Thermodynamic Gravity with Non-Extensive Horizon Entropy and Topological Calibration

Abstract

We revisit Jacobson's thermodynamic derivation of gravity for generalized, non-extensive horizon entropies and develop a consistent framework in which modified gravitational dynamics emerge from horizon thermodynamics. By interpreting $S(A)$ as a coarse-grained entropy entering the thermodynamic constitutive relation, we show that only its local slope at a reference area $A_{\ast }$ contributes to macroscopic dynamics within a local Rindler-wedge construction. In this setting, the Clausius relation is reformulated as a stationarity condition for a Massieu functional at fixed Unruh temperature, allowing the entropy slope $s_0=(dS/dA){|}_{A_{\ast }}$ to be identified as the parameter controlling the effective gravitational coupling. For entropy linear in area, Einstein's equations are recovered with $G_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/(4s_0)$. As a separate consistency check, we demonstrate that a scalar-response extension of the horizon entropy density, supplemented by internal entropy production, correctly reproduces the field equations of $f(R)$ gravity. Motivated by group-entropic arguments and generalized thermodynamics, we adopt a power-law entropy $S(A)=\eta (A/4G{)}^{\delta }$ and study its implications across scales. To remove the ambiguity in the coarse-graining scale, we introduce a Topological Calibration Principle linking the reference area to intrinsic geometric data through the Gauss-Bonnet theorem. For compact cross-sections admitted by the chosen theory or boundary conditions, this yields a topology-dependent effective coupling governed by the Euler characteristic. Consistency requirements constrain deviations from extensivity and generate scale-dependent modifications with potentially observable cosmological signatures. The resulting framework provides a systematic setting for testing non-extensive horizon thermodynamics and its phenomenological implications.

arXiv comment24 pages, 2 figures