# Universal Upper Bound to the Entropy of a Charged System

## Abstract

We derive a universal upper bound to the entropy of a charged system. The entropy bound follows from application of the generalized second law of thermodynamics to a gedanken experiment in which an entropy-bearing charged system falls into a charged black hole. This bound is stronger than the Bekenstein entropy bound for neutral systems.

Black-hole physics mirrors thermodynamics in many respects . According to the thermodynamical analogy in black-hole physics, the entropy of a black hole  is given by $`S_{bh}=A/4\mathrm{}`$, where $`A`$ is the black-hole surface area. (We use gravitational units in which $`G=c=1`$). Moreover, it is widely believed that a system consisting of ordinary matter interacting with a black hole will obey the generalized second law of thermodynamics (GSL): “The sum of the black-hole entropy and the common (ordinary) entropy in the black-hole exterior never decreases”. This assumption plays a fundamental role in black-hole physics.

In a classical context, a basic physical mechanism is known by which a violation of the GSL can be achieved: Consider a box filled with matter of proper energy $`E`$ and entropy $`S`$ which is dropped into a black hole. The energy delivered to the black hole can be arbitrarily red-shifted by letting the assimilation point approach the black-hole horizon. As shown by Bekenstein , if the box is deposited with no radial momentum a proper distance $`R`$ above the horizon, and then allowed to fall in such that

$$R<\mathrm{}S/2\pi E,$$
(1)   
then the black-hole area increase (or equivalently, the increase in black-hole entropy) is not large enough to compensate for the decrease of $`S`$ in common (ordinary) entropy. Arguing from the GSL, Bekenstein  has proposed the existence of a universal upper bound on the entropy $`S`$ of any system of total energy $`E`$ and effective proper radius $`R`$:

$$S2\pi RE/\mathrm{},$$
(2)   
where $`R`$ is defined in terms of the area $`A`$ of the spherical surface which circumscribe the system  $`R=(A/4\pi )^{1/2}`$. This restriction is necessary for enforcement of the GSL; the box’s entropy disappears but an increase in black-hole entropy occurs which ensures that the GSL is respected provided $`S`$ is bounded as in Eq. (2). Evidently, this universal upper bound is a quantum phenomena (the upper bound goes to infinity as $`\mathrm{}0`$). This provides a striking illustration of the fact that the GSL is intrinsically a quantum law. The universal upper bound Eq. (2) has the status of a supplement to the second law; the latter only states that the entropy of a closed system tends to a maximum without saying how large that should be.

Other derivations of the universal upper bound Eq. (2) which are based on black-hole physics have been given in . Few pieces of evidence exist concerning the validity of the bound for self-gravitating systems . However, the universal bound Eq. (2) is known to be true independently of black-hole physics for a variety of systems in which gravity is negligible .

In this paper we challenge the validity of the GSL in a gedanken experiment in which an entropy-bearing charged system falls into a charged black hole. We show that while the upper bound Eq. (2) is a necessary condition for the fulfillment of the GSL, it is not a sufficient one.

It is not difficult to see why a stronger upper bound on the entropy of an arbitrary charged system must exist: The electromagnetic interaction experienced by a charged body (which, of-coarse, was not relevant in Bekenstein’s gedanken experiment) can decrease the change in black-hole entropy (area). Hence, the GSL would be violated unless the entropy of the charged system (what disappears from the black-hole exterior) is restricted by a bound stronger than Eq. (2).

Furthermore, there is one disturbing feature of the universal bound Eq. (2). As was pointed out by Bekenstein  black holes conform to the bound; however, the Schwarzschild black hole is the only black hole which actually attains the bound. This uniqueness of the Schwarzschild black hole (in the sense that it is the only black hole which have the maximum entropy allowed by quantum theory and general relativity) is somewhat disturbing. Recently, Hod  derived an (improved) upper bound to the entropy of a spinning system and proved that all electrically neutral Kerr black holes have the maximum entropy allowed by quantum theory and general relativity. Clearly, the unity of physics demands a stronger bound for charged systems in general, and for black holes in particular.

In fact, the plausible existence of an upper bound stronger than Eq. (2) on the entropy of a charged system has nothing to do with black-hole physics; a part of the energy of the electromagnetic field residing outside the charged system seems to be irrelevant for the system’s statistical properties. This reduce the phase space available to the components of a charged system. Evidently, an improved upper bound to the entropy of a charged system must decrease with the (absolute) value of the system’s charge. However, our simple argument cannot yield the exact dependence of the entropy bound on the system’s parameters: its energy, charge, and proper radius.

