In order to visualize how gravity affects space-time, we create a rubber sheet on which we place spheres of varying masses. In this example, the addition of mass causes the surface area around the object to increase, due to the stretching of the rubber sheet.
My question is whether this example carries over to reality, where a massive object can increase the volume of the space around it when compared to (relatively) empty space.
If this is indeed correct, doesn't this explain the (seemingly) impossible density of black holes? Couldn't black holes just be neutron stars which have increased the volume of the surrounding space so much that they appear to be smaller than their respective Schwarzschild radii?
Nice question, and not sure of an answer. As far as I know the size of black holes is defined as their apparent mass. By definition the Schwarzschild radius is proportional to the mass of the black hole, and is the distance within which no force can overcome the gravity.
Additional questions are first is there a calculated or falsifiable limit to how close neutrons can be stuffed together together by gravity in a black hole? Could neutrons merge as a quark plasma with different properties than neutrons? Would a quark plasma stay local in the middle of a rapidly rotating system?
sporacle
11th June 2009 - 08:10 AM
Not to worry, he's a sheep in wolf's clothing and can't spel.
Meem
11th June 2009 - 02:00 PM
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Would a quark plasma stay local in the middle of a rapidly rotating system?
Would the jets be the venting of this quark plasma? Maybe the quarks evaporate out over time, which is why they appear to evaporate, and maybe when they try to eat more than they can handle ... the jets spew quarks?
They are so interesting!
flyingbuttressman
11th June 2009 - 02:09 PM
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Additional questions are first is there a calculated or falsifiable limit to how close neutrons can be stuffed together together by gravity in a black hole? Could neutrons merge as a quark plasma with different properties than neutrons? Would a quark plasma stay local in the middle of a rapidly rotating system?
The problem with this is that it forces us to make up a new state of matter. As far as we know, It shouldn't be possible to squish matter any more than a neutron star already does.
According to my theory, black holes are not any more dense than neutron stars, they have just fallen into a 5th dimensional pocket in spacetime created by their own enormous mass. Because of the crazy amount of mass, the "neck" of the spacetime pocket contracts to what appears to be smaller than the star's Schwarzschild radius.
So, the event horizon conceals what is really a 5th-dimensional "pocket" of spacetime that holds what is really just an oversized neutron star. As far as my knowledge of black hole theory goes, this seems consistent. Any objections?