Quantum-mechanical uncertainties in the measurement of mass, charge, spin, and multipole moments of a black hole
Abstract
By considering a set of gedanken experiments we show how quantum mechanics imposes uncertainties on the mass, charge, spin, and multipole moments of a black hole. In the case of mass and charge the only limitation on the precision of the measurement arises from the size of the universe. However, in the case of the spin the limitation on the measurability arises from the intrinsic properties (horizon) of the black hole. The uncertainty in the spin is always larger than h-bar/2. It is shown how the mass, charge, and spin of the black hole have to be considered as purely classical parameters deprived of any quantum property.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- December 1974
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.10.3903
- Bibcode:
- 1974PhRvD..10.3903O
- Keywords:
-
- Black Holes (Astronomy);
- Electric Charge;
- Particle Mass;
- Quantum Mechanics;
- Spin Dynamics;
- Angular Momentum;
- Electrical Measurement;
- Mass Distribution;
- Mechanical Measurement;
- Moment Distribution;
- Multipoles;
- Quantum Theory;
- Astrophysics