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Scientists Propose New Method to Extract Energy from Rotating Black Holes
Developing
In Short: Universe Today reports on a new method to extract energy directly from rotating black holes, a concept first proposed by physicist Roger Penrose in 1969.
Universe Today reports on a new method to extract energy directly from rotating black holes, a concept first proposed by physicist Roger Penrose in 1969.
According to the report, this method differs from the usual mechanism where black holes generate power as a by-product of consuming matter and increasing mass.
The proposed mechanism relies on a feature of rotating black holes known as the ergosphere, a region where the black hole's rotation drags space around it.
As the black hole rotates, it creates a frame-dragging effect that is most powerful very close to the black hole.
In the ergosphere, the frame-dragging effect is so strong that it cannot be counteracted, allowing for the extraction of energy directly from the black hole.
This process, known as the Penrose process, involves decaying particles that can extract energy from the black hole, thereby decreasing its total mass.
The report highlights that most of the energy produced by supermassive black holes comes from the material surrounding them, rather than from the black hole itself.
The research suggests that Sgr A* could be a powerful source of energy extraction, reshaping our understanding of black hole dynamics and their role in the universe.
What this adds
The report adds to previous WarpBeat coverage on how black holes actively reshape their surroundings and contribute to star formation.
The study of Sgr A* as a PeVatron provides new insights into the mechanisms by which black holes can influence their galactic environments.
Background
According to Zhu's research, the black holes at the centers of these galaxies are not just consuming material but are actively reshaping their surroundings.
A new study of nine nearby galaxies has revealed that actively growing supermassive black holes may contribute to star formation, contrary to previous assumptions.
What's still developing
- So you can escape the black hole's grip with more energy than you started with.
- Galactic black holes are cosmic mitochondria, powerhouses of the Universe.
- "Sgr A* as a Galactic PeVatron: Multimessenger Signatures of the Magnetic Penrose Process."