Understanding Matter and Antimatter Interactions in Black Holes

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the interactions of matter and antimatter in the context of black holes, exploring whether the processes of matter entering a black hole and antimatter exiting one are equivalent. The scope includes theoretical considerations and conceptual clarifications regarding black hole mass changes and particle interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Jamie questions whether matter going into a black hole is the same as antimatter leaving one.
  • Some participants assert that matter and antimatter entering a black hole increase its mass, while Hawking radiation (matter and antimatter leaving) decreases it, indicating these processes are not equivalent.
  • There is a discussion about whether matter and antimatter would annihilate each other inside the black hole, with some suggesting this would only occur if their worldlines intersect.
  • One participant mentions that even if annihilation occurs, the mass of the black hole remains unchanged from before the event.
  • Questions arise regarding the conservation of energy and mass in these interactions, with some affirming that local conservation laws apply.
  • There is a clarification about antimatter, explaining that each particle of matter has a corresponding antiparticle with opposite quantum numbers.
  • Further tangential questions are raised about the behavior of electrons and positrons in quantum mechanics and their interactions with protons.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the equivalence of matter entering and antimatter leaving a black hole, with no consensus reached on the implications of annihilation within the black hole or the nature of antimatter.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the behavior of particles in extreme gravitational fields and the specifics of quantum interactions remain unresolved. The discussion also highlights the complexity of defining interactions in the context of black hole physics.

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Is matter going into a black hole the same as antimatter leaving one?

This has confused me for a while...

Thanks,
Jamie
 
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Unredeemed said:
Is matter going into a black hole the same as antimatter leaving one?

No.

Matter and antimatter falling into a black hole increase the mass of the black hole. Matter and antimatter "leaving" (Hawking radiation) a black hole decrease the mass of the black hole.
 
But wouldn't the antimatter and matter anihilate one another inside the black hole?
 
My point was that since matter falling into a black hole increases the black hole's mass and antimatter leaving a black hole decreases a black hole's mass, these two processes are not the same
Unredeemed said:
But wouldn't the antimatter and matter anihilate one another inside the black hole?

Only if their worldlines intersect inside the black hole. Even if this happens, the mass of black hole remains unchanged from the mass just "before" the annihilation event.
 
Is that due to the conservation of energy and mass?
 
Unredeemed said:
Is that due to the conservation of energy and mass?

Yes, this is because of (local) conservation of mass/energy.
 
George Jones said:
No.

Matter and antimatter falling into a black hole increase the mass of the black hole. Matter and antimatter "leaving" (Hawking radiation) a black hole decrease the mass of the black hole.

What is this antimatter?
 
wolram said:
What is this antimatter?

For every particle of matter, there is a corresponding particle of antimatter. The (additive) quantum numbers of an anitparticle have values that ere the negatives of the values of the quantum number for the corresponding particle.

For example, an electron has negative electric charge, and a positron (anitmatter electron) has positive electric charge. If a particle and corresponding antiparticle collide, they annihilate each other, releasing energy.
 
George Jones said:
...For example, an electron has negative electric charge, and a positron (anitmatter electron) has positive electric charge. If a particle and corresponding antiparticle collide, they annihilate each other, releasing energy.
Tangents, if you are inclined:
Assuming the electron and positron are the same thing(? same mass, etc) differing only in charge:
1. Why don't an electron and positron settle into quantum mechanical orbitals about each other similar to the traditional electron and nucleus?
2. If an high energy electron can in fact be made to collide with a (proton based) nucleus, why does it not 'annihilate' some 1/1800 th of the much larger proton?
 

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