Black hole evaporation and higher-derivative gravity

We examine the role which higher-derivative gravity interactions may play in black hole evaporation. The thermodynamic properties of black holes in Lovelock gravity are described. In certain cases, the specific heat of a black hole becomes positive at a small mass. This results in an infinite lifetime for the black hole (and also allows it to achieve stable equilibrium with a thermal environment). Thus no conflict with unitary time evolution would arise in such theories.This essay received the fourth award from the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 1988.-Ed.