Higher derivative contributions to black hole thermodynamics at NNLO

In an effective theory of gravity, thermodynamic quantities of black holes receive corrections from the infinite series of higher derivative terms. At the next to leading order, these can be obtained by using only the leading order solution. In this paper, we push forward this property to the next to next to leading order. We propose a formula which yields the Euclidean action of asymptotically flat black holes at the next to next to leading order using only the solution up to and including the next to leading order. Other conserved quantities are derived from the Euclidean action via standard thermodynamic relation. We verify our formula in examples of D-dimensional pure gravity and Einstein-Maxwell theory extended by 4- and 6-derivative terms. Based on our formula, we also prove that for asymptotically flat black holes, the physical quantities are invariant under field redefinitions.

Automated summary

In an effective theory of gravity, higher derivative terms contribute to the corrections of thermodynamic quantities of black holes. This paper extends the property of using only the leading order solution to obtain the next to next to leading order corrections. A formula is proposed to compute the Euclidean action of asymptotically flat black holes at the next to next to leading order using the solution up to and including the next to leading order. Other conserved quantities can be derived from the Euclidean action using standard thermodynamic relations. The formula is verified in examples of pure gravity and Einstein-Maxwell theory extended by 4- and 6-derivative terms. Additionally, it is proven that the physical quantities of asymptotically flat black holes are invariant under field redefinitions based on the formula.