Smallest Schwarzschild Radius: Theory & Facts

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the smallest possible Schwarzschild radius, exploring theoretical limits, implications of quantum gravity, and the formation of black holes. Participants engage in both classical and speculative considerations, touching on gravitational collapse and primordial black holes.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Speculative

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that classically, there is no smallest Schwarzschild radius since it is proportional to mass, which has no lower limit.
  • Others propose that if a successful quantum theory of gravity is developed, a smallest Schwarzschild radius may emerge.
  • A participant mentions that the smallest black hole that can form from gravitational collapse is estimated to be around 3 solar masses, though this is not well established.
  • Speculation exists regarding primordial black holes, with estimates suggesting a minimum mass of about 1011 kg, assuming current models of Hawking radiation are accurate.
  • Some theorists speculate that black hole evaporation might leave behind a Planck mass black hole.
  • Concerns are raised about the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) potentially creating microscopic black holes, with one participant noting that there is currently no evidence supporting this claim.
  • Another participant discusses the energy conditions under which black holes might form, referencing high-energy collisions and the implications of Hawking radiation on such small black holes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the existence and implications of a smallest Schwarzschild radius, with no consensus reached on the theoretical limits or the potential for black hole formation at small scales.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes speculative theories and assumptions about quantum gravity and black hole formation, with limitations in current understanding and evidence regarding these topics.

Shaw
Messages
46
Reaction score
3
Is there theoretically a smallest possible Schwarzschild radius?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Classically, no.
 
Though if a successful quantum theory of gravity is found, then yes most likely.
 
Thanks, but your replies lack detail, so they're not helpful.
 
What do you want? For quantum case, there can be no detail because there is no theory. For classical, it is trivial. The Schwazschild radius is proportional to mass. Since there is no lower limit on mass, there is no lower limit on Schwarzschild radius.

I can turn your critique around. It should really not have been necessary to ask this question at all. The most cursory search would have answered as has been done here. I could have ended this at the beginning with a report for 'didn't try google first'.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Stephanus and PWiz
I guess a few questions you could have intended but didn't specify are:

1) What is the smallest BH that can form from gravitational collapse? This is not well known, but a guesstimate is around 3 solar masses.

2) What is the smallest primordial BH that could survive to the present era, assuming such BH formed in the first place (e.g. from fluctuations in the early universe)? This is about 1011 kg [assuming current models of Hawking radiation remain correct over the whole scale of BH sizes].

3) Some theorists propose that the result of evaporation isn't nothing but is a Planck mass BH that remains. This is just one speculative theory.

4) Various speculative QG theories predict different answers to these questions.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Stephanus
PAllen said:
What do you want? For quantum case, there can be no detail because [..]
Yep, I still remember this.
PAllen said:
Each k in your series is smaller each time [..]Of course, this is all nonsense - no mirror is anywhere near that perfect. Also, of course, I do ignore quantum effects because [..]
PAllen said:
What do you want? [..]Since there is no lower limit on mass, there is no lower limit on Schwarzschild radius.
Yeah, unlike ##\sqrt{1-v^2}##, here the limit for V is C.

PAllen said:
I1) What is the smallest BH that can form from gravitational collapse? This is not well known, but a guesstimate is around 3 solar masses.
For natural BH you mean? I heard that CERN is creating tiny BH on daily basis.
 
Stephanus said:
PAllen said:
1) What is the smallest BH that can form from gravitational collapse? This is not well known, but a guesstimate is around 3 solar masses.
For natural BH you mean? I heard that CERN is creating tiny BH on daily basis.
Natural of course. Should have read that a minute longer before posting.
 
Stephanus said:
For natural BH you mean? I heard that CERN is creating tiny BH on daily basis.

There is currently exactly zero evidence than LHC has formed any BH at all. Most theorists believe it is unlikely that it will, but since some speculative theories include such a possibility, it is very interesting to look for them.
 
  • #10
PAllen said:
There is currently exactly zero evidence that LHC has formed any BH [..]
Perhaps if you calculate the momentum energy of two colliding protons each travels at 99.99%c multiply it by 2G in less then ##\frac{2GM_{proton}}{c^2}## radius, I don't know. I should have calculated it. Perhaps the concentration of the momentum energy in much less tiny radius could be called black hole. And I heard that for such tiny black hole, the hawking radiation will evaporate it in less then 1 second. You know better. Btw, I'm still studying your post about doppler effect in SR. Still trying to make sense out of it.
 
  • #11
Stephanus said:
Perhaps if you calculate the momentum energy of two colliding protons each travels at 99.99%c multiply it by 2G in less then ##\frac{2GM_{proton}}{c^2}## radius, I don't know. I should have calculated it. Perhaps the concentration of the momentum energy in much less tiny radius could be called black hole. And I heard that for such tiny black hole, the hawking radiation will evaporate it in less then 1 second. You know better. Btw, I'm still studying your post about doppler effect in SR. Still trying to make sense out of it.
http://phys.org/news/2010-12-large-hadron-collider-signatures-microscopic.html#nRlv

While this article is old, I have not heard of any change in the status.

[edit: a recent reference that the status has not changed, see the footnote in:

https://books.google.com/books?id=q...e&q=evidence black hole formation LHC&f=false
]
 
Last edited:
  • #12
Large Hadron Collider finds no signatures of microscopic black holes
Ok.
 
  • #13
Shaw said:
your replies lack detail

That's because your question lacked detail. If you have a more detailed question, please start another thread. This one is closed.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: PWiz

Similar threads

  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 64 ·
3
Replies
64
Views
9K