The quantum mechanics of black holes.
Abstract
An attempt is made to reconcile the physics of black holes (BH) with quantum mechanics and thermodynamics, with an eye on development of a consistent quantum theory of gravitation. Evaporation of BH and cosmic explosions accompanying such an event, tunneling of particles out of BH of different sizes, separation of a real/virtual particle pair with one member falling into the BH and the other repelled from the BH and appearing to radiate from the BH, and the entropy of a BH come under discussion. A BH is capable of 'remembering' only those properties of particles it ingests that are coupled to long-range fields: electric charge, angular momentum, and mass. Use of the earth's atmosphere as a Cherenkov detector of evaporating BH is conjectured.
- Publication:
-
Scientific American
- Pub Date:
- January 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1038/scientificamerican0177-34
- Bibcode:
- 1977SciAm.236a..34H
- Keywords:
-
- Black Holes (Astronomy);
- Gravitation Theory;
- Gravitational Collapse;
- Quantum Mechanics;
- Space-Time Functions;
- Thermodynamics;
- Astrophysics;
- Big Bang Cosmology;
- Cerenkov Counters;
- Earth Atmosphere;
- Escape Velocity;
- Relativity;
- Schwarzschild Metric;
- Thermal Radiation;
- Tunneling;
- Astrophysics;
- Black Holes