Tiny Black Holes Can Form in Spacetime Crystals

Topic: Physics

Researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt and TU Wien have found a way to describe mathematically how tiny black holes can form in spacetime crystals. This process, called critical collapse, was first predicted by computer simulations in 1993.

Imagine water at zero degrees Celsius. A small change in temperature can make the water freeze into an ice crystal. Something similar happens in spacetime, according to Einstein's theory of relativity. Matter warps spacetime, and changes in particle distribution can alter its curvature.

Researchers Christian Ecker and Daniel Grumiller from Goethe University Frankfurt and TU Wien have found a way to describe mathematically how tiny black holes can form in spacetime crystals. They call this process critical collapse. Under certain conditions, the curvature of spacetime can arrange itself into a repeating pattern, forming a kind of 'spacetime crystal.'

If a tiny amount of energy is added to this crystal, it can suddenly turn into a black hole. This phenomenon was first predicted by computer simulations in 1993. The researchers have now found an exact formula for the process using an unconventional mathematical approach.

Why It Matters

Understanding how tiny black holes form can help us learn more about the early universe and the Big Bang. It's also a fascinating example of how complex phenomena can arise from simple rules.

Key Facts

• Researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt and TU Wien have found a way to describe mathematically how tiny black holes can form in spacetime crystals.
• This process, called critical collapse, was first predicted by computer simulations in 1993.
• The researchers used an unconventional mathematical approach to derive an exact formula for the phenomenon.
• Tiny black holes could have formed in the early universe, shortly after the Big Bang.
• The discovery can help us learn more about the early universe and the Big Bang.

Key Terms

Spacetime

A four-dimensional fabric that combines space and time.

Critical collapse

A process where spacetime curvature forms a repeating pattern, potentially leading to the formation of tiny black holes.

Implications

Understanding how tiny black holes form can help us learn more about the early universe and the Big Bang. It's also a fascinating example of how complex phenomena can arise from simple rules.