Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the concept of stable black holes (BHs), specifically focusing on their stability in terms of not growing or shrinking, and how their radius may depend on the density of matter in their surroundings. Participants explore theoretical implications, potential models, and the conditions necessary for such stability.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants propose that a stable black hole could exist if the mass loss from Hawking radiation is balanced by infalling matter, although this scenario may require specific conditions such as being in a very empty region of space.
- One participant notes that for a black hole to be in equilibrium, the surrounding space would need to be extraordinarily devoid of matter, providing calculations to illustrate this point.
- Another participant raises questions about alternatives to conventional black hole models like Schwarzschild and Kerr, suggesting that new observational data from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) could inform our understanding of black hole formation.
- A reference to a SciAm article on naked singularities is mentioned, indicating interest in broader discussions about non-standard black holes and their implications.
- One participant states that a black hole is completely stable when its Hawking radiation temperature matches the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the existence and nature of stable black holes, with no consensus reached on whether such black holes can exist in nature or what their characteristics would be.
Contextual Notes
The discussion includes assumptions about the conditions necessary for stability and the implications of various models, but these assumptions remain unresolved and depend on further exploration of the topic.