Weak energy condition, trapped surfaces and black hole third law

Abstract We consider the third law of thermodynamics for families of 4- and n-dimensional Vaidya black holes, including many of interest. Since there are several versions of the definition of surface gravity as well as the extremality condition for dynamical black holes, we first show that for the considered 4- and n-dimensional Vaidya families, these definitions are consistent with each other. We assume, first, that a non-extremal black hole evolves to an extremality state after a finite time and second, that the weak energy condition for the source holds at all times. We then compare the results of these assumptions and investigate whether there are ranges of black hole parameters where these two assumptions are in conflict.