On the microstructure of higher-dimensional Reissner-Nordstr\"om black holes in quantum regime

Thermodynamic Riemannian geometry provides great insights into the microscopic structure of black holes (BHs). One such example is the Ruppeiner geometry which is the metric space comprising the second derivatives of entropy with respect to other extensive variables of the system. Reissner-Nordstr\"om black holes (RNBHs) are known to be endowed with a flat Ruppeiner geometry for all higher spacetime dimensions. However this holds true if one invokes classical gravity where the semi-classical Bekenstein-Hawking entropy best describes the thermodynamics of the system. If the much deeper quantum gravity and string theories entail modifications to BH entropy, this prompts the question whether the Ruppeiner flatness associated with higher dimensional RNBHs still persists. We investigate this problem by considering non-perturbative (exponential) and perturbative (logarithmic) modifications to BH entropy of a 5D RNBH. We find that while the case is so for larger (classical) geometries, the situation is radically altered for smaller (quantum) geometries. Namely, we show surprising emergence of multiple phase transitions that depend on the choice of extent of corrections to BH entropy and charge. Our consideration involves differentiated extremal and non-extremal geometric scales corresponding to the validity regime of corrections to entropy. More emphasis is laid on the exponential case as the contributions become highly non-trivial on small scales. An essential critical mass scale arises in this case that marks the onset of these phase transitions while the BH diminishes in size via Hawking evaporation. We contend that this critical value of mass perhaps best translates as the epoch of a classical to quantum BH phase transition.