Radial temperature gradient of a black hole

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the radial temperature gradient of a black hole, particularly in relation to Hawking radiation and gravitational redshift. Participants explore whether the temperature of a black hole varies with proximity to it and how this is affected by the local versus global coordinate frames of reference. The conversation includes theoretical implications of black holes as heat sinks and the nature of black body spectra in the context of redshift.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether the temperature of a black hole due to Hawking radiation varies with distance from the black hole, considering the effects of gravitational redshift.
  • There is a suggestion that the temperature gradient might not need correction for gravitational redshift, depending on the local observer's frame of reference.
  • One participant proposes that if light cannot escape beyond the event horizon, the black hole should be treated as a colder body, challenging the notion of infinite temperature and entropy.
  • Another participant raises the question of whether a redshifted black body spectrum can still be considered a black body spectrum.
  • Some participants assert that the temperature of a black hole, as determined by Hawking radiation, would depend on the distance from the black hole, with uncertainty about whether the relevant equation applies at the event horizon or at infinity.
  • There is a claim that Hawking radiation is not influenced by the surrounding temperature, suggesting that an evaporating black hole is not being heated by the universe.
  • One participant cites a source indicating that as a detector approaches the horizon, the temperature of the flux diverges, implying an increase in temperature due to noninertial effects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the temperature gradient of a black hole and the implications of gravitational redshift. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus on the nature of the temperature gradient or the effects of redshift.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific equations and theoretical frameworks, such as those from Birrell & Davies, but the discussion includes unresolved assumptions about the applicability of these equations in different contexts.

kmarinas86
Messages
974
Reaction score
1
Assuming that the accretion disk has been totally consumed by the black hole, does the temperature of the black hole due to Hawking radiation vary with respect with proximity with the black hole? For example, if I were next to the black hole, would this radiation would have a higher temperature than I was far away?

Should the temperature gradient, in effect, be corrected for gravitational redshift, such that the temperature declines as distance from the black hole's center decreases? Or should the temperature gradient not get corrected for the gravitational redshift, such that the temperature of the black hole at some location is determined by the local observer at its local coordinate frame, rather than from a global coordinate frame of reference?

If light cannot escape beyond the black hole's event horizon. Doesn't that make it a heat sink? If it is a heat sink, musn't that mean that, as far as thermodynamics are concerned, that it must be treated as a colder body, and not a hotter one, so a black hole does not have infinite temperature and entropy? Also, wouldn't an evaporating black hole be evaporating due to the universe heating it up?
 
Science news on Phys.org
kmarinas86 said:
Should the temperature gradient, in effect, be corrected for gravitational redshift, such that the temperature declines as distance from the black hole's center decreases? Or should the temperature gradient not get corrected for the gravitational redshift, such that the temperature of the black hole at some location is determined by the local observer at its local coordinate frame, rather than from a global coordinate frame of reference?
That is an interesting question. Is a redshifted black body spectrum even a black body spectrum?
 
Is a redshifted black body spectrum even a black body spectrum?
Yes indeed.
 
Then it would definitely seem that the temperature of a black hole, as determined by the black body spectrum of Hawking radiation, would depend on the distance from the black hole. I don't know if the equation for Hawking radiation is at the event horizon or at infinity.
 
DaleSpam said:
Then it would definitely seem that the temperature of a black hole, as determined by the black body spectrum of Hawking radiation, would depend on the distance from the black hole. I don't know if the equation for Hawking radiation is at the event horizon or at infinity.

If I understand Hawking's derivation, it's the temperature seen at infinity.
 
kmarinas86 said:
... Also, wouldn't an evaporating black hole be evaporating due to the universe heating it up?

Hawking radiation is not dependent on the surrounding temperature, so no I don't think so.
 
Should the temperature gradient, in effect, be corrected for gravitational redshift, such that the temperature declines as distance from the black hole's center decreases?
I think this is the answer. It increases! This is taken from Birrell & Davies, p.282.

"For the Unruh vacuum, FU(E)/unit proper time = 1/E(eE/kT - 1) where kT = [64π2M2(1 - 2M/R)]. As the detector approaches the horizon (R → 2M) the temperature of the flux determined by the detector diverges. This is due to the fact that the detector must be noninertial to maintain a fixed distance from the black hole The magnitude of the acceleration relative to the local freely-falling frame is M/[R2(1 - 2M/R)½]. Such acceleration gives rise to the detection of additional particles. As the horizon is approached, the acceleration diverges, as does the temperature."
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 73 ·
3
Replies
73
Views
4K
  • · Replies 51 ·
2
Replies
51
Views
6K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K