Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the conditions and mechanisms that could lead to the collision of two black holes, particularly focusing on their origins from supernova events and the dynamics of their paths in space. It touches on theoretical aspects, observational evidence, and the implications of black hole mergers.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- Some participants propose that for two black holes to collide, they must originate from stars that went supernova in close proximity, raising questions about the survivability of such stars.
- Others argue that any two objects in space could alter their paths due to mutual gravity, potentially leading to a collision.
- A participant notes the uncertainty surrounding the number of black holes in the universe and suggests that the sheer number of stars that have died could imply that black hole mergers have occurred historically.
- There is a suggestion that the merger of black holes could result in the formation of a larger black hole, although this remains speculative.
- One participant questions the likelihood of black hole mergers in an expanding universe, suggesting that such events may primarily occur within local groups of galaxies.
- Another participant mentions the detection capabilities of LIGO, questioning the discrepancy between expected and observed merger rates.
- A later reply challenges the assumption that a star could not survive a nearby supernova, suggesting that a sufficiently massive star could maintain its integrity.
- Reference is made to a known merged galaxy, OJ287, which is said to exhibit the behavior of having two massive black holes.
- There is a question regarding the mass of a specific black hole, raising curiosity about its formation and growth over time.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express multiple competing views regarding the conditions necessary for black hole collisions, the implications of an expanding universe, and the observational evidence for such events. The discussion remains unresolved with no consensus reached on these points.
Contextual Notes
Some claims depend on assumptions about stellar evolution and the dynamics of black holes, while others reference observational data that may not align with theoretical expectations. The discussion includes speculative elements regarding the nature of black hole mergers and their historical occurrences.