Could a Black Hole Explode Like the Big Bang?

In summary, it's possible that a black hole could eventually explode in the same manner as the Universe did when the Big Bang happened. However, there is still some research that needs to be done in order to confirm this.
  • #1
JimboLittle
5
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Just a quick question, possibly a silly one.
If a black hole gains enough matter and energy, could it eventually explode in the same manner the Universe did when the Big Bang happened?
 
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  • #2
JimboLittle said:
..., could it eventually explode in the same manner the Universe did when the Big Bang happened?

"in the same manner"

It's important to realize that the Big Bang was not an explosion in the ordinary sense of material blasting outwards from a central point, out into surrounding empty space.

The explosion image is a common misconception. Please help us stamp it out. Take a look at the Scientific American article called "Misconceptions about the Big Bang" that is at the princeton.edu link in my signature.

===================

In the ordinary picture, a big bang event does not expand out into some pre-existing space, it causes its own space.
A common research model of how this comes about is called the "big bounce"---this occurs as a result of prior collapse. When the prevailing theory of gravity, namely General Relativity, is put in quantum terms, it appears to predict that gravity becomes repellent at very high densities. So an intense contraction can actually trigger a re-expansion.
Bounce models are increasingly studied, both using equations and using computer models.
To get a rough idea of the research activity (not to read any of these papers) here's a sample of stuff published 2007-2009:
http://www.slac.stanford.edu/spires/find/hep/www?rawcmd=FIND+DK+QUANTUM+COSMOLOGY+AND+DATE+%3E+2006&FORMAT=www&SEQUENCE=citecount%28d%29

=====================

So far the main kind of bounce that has been studied is where a full universe collapses (what people used to call a crunch) and that causes the bounce resulting in the kind of situation which we see.

There have been a few papers exploring the idea that instead of a full universe collapse you could have a black hole collapse that would lead to a bounce. Some authors names are Kevin Vandersloot, Christian Boehmer, and Dah-wei Chiou. Be very cautious about reading too much into this. It is faintly conceivable that a black hole collapse could lead, could already have led, to a bounce and an expanding new region of space, a "baby universe".

But this idea has not attracted more than about half a dozen researchers, mostly young, and has yet to gain any significant credibility.

What has attracted a lot of people and activity is the full universe collapse and bounce idea. Brandenberger, an influential guy at McGill, just put out a paper on this. There are at least 20 people working on it at various institutions around the world, including prominent figures.
 
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  • #3
JimboLittle said:
Just a quick question, possibly a silly one.
If a black hole gains enough matter and energy, could it eventually explode in the same manner the Universe did when the Big Bang happened?

Black holes can do 3 things. They can suck, vomit, or disappear. If you eat too much, you will throw up. In the same way, as matter infalls towards a black hole, that matter emits radiation "Throwing up", and radio jets are emitted by the BH. In the other case, if black holes don't get food, they starve, lose weight, and eventually disappear.

I'm describing all this in the least scientific way and most silly way possible I know. I'm just feeling silly today.
 

Related to Could a Black Hole Explode Like the Big Bang?

1. Can a black hole go supernova?

Technically, no. A supernova is a massive explosion that occurs when a star runs out of fuel and collapses. Black holes are formed from the collapse of massive stars, so they cannot go supernova because they have already gone through the supernova stage.

2. Can a black hole explode?

No, a black hole cannot explode because it is already in a stable state. However, it can emit energy and matter through processes such as Hawking radiation and accretion disks.

3. Can a black hole consume another black hole and cause a supernova?

No, when two black holes merge, they form a larger black hole. This process does not result in a supernova. However, the merger may release a large amount of energy in the form of gravitational waves.

4. Can a black hole become a supernova after consuming a large amount of matter?

No, black holes do not explode like stars do. When a black hole consumes matter, it adds to its mass and increases its gravitational pull, but it does not trigger a supernova.

5. Is a black hole's singularity the same as a supernova's core?

No, a black hole's singularity is a point of infinite density at its center, while a supernova's core is the region where nuclear fusion reactions occur before the star's collapse. They are two different phenomena with different characteristics.

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