Thermodynamics on the apparent horizon in generalized gravity theories

Shao-Feng Wu, Bin Wang, Guo-Hong Yang

Published 2007-11-08, updated 2008-01-17Version 2

We present a general procedure to construct the first law of thermodynamics on the apparent horizon and illustrate its validity by examining it in some extended gravity theories. Applying this procedure, we can describe the thermodynamics on the apparent horizon in Randall-Sundrum braneworld imbedded in a nontrivial bulk. We discuss the mass-like function which was used to link Friedmann equation to the first law of thermodynamics and obtain its special case which gives the generalized Misner-Sharp mass in Lovelock gravity.