Can Elementary Particles Be Considered Small Black Holes?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the theoretical possibility of elementary particles, such as electrons and protons, being classified as small black holes. It is established that for an elementary particle to qualify as a black hole, its Compton wavelength must be smaller than its Schwarzschild radius, which is not the case for known elementary particles as they fall below the Planck mass threshold. The conversation references the work of C.F.E. Holzhey and F. Wilczek, emphasizing the complexities of mass, geometry, and the implications for theories of topology and quantization. The consensus is that while the idea is intriguing, it remains speculative and unsupported by current physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Compton wavelength and Schwarzschild radius
  • Familiarity with Planck mass and its significance in theoretical physics
  • Basic knowledge of black hole physics and general relativity
  • Awareness of quantum mechanics and its implications for particle behavior
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  • Research the relationship between Compton wavelength and Schwarzschild radius in black hole physics
  • Study the implications of Planck mass in particle physics and cosmology
  • Explore the theories of topology and quantization in relation to black holes
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Is there any theory for which "elementary" particles are "small" black holes or/and for which the electron and the proton would be a pair of associated black holes?

Does such question even be meaningful ? Or is it just science-fiction, the fruit of any crazzy imagination?
 
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Any particle, given enough energy, will become a black hole
 
negru said:
Any particle, given enough energy, will become a black hole
Are you saying that a particle can become a black hole by accelerating to a high velocity close to c? If that is what you are saying, then you are wrong.
 
Really? I thought that energy curves space-time, and when it gets curved enough it becomes a black hole. I mean, possibly ignoring new Planck scale effects
 
I'm quite confused here.. shouldn't a property of being a black hole be coordinate invariant?
There should be some singularity inside of horizon with some diverging scalar quantity.
Moving alongside the particle, no such singularity should be observed.?
 
atyy said:
Black Holes as Elementary Particles
C.F.E. Holzhey, F. Wilczek
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9202014

That's addressing the converse of the question in the OP.

For an elementary particle to be a black hole, it must have a Compton wavelength smaller than its Schwarzschild radius, otherwise the horizon is not defined. The lower bound on the mass of a black hole is therefore the Planck mass. All known elementary particles are well below this bound, so they are not black holes.
 
fzero said:
That's addressing the converse of the question in the OP.

For an elementary particle to be a black hole, it must have a Compton wavelength smaller than its Schwarzschild radius, otherwise the horizon is not defined. The lower bound on the mass of a black hole is therefore the Planck mass. All known elementary particles are well below this bound, so they are not black holes.

Despite the recommanded document is treating the converse of the question, I shall read it... and perhaps ask some more new questions.

For atyy and fzero: thank you.
 
Yeah i was wrong, sorry.
 
  • #10
negru said:
Yeah i was wrong, sorry.

What is true is this complicated interplay between the mass (the equivalent proper energy) and the dimensions (in fact the geometry, the form and the exterior surface) of a given black hole.

I am no specialist about this thematic but I guess it must be an excellent way to test some fascinating theories concerning topology, quantization ...a.s.a...

One could for example ask why the "smallest" black hole (of which the surface must be quantized, accordingly to different works: Hawking, Rovelli...) is not a pyramid (just a funny proposition) insteed to be a sphere?

As non specialist, I see another objection to the possibility: particle = blac hole. Since some particles are radiating, this hypothesis -if true- would impose a coincidence between the observed radiation and the Hawking radiation which seems to be the only one authorized by the theory...
 

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