I stopped working on black hole information loss. Here’s why.
Sabine Hossenfelder・10 minutes read
Physicists, including the speaker, are intrigued by the black hole paradox discovered by Stephen Hawking, which stems from the clash between general relativity and quantum mechanics. Efforts to solve the paradox involve theories about gravitons and information storage in black hole "hair," but doubts persist about their effectiveness in resolving the issue.
Insights
- Physicists, like Stephen Hawking, are intrigued by the black hole paradox, which stems from the clash between general relativity and quantum mechanics, ultimately leading to the search for a unifying solution.
- The resolution of the black hole information loss paradox necessitates the integration of general relativity and quantum mechanics, demanding additional assumptions to reconcile discrepancies, with various proposed solutions vying for validation, highlighting the complexity of understanding nature's fundamental principles.
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Recent questions
What is the black hole information loss paradox?
The black hole information loss paradox refers to the conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics regarding the fate of information that enters a black hole.
How did Stephen Hawking contribute to understanding black holes?
Stephen Hawking discovered Hawking radiation in the 1970s, revealing that black holes emit thermal radiation and eventually disappear, leading to the information loss paradox.
What are the properties that describe black holes according to general relativity?
Black holes in general relativity are described by their mass, angular momentum, and electric charge, known as the no hair theorem.
What is the significance of combining general relativity and quantum mechanics in solving the paradox?
Resolving the black hole information loss paradox requires reconciling general relativity and quantum mechanics, making further assumptions to address inconsistencies and find the correct solution.
What are some recent theories attempting to solve the black hole information loss paradox?
Recent attempts to solve the paradox involve theories about gravitons and the storage of information in black hole "hair," although skepticism remains about their effectiveness.
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Summary
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Black Hole Paradox: General Relativity vs Quantum Mechanics
- Physicists, including the speaker, were captivated by the black hole paradox discovered by Stephen Hawking, leading to various attempts to solve it.
- The black hole information loss paradox arises from the conflict between Einstein's theory of general relativity and quantum mechanics.
- In general relativity, black holes are described by only three properties: mass, angular momentum, and electric charge, known as the no hair theorem.
- Quantum mechanics dictates that information cannot be lost, but when a book is thrown into a black hole, the information seems irreversibly lost due to the black hole's simplicity.
- Stephen Hawking's discovery of Hawking radiation in the 1970s revealed that black holes emit thermal radiation, causing them to shrink and eventually disappear, leading to the information loss paradox.
- Recent attempts to solve the paradox involve theories about gravitons and the storage of information in black hole "hair," but skepticism remains about the effectiveness of these solutions.
- Resolving the black hole information loss paradox involves combining general relativity and quantum mechanics, making further assumptions to address inconsistencies, with multiple potential solutions existing but only one being correct in describing nature.
