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No Black Holes from Light

Álvaro Álvarez-Domínguez1,*, Luis J. Garay1,†, Eduardo Martín-Martínez2,3,4,‡, and José Polo-Gómez2,3,4,§

  • *Contact author: alvalv04@ucm.es
  • †Contact author: luisj.garay@ucm.es
  • ‡Contact author: emartinmartinez@uwaterloo.ca
  • §Contact author: jpologomez@uwaterloo.ca
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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.

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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.

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Black Holes Can’t Be Created by Light

Published 26 July, 2024

The formation of a black hole from light alone is permitted by general relativity, but a new study says quantum physics rules it out.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 041401– Published 26 July, 2024
  • Received 4 May 2024
  • Accepted 7 June 2024
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