Black holes may appear in ‘perfect pairs’

Researchers from the University of Southampton, along with colleagues from the University of Cambridge and the University of Barcelona, ​​have discovered that the black holes mimic a single black hole and are held in equilibrium by cosmological forces, forming perfectly balanced pairs. It has been shown that it is theoretically possible to exist.

A black hole is a huge celestial body with a gravity so strong that not even light can escape. It’s incredibly dense. A black hole could pack Earth’s mass into a space the size of a pea.

Traditional theories about black holes, based on Einstein’s general theory of relativity, explain how a black hole, usually stationary or rotating, can exist alone, isolated in space. Paired black holes would eventually be pulled together by gravity and stopped by colliding.

But this is true if we assume the universe is stationary. But what about things that are always in motion? Is it possible that pairs of black holes exist in harmony in an ever-expanding universe, perhaps masquerading as one black hole?

“The standard model of cosmology assumes that the universe was born with the Big Bang, and that about 9.8 billion years ago the universe became dominated by a mysterious force coined “dark energy” that accelerated at a constant speed. “I am doing so.” Professor Oscar Diaz of the University of Southampton.

Scientists call this mysterious force the “cosmological constant.” In the universe described by Einstein’s cosmological constant theory, black holes are submerged in a cosmological acceleration background. This changes the theoretical goalposts of how black holes can interact and exist together.

Through complex numerical techniques, the team behind this latest research has shown that two static (non-rotating) black holes can exist in equilibrium, meaning that their gravitational attraction is offset by an expansion associated with a cosmological constant. I have shown that it will be done. Even as the expanding universe accelerates, black holes remain fixed at a fixed distance from each other. Even if expansion tries to pull them apart, gravity will compensate.

“From a distance, a pair of black holes whose gravitational forces cancel each other out as the universe expands looks like a single black hole. Detecting whether it’s a single black hole or a pair of them may be difficult,” commented Professor Diaz.

Professor Jorge Santos from the University of Cambridge added: “Although our theory has been proven for a pair of static black holes, we believe it can also be applied to rotating black holes. This also applies to black holes, and it seems like this could open up a whole range of possibilities.”

The research was carried out by Professor Oscar Dias (University of Southampton), Professor Gary Gibbons (University of Cambridge), Professor Jorge Santos (University of Cambridge) and Dr Benson Way (University of Barcelona).Their paper “Static Black Binaries in de Sitter Space” was published in the magazine physical review letter Reviewed as a Viewpoint article.

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Note to editor

1. paper “Static Black Binaries of De Sitter Space” was published in a magazine physical review letter Doi: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.131401
2. This paper is reviewed in the following Viewpoint article: https://physics.aps.org/articles/v16/164
3. For black hole images/image concepts, NASA images is a useful site. https://www.nasa.gov/images/
4. For interviews with Professor Oscar Diaz, please contact Peter Franklin, University of Southampton Media Relations. 023 8059 3212 press@soton.ac.uk
5. Find out more about Mathematics at the University of Southampton below. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/faculties-schools-Departments/school-of-mathematical-sciences
6. The University of Southampton promotes original thinking, turning knowledge into action and impact, and creating solutions to the world’s challenges. We are included in the top 100 institutions in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023). Our academics are leaders in their fields, have connections with high-profile international companies and organizations, and are inspired by a strong community of 22,000 talented students from more than 135 countries around the world. I’m giving. Through quality education, the University supports students on a journey of discovery to realize their potential and join a global network of over 200,000 alumni. www.southampton.ac.uk

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