Are Black Holes Actually Fuzzballs of Tangled Strings?

Thread starter Guybrush Threepwood
Start date Mar 2, 2004
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Black holes Holes Smooth

In summary, scientists say that black holes are not smooth because of the intense gravitational pull at their event horizon, causing a highly curved and warped region of space. This is supported by various observations and theoretical calculations. Exceptions to this include rotating black holes, where the spin can counteract some of the gravitational pull. The non-smooth nature of black holes challenges our understanding of the universe and has implications for the behavior of matter and energy in extreme conditions. Studying them can help us gain a better understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe.

Mar 2, 2004

Guybrush Threepwood

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/fuzzball.htm

The finding suggests that black holes are not smooth, featureless entities as scientists have long thought.
Instead, they are stringy "fuzzballs".

Physics news on Phys.org

Mar 2, 2004

meteor

Is a fuzzball the same thing as the concept known as fuzzy sphere?

Mar 2, 2004

Guybrush Threepwood

from what I've understand from the article the fuzzball is just a bunch of tangled strings...

1. What do scientists mean when they say "black holes are not smooth"?

When scientists say that black holes are not smooth, they are referring to the idea that the surface or boundary of a black hole, known as the event horizon, is not actually a smooth or flat surface as it is often depicted. Instead, it is a highly curved and warped region of space.

2. Why are black holes not smooth?

Black holes are not smooth because of the intense gravitational pull at their event horizon. This gravitational pull is so strong that it causes space and time to become highly distorted and curved, creating a "dent" in the fabric of space-time. This distortion is what gives the event horizon its irregular and non-smooth appearance.

3. How do scientists know that black holes are not smooth?

Scientists know that black holes are not smooth through various observations and theoretical calculations. For example, the effects of a black hole's gravity on surrounding matter and light can provide evidence of its non-smooth nature. Additionally, the equations of Einstein's theory of general relativity predict that the event horizon of a black hole should be highly curved and not smooth.

4. Are there any exceptions to the idea that black holes are not smooth?

While all black holes have a highly curved event horizon, there are some cases where the distortion may not be as extreme, making the event horizon appear smoother. This is known as a "rotating" or "spinning" black hole, where the spin of the black hole can counteract some of the gravitational pull and create a more symmetrical event horizon.

5. What implications does the non-smooth nature of black holes have on our understanding of the universe?

The non-smooth nature of black holes challenges our understanding of space and time, as well as our understanding of gravity. It also has implications for the behavior of matter and energy in extreme conditions. Studying black holes and their non-smooth nature can help us gain a better understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe and how they apply in the most extreme environments.