde formula and the AdS-Bekens…
It was argued by Brigante et.al that the lower bound on the ratio of the shear viscosity to the entropy density in strongly coupled plasma is translated into microcausality violation in the dual gravitational description. Since transport properties of the system characterize its infrared dynamics, while the causality of the theory is determined by its ultraviolet behavior, the viscosity bound/microcausality link should not be applicable to theories that undergo low temperature phase transitions. We present an explicit model of AdS/CFT correspondence that confirms this fact.
Einstein's field equations in FRW space-times are coupled to the BGK equation in order to derive the stress energy tensor including dissipative effects up to second order in the thermodynamical forces. The space-time is assumed to be matter-dominated, but in a low density regime for which a second order (Burnett) coefficient becomes relevant. Cosmological implications of the solutions, as well as the physical meaning of transport coefficients in an isotropic homogeneous universe are discussed.
Considering the Einstein field equations in Lyra manifold, and applying the unified first law of thermodynamics as well as the Clausius relation to the apparent horizon of FRW universe, we find the entropy of apparent horizon in Lyra manifold. In addition, the validity of second law of thermodynamics and its generalized form are also studied. Finally, we use the first law of thermodynamics in order to find the horizon entropy of static spherically symmetric spacetimes. Some results of considering (anti)de-Sitter and Schwarzschild metrics have also been addressed.
Hamiltonian dynamics of gravitational field contained in a spacetime region with boundary $S$ being a null-like hypersurface (a wave front) is discussed. Complete Hamiltonian formula for the dynamics (with no surface integrals neglected) is derived. A quasi-local proof of the first law of black holes thermodynamics is obtained as a consequence, in case when $S$ is a non-expanding horizon. The zeroth law and Penrose inequalities are discussed from this point of view.
The relationship between the intrinsic motion of gravity, light, and time is explored in terms of the principles of entropy, causality, energy, and symmetry conservation. A conceptual mechanism for gravity and the gravitational connection between quantum mechanics and relativity is explored. A "concept equation" is given for the gravitational annihilation of space and the extraction of a metrically equivalent temporal residue. The relationship of gravity to the other forces is discussed, including the reason for the weakness of gravity.
We perform an analysis where Einstein's field equation is derived by means of very simple thermodynamical arguments. Our derivation is based on a consideration of the properties of a very small, spacelike two-plane in a uniformly accelerating motion.
We study the role of the Gauss-Bonnet corrections to the gravity action on the charged AdS black hole in presence of rank 3 antisymmetric Kalb Ramond tensor field strength. Analyzing the branch singularity and the killing horizon, we explicitly derive various thermodynamic parameters and study their behaviour in presence of five dimensional Gauss-Bonnet coupling in AdS space-time. The possibility of a second order phase transition is explored in the light of AdS/CMT correspondence and various critical exponents associated with the discontinuities of the various thermodynamic parameters are det…
A proposal for the gravitational energy-momentum tensor, known in the literature as the square root of Bel-Robinson tensor, is analyzed in detail. Being constructed exclusively from the Weyl part of the Riemann tensor, such tensor encapsulates the geometric properties of free gravitational fields in terms of optical scalars of null congruences: making use of the general decomposition of any energymomentum tensor, we explore the thermodynamic interpretation of such geometric quantities. While the matter energy-momentum is identically conserved due to Einstein's field equations, the SQBR is not …
The present work addresses the analogy between the speed of sound of a viscous, barotropic, and irrotational fluid and the equation of motion for a non--massive field in a curved manifold. It will be shown that the presence of viscosity implies the introduction, into the equation of motion of the gravitational analogue, of a source term which entails the flow of energy from the non--massive field to the curvature of the spacetime manifold. The stress-energy tensor is also computed and it is found not to be constant, which is consistent with such energy interchange.
We discuss the evolution of the universe in the context of the second law of thermodynamics from its early stages to the far future. Cosmological observations suggest that most matter and radiation will be absorbed by the cosmological horizon. On the local scale, the matter that is not ejected from our supercluster will collapse to a supermassive black hole and then slowly evaporate. The history of the universe is that of an approach to the equilibrium state of the gravitational field.
