Black Hole Firewalls Explained

In summary, the conversation revolved around the concept of a "black hole firewall" which is a result of the Unruh Effect and Hawking Radiation. The post on Cosmic Variance discusses how this phenomenon would cause anyone passing the horizon of a black hole to burn up. The person asking the question was seeking clarification on the concept and provided a link to the post and a related thread for further information. Another person chimed in, suggesting the use of search to find more information on the topic.
  • #1
Vorde
788
0
Hello all,

Cosmic Variance just had a great post up about Black Holes, wherein they were talking about something called the firewall, located at the horizon. I gathered it was a result of the Unruh Effect + Hawking Radiation, and CV seemed to say that this would cause anyone passing the horizon to burn up in flames.

I hadn't heard of this before, and upon doing some quick researching I couldn't find anything helpful. Can anyone explain to me what this 'black hole firewall' is?

Thank you.

P.S. Here is the post: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/c...on-black-holes-complementarity-and-firewalls/
 
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  • #3
Ah! Should have searched. Thank you.
 

1. What is a black hole firewall?

A black hole firewall is a theoretical concept proposed by physicists to solve the black hole information paradox. It suggests that the event horizon of a black hole may be surrounded by a high-energy region that would incinerate anything that crosses it, including light. This contradicts the traditional understanding of black holes as having a smooth event horizon.

2. How does the existence of black hole firewalls affect our understanding of black holes?

If proven to be true, the existence of black hole firewalls would challenge our current understanding of black holes and their behavior. It would also have implications for the laws of physics, as it would suggest a violation of the principle of general relativity and the equivalence principle.

3. What evidence supports the existence of black hole firewalls?

Currently, there is no direct evidence for the existence of black hole firewalls. However, the concept has been proposed as a solution to the black hole information paradox, which is a major problem in theoretical physics. Research in this area is ongoing, and scientists are working on ways to test and verify the existence of black hole firewalls.

4. Are black hole firewalls accepted by the scientific community?

The concept of black hole firewalls is still a topic of debate among scientists. While some researchers support the idea, others argue that it goes against well-established principles of physics. More evidence and research are needed to reach a consensus on its validity.

5. Can we observe black hole firewalls?

Currently, we do not have the technology or capability to observe black hole firewalls directly. However, scientists are working on ways to indirectly detect their existence through the study of gravitational waves and other phenomena near black holes. As our technology and understanding of black holes improve, we may be able to observe black hole firewalls in the future.

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