End to one of the greatest mysteries of the universe? Scientists discover what’s at the core of a black hole
From unifying quantum physics and gravity to working out what is dark matter, the universe has some deep questions that remain unanswered.
Scientists continue to dig deeper into the world’s mysteries every day, with plenty of fundamental questions that remain: how did life begin on Earth? What is dark matter? Is Earth life unique in the universe?
While we may not answer all - or any - of them today, the boffins are chipping away at the questions, with snippets of information clearing up the clouds that cover the answers to the universe and the life therein.
One of those questions, what happens inside a black hole, may just have taken a small step towards its conclusion, with quantum computers giving us a hint that they could one day have the answer.
Black holes are regions in the fabric of the universe so dense that everything that crosses the event horizon cannot escape - not even light - and space and time effectively swap places. They are one of the most complicated and fascinating phenomena in existence, and scientists are always moving to unlock the secrets behind them.
The entire universe could be a hologram
As mentioned, a black hole’s tremendous mass warps space-time, creating a gravitational field that extends in three dimensions. This gravitational influence is mathematically linked to particles moving in two dimensions above the black hole. Consequently, although a black hole exists in three-dimensional space, it can appear to observers as a projection of particles.
This idea is called ‘The Holographic Principle’ and is science’s best explanation for how the universe works in such extreme conditions. Some scientists suggest that the entire universe might operate in this way—as a holographic projection of particles, with black holes the best example of finding proof.
Enrico Rinaldi explained to TheBrighterSide that in Einstein’s General Relativity, space-time exists independently of particles, whereas in the Standard Model of particle physics, particles exist without accounting for gravitational forces. Reconciling these two fundamental theories has been one of the greatest challenges in physics.
In a recent study published in PRX Quantum, Rinaldi and his colleagues investigate how quantum computing and deep learning can advance the understanding of holographic duality. Their research focuses on calculating the lowest energy state of quantum matrix models—mathematical constructs that might help unravel the nature of this duality.
Get pulled in to this black hole image. You read that right!@NASAWebb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument captured a supermassive black hole gobbling gas and dust. The energy it emits as it feeds makes the spiral galaxy’s core shine like a six-pointed pink "star": https://t.co/gyHp5UMZ5Y pic.twitter.com/Jsk6Yemijf
— NASA (@NASA) September 19, 2024
‘Still not easy to solve the particle theories’
Rinaldi and his colleagues used two matrix models, which are not in themselves complicated to solve through normal means but have all of the attributes of more complex matrix models employed to describe black holes using holographic duality. The focus of researchers is to determine the specific arrangement of particles in the ground state, the lowest energy state of the system, by solving these matrix models.
“We hope that by understanding the properties of this particle theory through the numerical experiments, we understand something about gravity. Unfortunately it’s still not easy to solve the particle theories. And that’s where the computers can help us.”
While the full explanation can be found in Rinaldi’s complete breakdown, quantum computing is certainly able to take us closer to finding out the mysteries of the universe. For example, breathtaking matrices are easier to decipher and rationalise if quantum computers continue to develop the way they are. This, Rinaldi says, is the key:
Most Black Holes are born after a big star dies and huge amounts of matter are squeezed together tightly. The pull of their gravity is so strong that not even light can escape. There may be as many as one billion of them in our galaxy. pic.twitter.com/kGSBgw3MNY
— Kurzgesagt (@Kurz_Gesagt) April 29, 2021
“If we know how the matrices are arranged and what their properties are, we can know, for example, what a black hole looks like on the inside. What is on the event horizon for a black hole? Where does it come from? Answering these questions would be a step towards realising a quantum theory of gravity.”
Major components of black holes:
Singularity:
At the very center of a black hole lies the singularity, a point where gravity is so intense that spacetime is infinitely curved, and the laws of physics as we know them break down. It is thought to be an infinitely small, dense point.
Event Horizon:
The event horizon is the "point of no return." Once anything, including light, crosses this boundary, it can no longer escape the black hole's gravitational pull. The event horizon defines the black hole's size and is often the most recognizable feature.
Photon Sphere:
Just outside the event horizon, the photon sphere is a region where light can orbit the black hole due to its extreme gravity. Photons (light particles) can temporarily circle the black hole before either escaping or being pulled in.
Accretion Disk:
Many black holes are surrounded by an accretion disk, a rotating ring of gas, dust, and other matter spiraling toward the event horizon. The intense friction in the disk heats the material, causing it to glow and emit radiation, often making black holes detectable.
Doppler Beaming (Relativistic Beaming):
Doppler beaming occurs when material, such as jets or particles in the accretion disk, moves at relativistic speeds (close to the speed of light). As the material moves toward the observer, the radiation it emits is compressed, leading to a boost in brightness and intensity—this is the "beaming" effect. Conversely, material moving away from the observer appears dimmer.
Ergosphere (for rotating black holes):
In rotating (Kerr) black holes, there is an additional region called the ergosphere. It lies just outside the event horizon and is where spacetime is dragged along with the black hole's rotation. Objects within the ergosphere can still escape the black hole’s gravity if they gain enough energy.
Jets:
Some black holes, particularly those in active galaxies, can eject powerful jets of charged particles along their rotational axis. These jets can travel vast distances into space and are caused by the magnetic fields generated by the accretion disk.
Source: https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/physicists-discover-whats-at-the-core-of-a-black-hole/
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