Do All Black Holes Exhibit Rotation?

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    Blackholes Rotate
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around whether all black holes exhibit rotation, exploring the implications of accretion disks and gravitational lensing. Participants examine the relationship between black hole formation, angular momentum, and the nature of black holes in both theoretical and observational contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that realistic black holes always rotate due to the angular momentum inherited from the stars that collapse into them.
  • Others argue that the formation of an accretion disk is not a direct result of the black hole's rotation, but rather due to the angular momentum of the infalling matter.
  • A participant suggests that a non-rotating black hole could still have an accretion disk if a star with angular momentum is close enough to it, allowing gases to spiral in.
  • There is a question about whether infalling material could cause a non-spinning black hole to start rotating.
  • Some participants assert that gravitational lensing can occur with non-rotating black holes, indicating that rotation is not necessary for this phenomenon.
  • One participant ventures that the probability of a black hole having a rotation rate of exactly zero is effectively zero, suggesting a probabilistic view of black hole characteristics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that realistic black holes are likely to rotate, but there is no consensus on the implications of this for accretion disks and gravitational lensing. Multiple competing views remain regarding the nature of black hole rotation and its effects.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the classification of "realistic" black holes and the conditions under which non-rotating black holes might exist. There are unresolved questions about the dynamics of infalling material and its effects on black hole rotation.

Lino
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There are two representations of black holes that I see in the popular media. Could you help me find the answer to a (or two) question about this please?

1. Feeding black hole with an accretion disk - I assume that the accretion disk is a product / consequence of rotation (in addition to the feeding) ... but we all know what they say about assumptions ... ?

2. A black hole passing in front of a star field, causing gravitational lensing. I don't know if these are rotating, or where to start looking for discussions on the topic. Any ideas?


Basically, do black holes always rotate? Any pointers / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Regards,


Noel.
 
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Lino said:
Basically, do black holes always rotate? Any pointers / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Realistic black holes will always rotate. This is because the stars which give birth to them always rotate, and that angular momentum becomes the rotation of the black hole during the collapse.

Note: Lensing doesn't really have anything to do with rotation. It's an effect observed even in a nonspinning black hole.
 
The accretion disk is not a product of the balck hole rotating, but of the angular momentum of the matter being attracted to the black hole.

Suppose you a non-rotating black hole with a star close enough to the black hole so that some of the gases from the star's outer layers is being pulled towards the black hole. The star would have to be revolving around the black hole so that itself is not pulled in, all at once. Therefor the star has an angular velocity, or a forward speed around the black hole. As the gases get closer and closer to the black hole, they still keep this forward motion, and thus spiral around the black hole forming the accretion disk.
 
Nabeshin said:
Realistic black holes will always rotate. ... It's an effect observed even in a nonspinning black hole.

Thanks Nabeshin. Can I just ask, is "realistic" a classification - I can't find any references to it when I search for it.
 
"Realistic" as in what one would expect to see. Think of it probabilistically: What is the probability that a black hole has a rotation rate of that is exactly zero? I would venture that it is exactly zero.
 
Thanks 256bits.

256bits said:
The accretion disk is not a product of the balck hole rotating, but of the angular momentum of the matter being attracted to the black hole.

Of course! Sorry, I should have seen that.

256bits said:
... a non-rotating black hole with a star close enough to the black hole so that some of the gases from the star's outer layers is being pulled towards the black hole.

Am I right in thinking that this infalling material would cause the (non-spinning) black-hole to start to rotate? Also, on a different note, would the infalling material start accelerating to the speed of light once it crosses the event horizion?

Thanks again 256bits.

Regards,

Noel.
 
D H said:
"Realistic" as in what one would expect to see. Think of it probabilistically: What is the probability that a black hole has a rotation rate of that is exactly zero? I would venture that it is exactly zero.

OK, I think I understand. Thanks D H.
 
Yes

They must. As results of stellar system they were once the sun of..They have A/momentum.
The speed of rotation is interesting.. the event horizon bulges as in an oblate sphere at very high rotation.

DH the probability is .. zero. Though that statistics and my field is stochastics related to humanity
 

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