What’s inside a black hole? Probing the interior of black holes with gravitational waves

by Ramy Brustein

Ben Gurion University

at Physics Colloquium

Tue, 26 Nov 2019, 15:30
Building 37, room 202

Abstract

The view in general relativity of the interior of a blackhole as a region of empty space, surrounded by a completely opaque horizon contradicts the laws of quantum mechanics and so cannot be correct. I will present general arguments, based on fundamental physics principles, as to why we should expect a distribution of exotic matter and a significant departure from semiclassical gravity inside astrophysical black holes. Then, I will explain how the emitted gravitational waves during blackhole mergers can provide the answer to the following question: Does the blackhole interior contain some distribution of matter or is it mostly empty? I will conclude by discussing the prospects of obtaining a decisive answer from LIGO and other gravitational wave experiments.

[NOTE THE UNUSUAL LOCATION!]

Created on 06-11-2019 by Citron, Zvi (zhcitron)
Updaded on 21-11-2019 by Citron, Zvi (zhcitron)