A new study suggests that black holes might not be the featureless, structureless entities predicted by Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Instead, cosmic monsters could be bizarre quantum objects known as “frozen stars.” These hypothetical celestial bodies share some similarities with black holes but differ in crucial ways that could potentially resolve the Hawking radiation paradox.
The study proposes that frozen stars lack a singularity and event horizon, unlike traditional black holes. This resolution addresses another contradiction between classical physics and general relativity, where infinities cannot exist naturally.
“Frozen stars are a type of black hole mimickers: ultracompact, astrophysical objects that are free of singularities, lack a horizon, but yet can mimic all of the observable properties of black holes,” said Ramy Brustein, lead author of the study and professor of physics at Ben-Gurion University in Israel.
The frozen star model resolves the information loss paradox, where Hawking radiation appears to carry no information about the matter that formed the black hole. This paradox has been one of the most significant challenges in theoretical physics.
To test the frozen star hypothesis, scientists need to analyze data from existing and future gravitational wave observatories, as the gravitational waves emitted during mergers can carry information about these ultracompact objects’ structure. A discovery would have a revolutionary impact on our understanding of black holes and quantum gravity.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/quantum-physics/stephen-hawking-s-black-hole-radiation-paradox-could-finally-be-solved-if-black-holes-aren-t-what-they-seem