Virtual particule and event horizon

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of virtual particle pairs near the event horizon of black holes, particularly in the context of Hawking radiation. Participants explore the implications of particle-antiparticle interactions, the influence of mass on virtual particle production, and hypothetical scenarios involving antimatter black holes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether it is always the antiparticle that is absorbed by the black hole, seeking clarification on the underlying reasons.
  • Another participant explains that virtual particles can separate at the event horizon, with one being absorbed and the other escaping as Hawking radiation.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the definitive identification of particles and antiparticles in virtual pairs, suggesting that their roles may be interchangeable until one escapes.
  • A participant raises the idea that macroscopic fields might influence the alignment of virtual particle pairs, although another participant contests this notion due to the brief existence of virtual particles.
  • One participant cites Hawking and Greene, asserting that the antiparticle always falls into the black hole, while the escaping particle becomes real, and discusses the relationship between mass, space-time curvature, and virtual particle production.
  • Another participant speculates about the implications of creating a black hole from antimatter, questioning whether it would grow due to Hawking radiation or emit antimatter.
  • There is a suggestion that both halves of a virtual pair become real when one crosses the event horizon, which raises questions about information transfer related to events inside the black hole.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the behavior of particles and antiparticles near black holes, with no consensus reached on whether the antiparticle is always the one absorbed. The discussion includes multiple competing hypotheses regarding the influence of mass and fields on virtual particle production.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on interpretations of quantum mechanics and general relativity, and there are unresolved questions about the influence of external fields on virtual particle pairs and the behavior of antimatter black holes.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in quantum physics, black hole thermodynamics, and the interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity may find this discussion relevant.

Mean-Hippy
Messages
24
Reaction score
0
Was wondering: In Hawkins's " Univers in a nutshell" book, he talks about the behavior ov virtual particule pairs around the event horizon of a black hole. My understanding is that one of the antiparticule of the pair can be absorbed by the black hole. This makes for the release of the particule ( which is then sort-of materialized out of "nothing" ) into space and for the black hole loosing some mass from the absorption of anti-matter particule. If my understanding is correct, what I am really curious about in this case is: Would it always be the anti-particule that gets sucked in the black-hole and if so then WHY ?
Very much apreciate any input on this , Thank you !

Hippy :confused:
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
So ?!?

Anybody workin' on this ??
 
Last edited:
Pair creation is the simple and obvious solution. At the 'event horizon', virtual particles [a quantum physics thing], which normally annihilate each other in a Planck second, get separated. The black hole sucks one in and gives the other a free pass to become a 'real' particle... aka, Hawking radiation.
 
It's always been my understanding that virtual particles are so "virtual", that the determination of which is the particle and which is the interparticle is indefinite. If a virtual particle pair forms near the event horizon of a black hole, and one member of the pair falls in, the one that escapes then becomes the "particle", and the one that fell in becomes the "antiparticle".
 
In this post, I raised the question of whether macroscopic fields could influence the alignment of virtual particle pairs. Labguy says no, because the pairs exist for such a very short time.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=28868

Is there any work you can cite to support your statement that: "If a virtual particle pair forms near the event horizon of a black hole, and one member of the pair falls in, the one that escapes then becomes the "particle", and the one that fell in becomes the "antiparticle"." I would be very interested in reading such paper(s) and would be very appreciative of any links you can provide. I have looked for evidence that someone (besides me) is thinking about preferential orientation of virtual pairs due to the effects of fields in the macro universe. At some point, Quantum Theory and Relativity must reconcile, and it seems to me that this may be a productive area of inquiry.

As a related query, does anyone here know if there is any work being done to determine if the presence of mass in a locality has an effect on the *numbers* of virtual pairs being produced there? Just a passing thought - could the distortion in space-time caused by the presence of a large mass inhibit or promote the creation of virtual particles?
 
Last edited:
According to Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time", and Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe", the member of the virtual particle pair that falls into the black hole is always the antiparticle, and the one that escapes is always the particle.

Also according to both of these authors, and many others, the presence of a mass which curves space-time (and more specifically the stress that this curvature places on space-time) does indeed increase the number of virtual particle pairs produced in a given area. In particular, the gravitational differential is cited as a cause of virtual pair formation. Because of this, and somewhat paradoxically, more virtual particle pairs would be formed near the event horizon of a small black hole than that of a large one. If we view gravitation as a curvature of space-time, the curve is sharper near a small black hole, placing more stress on the fabric of space-time, which infuses that area with more energy for the production of more virtual particles.
 
what would happen if you made a black hole out of anti-matter- would hawking radiation actually make it grow since only anti-matter can fall in? or would it actualy radiate anti-matter?


___________________________

/:set\AI transmedia laboratories

http://setai-transmedia.com
 
Last edited by a moderator:
LURCH said:
According to Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time", and Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe", the member of the virtual particle pair that falls into the black hole is always the antiparticle, and the one that escapes is always the particle.
I was under the impression that the closer particle (either particle or antiparticle) always falls in (since both have positive mass) and that the particle that that escapes (either particle or antiparticle) becomes a REAL particle, at the expense of the black hole's mass. Am I mistaken?
 
  • #10
Event horizon can pass information on quantum level

As a follow-up, when one half of a virtual pair crosses the event horizon, BOTH halves (particle and antiparticle) must become real. The detection of a particle or antiparticle popping into existence just outside the event horizon tells us that its analog has emerged as a real particle inside the event horizon, thus giving us information about an event inside the event horizon. Practical value = nil. :smile:
 
  • #11
setAI said:
what would happen if you made a black hole out of anti-matter- would hawking radiation actually make it grow since only anti-matter can fall in? or would it actualy radiate anti-matter?


___________________________

/:set\AI transmedia laboratories

http://setai-transmedia.com

That is a very good question. My guess is it should evaporate, but I'm not sure why.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K