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Lasers May Solve the Black Hole Information Paradox

Posted by Soulskill on from the is-there-any-problem-lasers-can't-solve dept.

astroengine writes: "In an effort to help solve the black hole information paradox that has immersed theoretical physics in an ocean of soul searching for the past two years, two researchers have thrown their hats into the ring with a novel solution: Lasers. Technically, we're not talking about the little flashy devices you use to keep your cat entertained, we're talking about the underlying physics that produces laser light and applying it to information that falls into a black hole. According to the researchers, who published a paper earlier this month to the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity (abstract), the secret to sidestepping the black hole information paradox (and, by extension, the 'firewall' hypothesis that was recently argued against by Stephen Hawking) lies in stimulated emission of radiation (the underlying physics that generates laser light) at the event horizon that is distinct from Hawking radiation, but preserves information as matter falls into a black hole."

9 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Backup your data now by Cryacin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Throw your storage devices into a black hole, and make sure that your data gets preserved for eternity.

    Coming soon, the ability to retrieve the data from the event horizon should it be required again.

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
    1. Re:Backup your data now by Moblaster · · Score: 3, Funny

      Why go through all that trouble? If your hard drive had anything important on it to begin with, it would equal 42.

    2. Re:Backup your data now by Charliemopps · · Score: 4, Interesting

      There are many Hard Scifi novels in which data storage is kept on the event horizon of a black-hole, or more commonly on a neutron star. This isn't a new idea. And before you say "A Neutron star isn't a black hole!" Do the math... it might as well be. Just because the energy required to leave it's gravitational field isn't infinite doesn't mean it's anywhere within the realm of possible to achieve.

  2. Re:First post by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 4, Funny

    Time dilation is strong with this one...

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  3. Re:time lapse by PPH · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't think they are proposing shooting a laser at a black hole (that might make it mad). The researchers are proposing a mechanism similar to what happens in a laser as a possible method for preserving information as it is simultaneously swallowed by the black hole. The problem remaining to be solved is one of figuring out if some of the radiation leaving the event horizon is produced by this process as opposed to a random process. In one case, information is preserved. In the other, not (no information was present to begin with).

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  4. Lasers, is there anything they can't do? by newcastlejon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's probably nothing to do with black holes, but one of the pioneers of solid-state lasers was on The Life Scientific this morning. If it's available in your area it's well worth a listen.

    --
    If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
  5. Re:Lasers? Black holes? by rmdingler · · Score: 2

    What's the friken' shark feel like when he falls into the black hole?

    I mean, he's scared at first...who wouldn't be? But as long as you sling some tuna in behind him, it's turtles all the way down.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

  6. Re:time lapse by mikael · · Score: 2

    There was a theory that protons behave as subatomic black holes. Electrons can spin round them but can't enter. Just ionize some hydrogen gas, chill it down to near absolute zero to get an Einstein-Bose condensate and zap it with the lasers, then measure the returned signal.

    http://www.energydigital.com/g...

    --
    Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  7. Re:time lapse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hole_electron