QUESTION #103

Is it possible that a big enough particle accelerator ,(the RHIC for example), could generate a black hole. If so - how?

Asked by: Tim Butler

Answer

I have just read the latest edition of New Scientist magazine which features a 4 page article on the subject.According to the article, the smallest possible black hole is about 10^-35 meters across (Planck's Length). To create such an object by collision would require energies of 10¹⁹ Giga-electronvolts - more than ten million billion times the energies created by the RHIC. We would need a particle accelerator as big as the galaxy to do it. Even then, this black hole would evaporate in about 10^-42 seconds. So, basically, the answer is no.
Answered by: Tim Butler

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Hermann Hesse
(1877-1962)