Generalised uncertainty principle, remnant mass and singularity problem in black hole thermodynamics

We have derived a new generalised uncertainty principle (GUP) based on certain general assumptions. This GUP is consistent with predictions from string theory. It is then used to study Schwarzschild black hole thermodynamics. Corrections to the mass-temperature relation, area law and heat capacity are obtained. We find that the evaporation process stops at a particular mass, referred as the remnant mass. This is instrumental in bypassing the well-known singularity problem that occurs in a semiclassical approach. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.