Most people have a basic idea of the notion of a black hole: an extraordinary distortion in the fabric of space and time that perpetually consumes any substance foolish enough to approach its vicinity. The irresistible gravitational pull of a black hole is so immense that not even light can be released, making these cosmic phenomena completely unilluminated and only observable through their impact on nearby matter. In this case, scientists are in search of the white holes.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the search for white holes and what is known about it.
What is a white hole and how is it formed?
The scientific theory that accurately predicted the presence of black holes also postulates the existence of white holes, which are essentially the antithesis of black holes. The black holes have an insatiable appetite for matter and energy, while white holes (in theory) They constantly emit energy into the cosmos. It is believed that just as nothing can escape the clutches of a black hole, nothing should be able to enter a white hole.
To put it plainly, a white hole could be perceived as a black hole that reverses its course in time. White holes would share certain traits with black holes, including mass, angular momentum or "spin," and electrical charge.
Like black holes, White holes have mass and have the ability to attract matter to them, at least initially. However, there is a fundamental distinction in the way matter and light interact with the event horizon of these two cosmic phenomena. While objects crossing a black hole's event horizon cannot reach a white hole's "anti-event horizon," it is possible for matter approaching a white hole's anti-event horizon to be forcefully ejected.
Differences between black and white holes
Black holes and white holes differ mainly in how they form. The research carried out by J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team has allowed us to understand that when a massive star reaches the end of its life by burning nuclear fuel, it suffers a gravitational collapse. This collapse results in the outer layers of The star shatters in a supernova explosion, while the core collapses and gives rise to a black hole.
In the hypothetical scenario in which unbearable pain could be reversed, defying all principles of causality, it would not manifest as a white hole, as the mathematical models of Kruskal or Novikov postulate. Rather, this cosmic rewind mechanism would simply transport us back to a dying star.
To the best of our current knowledge, There is no known physical process in the universe that could give rise to a white hole.
The theory of relativity and white holes
The prediction of white holes is a direct result of the theory of general relativity. Before delving into the topic of white holes, we must first consider the monumental contribution of Albert Einstein's theory of gravity, general relativity.
Einstein's groundbreaking theory of gravity, known as general relativity, made its debut in 1915 and created a stir among physicists. Before this, Isaac Newton's description of gravity had been the predominant explanation, working effectively on a smaller scale but consistently falling short when faced with the complexities of physics on a larger magnitude.
The key distinction between Einstein's and Newton's understanding of gravity lies in their conceptualization of the role of space and time. While Newton saw them as mere backdrops for the unfolding of universal events, General relativity proposed that “space-time” is a dynamic entity actively involved in shaping the cosmic narrative.
The reason behind this phenomenon is rooted in the principles of general relativity, which propose that when an object with mass stops in space-time, it induces a distortion in the structure of space-time itself. The magnitude of this distortion is directly proportional to the mass of the object, and it is from this distortion that gravity arises. That is why the gravitational pull of the Sun is stronger than that of the Earth. The distortion of space-time by the Sun is more pronounced. Consequently, This distortion serves as a guide for energy and matter, dictating their movement within the realm of space.
White holes and the theory of the multiverse
If there is indeed a multiverse consisting of multiple universes, the lack of white holes in our own universe suggests the possibility of a universe composed solely of white holes, where black holes are completely absent.
The reason for this phenomenon may be due to the fact that time operates as a unidirectional system within each individual universe of the multiverse. In our own universe, Time advances exclusively, with an infinite future, which consequently prevents the formation of white holes. On the contrary, in the parallel multiverse time moves exclusively in reverse, with an infinite past, thus prohibiting the existence of black holes but allowing the presence of white holes.
Can we observe white holes?
The enigmatic dark matter that permeates the universe may have its origin in white holes, according to theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli. Through calculations, Rovelli has determined that a single small white hole per 10.000 cubic kilometers, significantly smaller than a proton and weighing only one millionth of a gram, equivalent to the mass of a 12 cm human hair, could explain the presence of dark particles. matter within the galactic environment of our Sun. These invisible white holes, which do not emit radiation, would remain undetectable due to their infinitesimal size. Rovelli explains that if a proton were to collide with one of these white holes, it would simply bounce away, since They do not have the capacity to consume anything.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the possible existence of white holes and their characteristics.