Thermodynamics of Lorentzian Taub-NUT spacetimes

Abstract

The thermodynamics of the Taub-NUT solution has been predominantly studied in the Euclidean sector, upon imposing the condition for the absence of Misner strings. Such thermodynamics is quite exceptional: the periodicity of the Euclidean time is restricted and thence the Newman-Unti-Tamburino (NUT) charge cannot be independently varied, the entropy is not equal to 1/4 of the area, and the thermodynamic volume can be negative. In this paper we revisit this paradigm and study the thermodynamics of the Lorentzian Taub-NUT solution, maintaining (as recently shown relatively harmless) Misner strings. We argue that in order to formulate a full cohomogeneity first law where the NUT parameter can be independently varied, it is natural to introduce a new charge together with its conjugate quantity. We consider two scenarios: one in which the entropy is given by the Lorentzian version of the Noether charge, and the other in which the entropy is given by the standard Bekenstein-Hawking area law. In both cases consistent thermodynamics with positive thermodynamic volume can be formulated.