In fact, black-hole physics (more precisely, the GSL) yields a concrete expression for the universal upper bound. Arguing from the GSL, we derive a universal upper bound to the entropy of a charged system which is stronger than the bound Eq. (2). We consider a charged body (assumed to be spherical for simplicity) of rest mass $`\mu `$, charge $`q`$, and proper radius $`b`$, which is dropped into a (charged) Reissner-Nordström black hole.

The external gravitational field of a spherically symmetric object of mass $`M`$ and charge $`Q`$ is given by the Reissner-Nordström metric

$$ds^2=\left(1\frac{2M}{r}+\frac{Q^2}{r^2}\right)dt^2+\left(1\frac{2M}{r}+\frac{Q^2}{r^2}\right)^1dr^2+r^2d\mathrm{\Omega }^2.$$
(3)   
The black-hole (event and inner) horizons are located at

$$r_\pm =M\pm (M^2Q^2)^{1/2}.$$
(4)   
The equation of motion of a charged body on the Reissner-Nordström background is a quadratic equation for the conserved energy $`E`$ (energy-at-infinity) of the body 

$$r^4E^22qQr^3E+q^2Q^2r^2\mathrm{\Delta }(\mu ^2r^2+p_{\varphi }^{}{}_{}{}^{2})(\mathrm{\Delta }p_r)^2=0,$$
(5)   
where $`\mathrm{\Delta }=r^22Mr+Q^2=(rr_{})(rr_+)`$. The quantities $`p_\varphi `$ and $`p_r`$ are the conserved angular momentum of the body and its covariant radial momentum, respectively.

The conserved energy $`E`$ of a body having a radial turning point at $`r=r_++\xi `$  (where $`\xi r_+`$) is given by Eq. (5)

$`E`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{qQ}{r_+}}+{\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{\mu ^2r_+^2+p_\varphi ^2}(r_+r_{})^{1/2}}{r_+^2}}\xi ^{1/2}\left\{1+O\left[\xi /(r_+r_{})\right]\right\}`$ (7)   
$`{\displaystyle \frac{qQ}{r_+^2}}\xi \left[1+O(\xi /r_+)\right].`$   
This expression is actually the effective potential (gravitational plus electromagnetic plus centrifugal) for given values of $`\mu ,q`$ and $`p_\varphi `$. It is clear that it can be minimized by taking $`p_\varphi =0`$ (which also minimize the increase in the black-hole surface area. This is also the case for neutral bodies ).

In order to find the change in black-hole surface area caused by an assimilation of the body, one should evaluate $`E`$ \[given by Eq. (7)\] at the point of capture, a proper distance $`b`$ outside the horizon. Thus, we should evaluate $`E`$ at $`r=r_++\delta (b)`$, where $`\delta (b)`$ is determined by

$$_{r_+}^{r_++\delta (b)}(g_{rr})^{1/2}𝑑r=b,$$
(8)   
where $`g_{rr}=r^2/\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Integrating Eq. (8) one finds (for $`br_+`$)

$$\delta (b)=(r_+r_{})\frac{b^2}{4r_{+}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}}.$$
(9)   
An assimilation of the charged body results in a change $`dM=E`$ in the black-hole mass and a change $`dQ=q`$ in its charge. Taking cognizance of Eq. (7) and using the first-law of black-hole thermodynamics

$$dM=\frac{\kappa }{8\pi }dA+\mathrm{\Phi }dQ,$$
(10)   
where $`\kappa =(r_+r_{})/2r_+^2`$ and $`\mathrm{\Phi }=Q/r_+`$ are the surface gravity ($`2\pi `$ times the Hawking temperature ) and electric potential of the black hole, respectively, one finds

$$(\mathrm{\Delta }\alpha )_{min}=\frac{4\mu r_+}{(r_+r_{})^{1/2}}\delta (b)^{1/2}\frac{4qQ}{r_+r_{}}\delta (b),$$
(11)   
where the “rationalized area” $`\alpha `$ is related to the black-hole surface area $`A`$ by $`\alpha =A/4\pi `$. With Eq. (9) for $`\delta (b)`$ we find

$$(\mathrm{\Delta }\alpha )_{min}(\mu ,q,b,s)=2\mu b\frac{qQb^2}{r_+^2},$$
(12)   
which is the minimal black-hole area increase  for given values of the body’s parameters $`\mu ,q`$ and $`b`$ \[and for given black-hole parameters $`r_+`$ and $`Q`$ ($`s`$ stands for these two parameters)\].

