Why in the News?
A recent theoretical study (accepted in Nuclear Physics B, August 2025) introduces the idea of “black hole morsels”, tiny, asteroid-mass micro-black holes possibly formed during black hole mergers.
What are Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs)?
|
Hypothesis about Black Hole ‘Morsels’:
- Study Context: Research proposes the existence of “black hole morsels”, tiny remnants formed during black hole mergers.
- Formation Mechanism: During merger, spacetime “pinches off” into ultra-dense pockets, creating micro-black holes or morsels that may later evaporate.
- Emissions: These morsels are predicted to release gamma rays and high-energy particles via Hawking radiation, providing a possible observational signature of quantum gravity.
- Scientific Goal: The hypothesis aims to bridge general relativity and quantum mechanics, offering a natural test case for quantum spacetime dynamics.
What are Black Hole Morsels?
- Overview: Hypothetical micro–black holes formed as fragments during black hole mergers under extreme gravitational stress.
- Origin: Result from pinched-off regions of spacetime during coalescence of two black holes.
- Mass & Size: Much smaller than parent black holes, roughly asteroid-scale mass but with extreme density.
- Temperature & Radiation: Extremely hot, emitting intense Hawking radiation– photons, neutrinos, and high-energy particles.
- Lifetime: Short-lived — ranging from milliseconds to years, depending on initial mass.
- Detectability: Expected to produce isotropic gamma-ray bursts, unlike directional jets of typical GRBs.
- Observation Instruments: Potential detection via HESS (Namibia), HAWC (Mexico), LHAASO (China), and Fermi Space Telescope (USA).
Scientific Significance:
- Quantum Gravity Evidence: Detection would confirm that gravity behaves quantum mechanically at microscopic scales.
- Spacetime Structure: Provides direct insight into the quantum texture of spacetime near black hole singularities.
- Cosmic Accelerator Analogy: Morsels could probe energy scales far beyond the LHC, acting as natural high-energy laboratories.
- Current Status: None observed yet, but existing gamma-ray data are being analysed to set upper mass limits and refine the model.
| [UPSC 2019] Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘Blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?
Options: (a) Higgs boson particles were detected. (b) Gravitational waves were detected.* (c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through ‘wormhole’ was confirmed. (d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’. |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
