Micro Black Holes and Dark Matter as fuel for spaceship?

In summary: If you're looking for a more in-depth look at this topic, I suggest checking out the Beyond the Standard Model forum. We investigate whether it is physically possible to build starships or power sources using the Hawking radiation of an artificial black hole as a power source. The proposal seems to be at the edge of possibility, but quantum gravity effects could change the picture.
  • #1
infinitebubble
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I've been reading several ideas postulated by some researchers using either Dark Matter and or a micro Black Hole as energy sources to power a future spacecraft .

1) using dark matter as fuel to power a spacecraft by taking dark matter into a cavity and shrinking it to critical point using neutralinos (Neutralinos are curious in that they are their own antiparticles: two neutralinos colliding under the right circumstances will annihilate each other giving off tremendous energy). https://arxiv.org/abs/0908.1429

2) using micro black hole which could be used as the energy source. This would be a Schwarzschild, or non-rotating, black hole which outputs Hawking Radiation for power. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131203-could-black-holes-provide-energy

Since CERN and the LHC both have the capability of producing micro BH's, it would be fascinating if they could scale the micro BH such that it could potentially be used for such an engine (of course we have the technical hurdle to contain it properly and to feed it).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_black_hole
 
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  • #2
infinitebubble said:
I've been reading several ideas postulated by some researchers using either Dark Matter and or a micro Black Hole as energy sources to power a future spacecraft .

All of these ideas are highly speculative. Do you have a particular question? There's not much we can discuss here since none of this is mainstream science.

infinitebubble said:
Since CERN and the LHC both have the capability of producing micro BH's

This is also highly speculative.
 
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  • #3
infinitebubble said:
Since CERN and the LHC both have the capability of producing micro BH's, it would be fascinating if they could scale the micro BH such that it could potentially be used for such an engine
The main issue here is you only get out the energy you put into generating the micro BHs, see the responses in my Black hole explosions thread.
 
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  • #4
PeterDonis said:
All of these ideas are highly speculative. Do you have a particular question? There's not much we can discuss here since none of this is mainstream science.
This is also highly speculative.

Understood and if the thread needs to be locked so be it... but thought this would be a good discussion since some of the science is there along with papers.
 
  • #5
stoomart said:
The main issue here is you only get out the energy you put into generating the micro BHs, see the responses in my Black hole explosions thread.

Hence why the 'feeding' of the micro BH would have to follow some protocol.
 
  • #6
infinitebubble said:
some of the science is there along with papers.

I've moved this thread to the Beyond the Standard Model forum because, while you did provide a link to a paper, it's using theoretical models which are speculative at this point, so the BtSM forum is the right place to discuss them.
 
  • #7
infinitebubble said:
Hence why the 'feeding' of the micro BH would have to follow some protocol.
I don't see the point in the black hole then, why not just feed the energy directly into the engine?

Edit: Here's some more discussion: Are Black Hole Starships Possible?

We investigate whether it is physically possible to build starships or power sources using the Hawking radiation of an artificial black hole as a power source. The proposal seems to be at the edge of possibility, but quantum gravity effects could change the picture.​
 
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1. What is a micro black hole and how can it be used as fuel for spaceships?

A micro black hole is a theoretical object that is much smaller than a typical black hole, with a mass ranging from a few billion kilograms to less than a gram. It is believed that these tiny black holes can be created through the collision of high-energy particles in the universe. As for using them as fuel for spaceships, the idea is to capture the Hawking radiation emitted by the micro black hole and convert it into usable energy.

2. Is it safe to use micro black holes as fuel for spaceships?

The safety of using micro black holes as fuel for spaceships is still a topic of debate among scientists. While they are small and produce less radiation compared to larger black holes, there is still a risk of radiation exposure during the process of capturing and utilizing the Hawking radiation. More research and testing would need to be done to ensure the safety of this method.

3. Can dark matter be used as fuel for spaceships?

Dark matter is a type of matter that does not interact with light, making it invisible to telescopes and other forms of detection. While it is a promising candidate for use as spaceship fuel due to its abundance in the universe, its exact nature is still not fully understood. Therefore, it is currently not possible to use dark matter as fuel for spaceships.

4. How would using micro black holes and dark matter as fuel affect the environment?

This is a difficult question to answer, as it would depend on the specific methods and technologies used to harness and utilize these substances as fuel. However, it is important to consider the potential impact on the environment and to carefully weigh the pros and cons before implementing such a method on a large scale.

5. Are there any current research or experiments being done on using micro black holes and dark matter as fuel for spaceships?

Yes, there are ongoing research and experiments being conducted by scientists and organizations such as NASA to further explore the potential of using micro black holes and dark matter as fuel for spaceships. However, it is still in the early stages and more research and testing are needed before this method can be implemented in practical applications.

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