Searching for Quantum Black Hole Structure with the Event Horizon Telescope

Journal Article · Tue Sep 17 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Universe

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/universe5090201· OSTI ID:1600690

Giddings, Steven B. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States); European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva (Switzerland)

The impressive images from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) sharpen the conflict between our observations of gravitational phenomena and the principles of quantum mechanics. Two related scenarios for reconciling quantum mechanics with the existence of black hole-like objects, with “minimal” departure from general relativity and local quantum field theory, have been explored; one of these could produce signatures visible to EHT observations. A specific target is temporal variability of images, with a characteristic time scale determined by the classical black hole radius. The absence of evidence for such variability in the initial observational span of seven days is not expected to strongly constrain such variability. Theoretical and observational next steps towards investigating such scenarios are outlined.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0011702
• OSTI ID: 1600690
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1777254
• Journal Information: Universe, Vol. 5, Issue 9; ISSN 2218-1997
• Publisher: MDPI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
black holes
Event Horizon Telescope
quantum gravity