If an electron falls into a black hole?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the fate of leptons, specifically electrons, when they fall into a black hole (BH). It concludes that while leptons are considered eternal due to their non-decaying nature, their interaction with a black hole results in their mass being absorbed, potentially leading to the generation of Hawking radiation. This radiation is not limited to photons and involves complex interactions beyond the standard model of particle physics. The current understanding relies on classical General Relativity (GR) and semiclassical methods, highlighting the absence of a complete theory of quantum gravity to describe the quantum state of a black hole and an electron.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of General Relativity (GR)
  • Familiarity with Hawking radiation concepts
  • Knowledge of particle physics, specifically leptons
  • Basic grasp of quantum field theory on curved spacetime
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of Hawking radiation on black hole thermodynamics
  • Explore the current theories of quantum gravity, including string theory
  • Study the properties and behaviors of leptons in high-energy physics
  • Investigate the relationship between classical GR and quantum mechanics
USEFUL FOR

The discussion is beneficial for physicists, cosmologists, and advanced students interested in the intersection of quantum mechanics and general relativity, particularly in the context of black holes and particle behavior.

zeromodz
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Leptons are supposed to be eternal because they do not decay. What about if you through a lepton (say electron in this case) into a black hole. The electron gets destroyed black hole and its mass gets added to the black hole. Wouldn't the electron be converted into a photon by the means of hawking radiation?

In other words, can leptons decay into radiation? If so, by what means and is it inevitable in the future of our expanding universe?
 
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Hawking radiation need not be purely photons. However, most of this is beyond the standard model speculation.
 
Throwing an electron into a BH is described by classical GR. Creating Hawking radiation (at the event horizon and observed at spatial infinity) is described by semiclassical methods (free quantum fields on a curved background).

Unfortunately we do not have a fully worked out theory of quantum gravity which tells us how a quantum state |BH,electron> looks like (as a state in Hilbert space) and how it evolves with time.
 

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