Recent theoretical research indicates that forming a black hole purely from light particles is not possible, challenging aspects of Einstein's theory of general relativity. This finding disputes the existence of "kugelblitze," theoretical black holes formed solely from light, and suggests limitations within current cosmological models. It highlights the potential for reconciling quantum mechanics with general relativity to address complex questions in science.
Typically, black holes, which possess such intense gravitational forces that they prevent even light from escaping, originate from the collapse of massive stars nearing the end of their life spans when nuclear reactions can no longer withstand gravity.
Alternative theories for black hole formation include the concept of the "kugelblitz," which translates to "ball lightning" in German. A kugelblitz is envisioned as a black hole resulting from the concentration of immense amounts of electromagnetic energy, such as light, instead of ordinary matter like protons, neutrons, and electrons.
José Polo-Gómez, a physicist from the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, explained that while light lacks mass, it carries energy. According to general relativity, energy can curve space-time and create gravitational attraction, leading to the theoretical possibility of black holes formed by concentrated light.
Under classical general relativity, these ideas hold, but they do not incorporate quantum effects. To investigate the influence of quantum phenomena on kugelblitz formation, Polo-Gómez and his team explored the role of the Schwinger effect.
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