Obviously the increase in black-hole surface area Eq. (12) can be minimized (for given values of the body’s parameters) by maximizing the black-hole electric field (given by $`Q/r_{+}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}`$). However, we must consider an external electric field with a limited strength in order to keep it from deforming and breaking the charged body. Evidently, a charged body does not break up under its own electric field. Clearly, this value of the field is very conservative; most bodies can be subjected to much stronger electric fields without being broken. However, our goal is to derive a universal upper bound which is valid for each and every charged system in nature, regardless of its specific internal structure (and regardless of its internal constituents). Hence, we must consider an electric-field strength of this order of magnitude (this assures us that the charged body does not break up under the external electric field). Therefore, we find

$$(\mathrm{\Delta }\alpha )_{min}(\mu ,q,b)=2\mu bq^2,$$
(13)   
which is the minimal area increase for given values of the body’s parameters $`\mu ,q`$ and $`b`$.

It is in order to emphasize the assumptions made in obtaining Eq. (13). By keeping the term $`qQ\xi /r_+^2`$ and neglecting terms of order $`\mu \xi ^{3/2}(r_+r_{})^{1/2}/r_+`$ in Eq. (7) we actually assumed that $`\mu b|qQ|`$. Thus, we have a series of inequalities $`q/b^2=Q/r_{+}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}1/Qq/\mu b`$, which implies $`b\mu `$. Hence, the lower bound Eq. (13) is valid for bodies with negligible self-gravity, which is consistent with the test particle approximation. In addition, the series of inequalities $`br_+(Q/r_{+}^{}{}_{}{}^{2})^1=b^2/|q|`$ imply $`|q|b`$.

Assuming the validity of the GSL, one can derive an upper bound to the entropy $`S`$ of an arbitrary system of proper energy $`E`$ and charge $`q`$:

$$S\pi (2Ebq^2)/\mathrm{}.$$
(14)   
It is evident from the minimal black-hole area increase Eq. (13) that in order for the GSL to be satisfied $`[(\mathrm{\Delta }S)_{tot}(\mathrm{\Delta }S)_{bh}S0]`$, the entropy $`S`$ of the charged system must be bounded as in Eq. (14). This upper bound is universal in the sense that it depends only on the system’s parameters (it is independent of the black-hole parameters $`M`$ and $`Q`$).

We emphasized that the universal upper bound Eq. (14) is derived for bodies with negligible self-gravity. Nevertheless, this improved bound is also very appealing from a black-hole physics point of view: consider a charged Reissner-Nordström black hole of charge $`Q`$. Let its energy be $`E`$; then its surface area is given by $`A=4\pi r_{+}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}=4\pi (2Er_+Q^2)`$. Now since $`S_{bh}=A/4\mathrm{}`$, $`S_{bh}=\pi (2Er_+Q^2)/\mathrm{}`$, which is the maximal entropy allowed by the upper bound Eq. (14). Thus, all Reissner-Nordström black holes saturate the bound. This proves that the Schwarzschild black hole is not unique from a black-hole entropy point of view, removing the disturbing feature of the entropy bound Eq. (2). This is precisely the kind of universal upper bound we were hoping for !

Evidently, systems with negligible self-gravity (the charged system in our gedanken experiment) and systems with maximal gravitational effects (i.e., charged black holes) both satisfy the upper bound Eq. (14). Therefore, this bound appears to be of universal validity. Still, it should be recognized that the upper bound Eq. (14) is established only for bodies with negligible self-gravity. It is of great interest to derive the bound for strongly gravitating systems. One piece of evidence exist concerning the validity of the bound for the specific example of a system composed of a charged black hole in thermal equilibrium with radiation .

In summary, using a gedanken experiment in which an entropy-bearing charged system falls into a charged black hole, and assuming the validity of the GSL, one can derive a universal upper bound to the entropy of a charged system. An important goal is obviously to clarify the ultimate relation of the bound to black holes. In fact this relation is reflected in the numerical factor of $`\pi `$ which multiply the $`q^2`$ term. We believe that some other proof, presumably a more complicated one, could establish this value of the numerical coefficient. \[It should be stressed that this is also the current situation for the original upper bound Eq. (2), which was first suggested in the context of black-hole physics . The relation of the original bound to black holes is reflected in the numerical factor of $`2\pi `$ appearing in it\]. Nevertheless, our main goal in this paper was to prove the general structure of the universal upper bound for charged systems; the new and interesting observation of this paper is the role of electric charge in providing an important limitation on the entropy which a finite physical system can have.

The intriguing feature of our derivation is that it uses a law whose very meaning stems from gravitation (the GSL, or equivalently the area-entropy relation for black holes) to derive a universal bound which has nothing to do with gravitation \[written out fully, the entropy bound would involve $`\mathrm{}`$ and $`c`$, but not $`G`$\]. This provides a striking illustration of the unity of physics.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to thank Professor Jacob D. Bekenstein and Avraham E. Mayo for stimulating discussions. This research was supported by a grant from the Israel Science Foundation.