Light Black Holes from Light.

Area of Science:

• Theoretical Physics
• Quantum Field Theory
• Astrophysics

Background:

• Previous research suggested quantum dissipative effects, like vacuum polarization and the Schwinger effect, prevent black hole formation from light.
• These studies often assumed an adiabatic influx of electromagnetic energy, limiting the scope of black hole formation scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the possibility of black hole formation from light, considering scenarios beyond adiabatic energy influx.
• To re-evaluate the impact of quantum dissipative effects under different energy influx conditions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of theoretical processes involving rapidly changing influxes of electromagnetic energy.
• Consideration of idealized scenarios, such as the collision of approximately plane-wave light pulses.

Main Results:

• Agrees that adiabatic energy influx makes black hole formation from light highly implausible due to quantum dissipation.
• Demonstrates that rapidly changing energy influxes can theoretically lead to black hole formation across a wide range of sizes, down to the Planck length.
• Identifies specific theoretical processes, like colliding light pulses, as potential mechanisms for forming such black holes.

Conclusions:

• While realistic scenarios with adiabatic energy influx preclude light-induced black hole formation, non-adiabatic processes offer theoretical pathways.
• Quantum dissipation does not universally prevent black hole formation from light; the rate of energy influx is a critical factor.
• Idealized theoretical models suggest the possibility of creating micro black holes from photons under specific, albeit likely non-natural, conditions.