Passing a black hole from double slit experiment setup

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the theoretical implications of passing a black hole, potentially formed by compressing mass to below its Schwarzschild Radius, through a double slit experiment setup. Participants explore whether this scenario would result in an interference pattern or a classical particle-like pattern on the detector screen, considering the quantum properties of black holes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a black hole could theoretically be formed by compressing mass and questions the resulting behavior in a double slit experiment.
  • Another participant notes that a black hole of such small size would likely evaporate quickly due to Hawking Radiation, implying a limitation to the scenario.
  • Some participants propose that at quantum scales, a black hole may behave like a point particle, potentially leading to a standard interference pattern.
  • A later reply introduces the idea that the energy of a black hole's Coulomb field could complicate the concept of its behavior in quantum scenarios.
  • One participant posits that if the black hole has an appropriate momentum, an interference pattern could indeed be observed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the behavior of a black hole in a quantum context, with no consensus reached on whether an interference pattern or a classical pattern would emerge. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of black hole properties at quantum scales.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about the stability of small black holes and the effects of Hawking Radiation, as well as the dependence on definitions of quantum behavior and particle characteristics.

us40
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Hello,

Theoretically any object can convert into black hole by compressing its mass below some radius( describe by Schwarzschild Radius). Suppose one of this object after becoming black hole have radius
which is comparable to atoms and nucleus radius. Now my question is what will happen if we pass this object into double slit experiment setup (single black hole at a time). Shall we get interference pattern on detector wall because of its radius in quantum domain ( say we somehow know when on detector screen this black hole will hit) or simple particle like pattern (i.e. classical way ) because of mass associated with that black hole?
 
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Sounds like a possibly interesting question. I don't have any answer but I would point out that it is believed that a BH that small would evaporate, almost as soon as it was formed, from Hawking Radiation.
 
It sounds like we need a theory of quantum gravity to answer this, but my guess is that you will get a standard interference pattern. My guess is that at quantum scales, there is no difference between a black hole and a point particle, and the weird behavior of black holes disappears at small scales and is replaced by particle behavior. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hole_electron
 
I just added remarks to this wiki page. Mainly, the smaller a charge contribution the higher the energy of its Coulomb field. For a black hole with electron mass and charge this energy reaches a ludicrous value, so I think this is a shaky concept.
 
I guess if the black hole has a suitable momentum value h/lambda an interference pattern would be observed.
 

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