2026/05/31 by Siddarth Ajith, Ravisankar Rajagopal, Nur Rifat +2
Physics and Astronomy · #hep-th #gr-qc
36 pages
arxiv created 2026/08/06 · arxiv updated 2026/08/07
In this paper we derived the corrections to the Reissner-Nordström black hole when higher-derivative RF2 terms (contractions of the Riemann tensor with the Maxwell field strength squared) are added to the Einstein-Maxwell action. Such terms arise naturally in the context of effective field theories. We used wordline QFT methods to obtain the leading order post-Minkowskian corrections. We verified these results by solving the modified Einstein-Maxwell field equations in closed form, to all orders in Newton's constant G. We discussed the first law and computed the entropy of the perturbed black holes. When fixing the mass to that of the extremal Reissner-Nordström black hole, the entropy shift is positive if the weak gravity conjecture holds. In fact, this condition is nothing but the requirement that the spacetime with the extremal Reissner-Nordström mass possesses an outer horizon in higher-derivative gravity. This condition also rules out Drummond-Hathrell theory.