English

Black Hole Thermodynamics and Lorentz Symmetry

High Energy Physics - Theory 2014-11-18 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

Recent developments point to a breakdown in the generalized second law of thermodynamics for theories with Lorentz symmetry violation. It appears possible to construct a perpetual motion machine of the second kind in such theories, using a black hole to catalyze the conversion of heat to work. Here we describe and extend the arguments leading to that conclusion. We suggest the inference that local Lorentz symmetry may be an emergent property of the macroscopic world with origins in a microscopic second law of causal horizon thermodynamics.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0804.2720,
  title  = {Black Hole Thermodynamics and Lorentz Symmetry},
  author = {Ted Jacobson and Aron C. Wall},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0804.2720},
  year   = {2014}
}

Comments

4 pages; v2: Version to appear in Foundations of Physics. Potential counterexamples addressed, argument given applying to LV theories where all speeds (or horizons) coincide, and editing for clarity

R2 v1 2026-06-21T10:31:53.499Z