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Black hole mass threshold from nonsingular quantum gravitational collapse.
Martin Bojowald1, Rituparno Goswami, Roy Maartens
1Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Albert-Einstein-Institut, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|October 4, 2005
Summary
Loop quantum gravity effects cause a bounce, removing the black hole singularity in a collapsing scalar field model. This quantum gravity theory may also prevent the formation of very small black holes by excluding them.
Area of Science:
- Theoretical physics
- Quantum gravity
- Cosmology
Background:
- Classical general relativity predicts singularities in black holes and at the Big Bang.
- Quantum gravity theories aim to resolve these singularities.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of quantum gravity in resolving singularities.
- Explore the implications of loop quantum gravity for black hole formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a toy model of a collapsing homogeneous scalar field.
- Applied nonperturbative semiclassical effects from loop quantum gravity.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a quantum bounce, replacing the classical singularity.
- Identified a critical scale preventing horizon formation for small black holes.
Conclusions:
- Loop quantum gravity successfully removes the singularity in this model.
- Very small astrophysical black holes might be excluded by quantum gravity effects.