- Featured in Physics
- Editors' Suggestion
No Black Holes from Light
Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 041401 – Published 26 July, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.041401
Abstract
We show that it is not possible to concentrate enough light to precipitate the formation of an event horizon. We argue that the dissipative quantum effects coming from the self-interaction of light (such as vacuum polarization) are enough to prevent any meaningful buildup of energy that could create a black hole in any realistic scenario.
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Collections
This article appears in the following collection:
PRL Collection of the Year 2024
Here is our Collection of the Year 2024. We have gathered about one issue’s worth of Letters, representative of the wide range of interests of the communities advancing fundamental and applied physical science. We plan to have such a collection each year.
Focus
Black Holes Can’t Be Created by Light
The formation of a black hole from light alone is permitted by general relativity, but a new study says quantum physics rules it out.
See more in Physics
