Thermodynamics of Black Holes Abstract: In this paper, thermodynamic laws are examined as they relate to Schwarzschild cosmological black

holes. A firm knowledge of black hole thermodynamics plays an essential part in understanding how our universe works and how future generations can apply this knowledge to benefit humankind. The work of prominent physicists including but not limited to Stephen Hawking, John Bardeen, Jacob Bekenstein, and Paul Davies are analyzed for information relevant to equilibrium states of black holes as well as how respective variables including entropy, energy, temperature, pressure, and free energy relate to black holes including their respective event horizons and black body radiation. Due to the complexity of these researchers work, a preliminary understanding of basic terms, nomenclature, and concepts had to be initially acquired. It was then discovered that black holes have four governing laws that are either analogous to, or transcend the laws of thermodynamics. Known as The Four Laws of Black Hole Mechanics, these governing principles relate entropy to the area of the event horizon and radiation, temperature to the surface gravity, and temperature to the black body radiation, or Hawking radiation which will be discussed later.

Introduction o Define black holes o Give some insight on how black holes relate to theory of relativity and related scenarios o Discuss formation of black holes and equilibrium of gravitational collapse

Thermodynamics of black holes o Third and first laws of black hole mechanics and how they relate to the respective laws of thermodynamics o Discuss violation of Second Law as it relates to area , mass, and information, and additionally how black body radiation/evaporation satisfies this o Discuss radiation of black holes more in-depth and how black holes tend toward equilibrium as they evaporate o Phase transition of black holes when specific heat loses physical meaning

o Discuss hypothetical application of black hole thermodynamics to create an engine producing work using two black holes as reservoirs State of the field o Schwarzschilds work in 1916 o Discuss general relativity and how it predicted black holes o Hawking, Bekenstein, and Bardeens work to create thermodynamics of black holes in 1970s o Recent postulated discoveries of black holes Problems & Future o Difficult to get experimental data o Must use indirect evidence to find black holes o Light doesnt escape black holes making it impossible to see beyond event horizon o Hawking radiation yet to be confirmed o