Names of black holes
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Names of Black Holes: Origins and Variations
Origin of the Term "Black Hole"
John Wheeler and the Popularization of "Black Hole"
The term "black hole" is widely attributed to the American physicist John Wheeler, who first used it in a general audience article published in 1968. Wheeler's adoption of the term helped popularize it within both the scientific community and the general public1.
Robert Dicke and the Black Hole of Calcutta
However, the story of the term's origin is more complex. Robert Dicke, a colleague of Wheeler at Princeton University, began comparing gravitationally collapsed stars to the infamous Black Hole of Calcutta around 1960. This comparison was based on the prison's tragic history, where many prisoners were confined in a small, suffocating space. Thus, the term "black hole" can be seen as a collaborative creation between Wheeler and Dicke, rather than the invention of a single individual1.
Variations and Types of Black Holes
Topological Black Holes
In the realm of theoretical physics, black holes are not limited to the traditional spherical event horizons. Topological black holes, for instance, have event horizons that are two-dimensional hypersurfaces with zero or negative constant curvature. These variations are solutions within the Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory, showcasing the diversity in black hole structures3.
Primordial Black Holes
Primordial black holes (PBHs) are another fascinating type, believed to have formed in the early Universe. They are considered potential candidates for dark matter. PBHs are characterized by their unique formation processes, abundance, and the specific signals they emit, such as particle emissions due to Hawking evaporation. These characteristics make them significant in the study of the Universe's evolution and structure formation4.
Black Holes in Popular and Scientific Discourse
Black Holes as Household Names
With the advent of gravitational wave astronomy and the detection of black hole mergers by LIGO, black holes have become common household names. These detections have brought black holes into the public eye, although the scientific community continues to debate their physical reality. Some argue that black holes are mathematical constructs rather than physical entities, challenging the conventional interpretations of spacetime and gravitational collapse2.
Conclusion
The term "black hole" has a rich and somewhat contested history, with contributions from both John Wheeler and Robert Dicke. Beyond the name, black holes exhibit a variety of forms and play crucial roles in our understanding of the Universe. From topological black holes to primordial black holes, these cosmic phenomena continue to intrigue both scientists and the public alike.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
The black hole fifty years after: Genesis of the name
The term black hole was coined by a partnership between John Wheeler and Robert Dicke, influenced by the Black Hole of Calcutta, a prison in India, and the collapsed stars of the universe.
Black Holes are a Mathematical Fantasy, not a Physical Reality
Black Holes are a mathematical fantasy, not a physical reality, based on erroneous derivation for gravitational redshift and invalid core collapse models.
Topological dilaton black holes
This paper presents exact topological black hole solutions in the Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory with a Liouville-type dilaton potential, demonstrating the validity of this theory for black hole event horizons.
Highly CitedA Brief Review on Primordial Black Holes as Dark Matter
Primordial black holes are a potential candidate for dark matter, with their formation, abundance, and signatures potentially impacting the evolution of the Universe and the formation of structures.
Highly CitedEvidence for Black Holes
Black holes are common in the universe, interact with their environment, and may warp spacetime as predicted by the general theory of relativity.
Black Holes
Black holes play a crucial role in powering quasars and providing insights into quantum gravity, with recent developments involving cosmic censorship and the statistical origin of black hole entropy.
Highly CitedTesting the black hole ‘no-hair’ hypothesis
The 'no-hair' property of black holes, as defined by general relativity, can be measured in various ways, potentially revealing insights into our universe.
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