The student researchers proposed a new approach by introducing changes in entropy, rather than volume, into the field equations.
Because entropy can account for information from both the inner and outer horizons, the paper argues that the first law of thermodynamics can be derived more naturally for more general types of black holes and higher-order theories of gravity.
The school said the finding could provide theoretical support for expanding the theory of emergent gravity, which interprets gravity not as a fundamental force of nature, but as a thermodynamic phenomenon.
The research grew out of the school’s regular curriculum and research programmes.
The three students, Ahn Geon-woo, Bae I-jin and Jang Geun-young, took part in the research last year under the guidance of their physics teacher, Kwon Yong-joon.
All three graduated in February.
They developed their research topic through the school’s research and education programme, graduation thesis track and creative convergence lectures.
The paper was submitted in January and published in June.
