In these last years Black hole Physics has developed rapidly both from theoretical and observational aspects: especially as regards quantum aspects many things must be clarified as for instance the processes occuring near mini black holes with spontaneous creation of particles that eventually lead to the evaporation of black hole. In these last stages probably a connection with string theory will appears. This field of research was subject of the NATO Adavanced study Institute on "Black Hole Physics" which was held at the Ettore Majorana Center for Scientific Culture in Erice (Sicily, th Italy) from May 12th through May 22 , 1991. It was at the same time the 12th Course of the International School of Cosmology and Gravitation. During this 12th Course, after recalling the starting point that is the concept of black hole in Newton theory, the lectures are gone through classical, quantum, cosmological and astrophysical aspects. Of course in order to understand fully the behaviour of these objects one is faced with a large number of broad areas related to different branches of physics. In fact have been widely treated not only classical aspects, thermodynamics, entropy, internal dynamics, cosmology, inflation and astrophysics but quantum behaviour involving creation of particles, Hawking rad iation, until the modern theory of strings and superstrings that claims the unification of all interactions. So the physics involved and discussed in the various lectures goes from cosmology and very early universe to that of elementary particles including neutrino physics.

Klappentext

The basic subjects and main topics covered by this book are: (1) Physics of Black Holes (classical and quantum); (2) Thermodynamics, entropy and internal dynamics; (3) Creation of particles and evaporation; (4) Mini black holes; (5) Quantum mechanics of black holes in curved spacetime; (6) The role of spin and torsion in the black hole physics; (7) Equilibrium geometry and membrane paradigm; (8) Black hole in string and superstring theory; (9) Strings, quantum gravity and black holes; (10) The problem of singularity; (11) Astrophysics of black holes; (12) Observational evidence of black holes. br/ The book reveals the deep connection between gravitational, quantum and statistical physics and also the importance of black hole behaviour in the very early universe. An important new point discussed concerns the introduction of spin in the physics of black holes, showing its central role when correctly put into the Einstein equations through the geometric concept of torsion, with the new concept of a time-temperature uncertainty relation, minimal time, minimal entropy, quantization of entropy and the connection of black hole with wormholes. br/ Besides theoretical aspects, the reader will also find observational evidence for black holes in active galactic nuclei, in binary X-ray sources and in supernova remnants. br/ The book will thus interest physicists, astronomers, and astrophysicists at different levels of their career who specialize in classical properties, quantum processes, statistical thermodynamics, numerical collapse, observational evidence, general relativity and other related problems. br/

Inhalt
Physics of Black Holes: Classical. Quantum and Astrophysical.- Black Holes and Thermodynamics.- Thermodynamics and Black Holes.- Thermodynamics and Internal Dynamics of Black Holes: some recent developments.- Black-Hole Thermodynamics, Mass-Inflation, and Evaporation.- The central role of Spin in Black Hole Evaporation.- Mechanics and Equilibrium Geometry of Black Holes, Membranes, and Strings.- String Quantum Gravity and Black Holes.- Scattering Matrix for a Quantized Black Hole.- Possible Multi-Explosions of Supernovae and Induced Gravitational Collapse.- Concluding Remarks.