I can't really help you directly, but i know some things. Some time ago, Bardeen, Carter, and Hawking had consolidated their insights into a set of 'laws of black-hole mechanics' that bore an amazing resemblance to the laws of thermodynamics. Each black hole law, in fact, turned out to be identical to a thermodynamical law, if one only replaced the phrase "horizon area" by "entropy" amd the phrase "horizon surface gravity" by "temperature" Hawking, in the mid-70's, having proved that a black hole radiates as though it had a temperature proportional to its surface gravity, went on to assert, without real proof, that -ALL- of the other similarites between the laws of black-hole mechanics and the laws of thermodynamics were more than a coincidence. The black hole laws -are the same thing as thermodynamic laws, but in disguise. I strongly suggest you read one of Hawking's books to learn more.

• RE: Re: Thermodynamics of black holes - A physics student - March 18, 2000 - 20:58 UTC