arXiv subjects

Shahar Hod

Publications and source records attributed to Shahar Hod.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Cosmic Censorship, Area Theorem, and Self-Energy of Particles

The (zeroth-order) energy of a particle in the background of a black hole is given by Carter's integrals. However, exact calculations of a particle's {\it self-energy} (first-order corrections) are still beyond our present reach in many situations. In this paper we use Hawking's area theorem in order to derive bounds on the self-energy of a particle in the vicinity of a black hole. Furthermore, we show that self-energy corrections {\it must} be taken into account in order to guarantee the validity of Penrose cosmic censorship conjecture.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Wave Tails in Time Dependent Backgrounds

It is well-known that waves propagating under the influence of a scattering potential develop ``tails''. However, the study of late-time tails has so far been restricted to time-independent backgrounds. In this paper we explore the late-time evolution of spherical waves propagating under the influence of a {\it time-dependent} scattering potential. It is shown that the tail structure is modified due to the temporal dependence of the potential. The analytical results are confirmed by numerical calculations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Self-Segregation vs. Clustering in the Evolutionary Minority Game

Complex adaptive systems have been the subject of much recent attention. It is by now well-established that members (`agents') tend to self-segregate into opposing groups characterized by extreme behavior. However, while different social and biological systems manifest different payoffs, the study of such adaptive systems has mostly been restricted to simple situations in which the prize-to-fine ratio, $R$, equals unity. In this Letter we explore the dynamics of evolving populations with various different values of the ratio $R$, and demonstrate that extreme behavior is in fact {\it not} a generic feature of adaptive systems. In particular, we show that ``confusion'' and ``indecisiveness'' take over in times of depression, in which case cautious agents perform better than extreme ones.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2000

Cosmic Censorship: The Role of Quantum Gravity

The cosmic censorship hypothesis introduced by Penrose thirty years ago is still one of the most important open questions in {\it classical} general relativity. In this essay we put forward the idea that cosmic censorship is intrinsically a {\it quantum gravity} phenomena. To that end we construct a gedanken experiment in which cosmic censorship is violated within the purely {\it classical} framework of general relativity. We prove, however, that {\it quantum} effects restore the validity of the conjecture. This suggests that classical general relativity is inconsistent and that cosmic censorship might be enforced only by a quantum theory of gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Wave Propagation in Nontrivial Backgrounds

It is well known that waves propagating in a nontrivial medium develop ``tails''. However, the exact form of the late-time tail has so far been determined only for a narrow class of models. We present a systematic analysis of the tail phenomenon for waves propagating under the influence of a {\it general} scattering potential $V(x)$. It is shown that, generically, the late-time tail is determined by spatial {\it derivatives} of the potential. The central role played by derivatives of the scattering potential appears not to be widely recognized. The analytical results are confirmed by numerical calculations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Black-hole radiation, the fundamental area unit, and the spectrum of particle species

Bekenstein and Mukhanov have put forward the idea that, in a quantum theory of gravity a black hole should have a discrete mass spectrum with a concomitant {\it discrete} line emission. We note that a direct consequence of this intriguing prediction is that, compared with blackbody radiation, black-hole radiance is {\it less} entropic. We calculate the ratio of entropy emission rate from a quantum black hole to the rate of black-hole entropy decrease, a quantity which, according to the generalized second law (GSL) of thermodynamics, should be larger than unity. Implications of our results for the GSL, for the value of the fundamental area unit in quantum gravity, and for the spectrum of massless particles in nature are discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Evidence for a null entropy of extremal black holes

We present some arguments in support of a {\it zero} entropy for {\it extremal} black holes. These rely on a combination of both quantum, thermodynamic, and statistical physics arguments. This result may shed some light on the nature of these extreme objects. In addition, we show that within a {\it quantum} framework the capture of a particle by an initially extremal black hole always results with a final nonextremal black hole.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Mode-coupling in rotating gravitational collapse: Gravitational and electromagnetic perturbations

We consider the late-time evolution of {\it gravitational} and electromagnetic perturbations in realistic {\it rotating} Kerr spacetimes. We give a detailed analysis of the mode-coupling phenomena in rotating gravitational collapse. A consequence of this phenomena is that the late-time tail is dominated by modes which, in general, may have an angular distribution different from the original one. In addition, we show that different types of fields have {\it different} decaying rates. This result turns over the traditional belief (which has been widely accepted during the last three decades) that the late-time tail of gravitational collapse is universal.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Gravitation, the Quantum, and Bohr's Correspondence Principle

The black hole combines in some sense both the ``hydrogen atom'' and the ``black-body radiation'' problems of quantum gravity. This analogy suggests that black-hole quantization may be the key to a quantum theory of gravity. During the last twenty-five years evidence has been mounting that black-hole surface area is indeed {\it quantized}, with {\it uniformally} spaced area eigenvalues. There is, however, no general agreement on the {\it spacing} of the levels. In this essay we use Bohr's correspondence principle to provide this missing link. We conclude that the fundamental area unit is $4\hbar\ln3$. This is the unique spacing consistent both with the area-entropy {\it thermodynamic} relation for black holes, with Boltzmann-Einstein formula in {\it statistical physics} and with {\it Bohr's correspondence principle}.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Radiative Tail of Realistic Rotating Gravitational Collapse

An astrophysically realistic model of wave dynamics in black-hole spacetimes must involve a non-spherical background geometry with angular momentum. We consider the evolution of gravitational (and electromagnetic) perturbations in rotating Kerr spacetimes. We show that a rotating Kerr black hole becomes `bald' slower than the corresponding spherically-symmetric Schwarzschild black hole. Moreover, our results turn over the traditional belief (which has been widely accepted during the last three decades) that the late-time tail of gravitational collapse is universal. In particular, we show that different fields have different decaying rates. Our results are also of importance both to the study of the no-hair conjecture and the mass-inflation scenario (stability of Cauchy horizons).

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Universal Entropy Bound for Rotating Systems

We conjecture a universal upper bound to the entropy of a rotating system. The entropy bound follows from application of the generalized second law of thermodynamics to an idealized gedanken experiment in which an entropy-bearing rotating system falls into a black hole. This bound is stronger than the Bekenstein entropy bound for non-rotating systems.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Improved Upper Bound to the Entropy of a Charged System

Recently, we derived an improved universal upper bound to the entropy of a charged system $S \leq π(2E b-q^2)/ \hbar$. There was, however, some uncertainty in the value of the numerical factor which multiplies the $q^2$ term. In this paper we remove this uncertainty; we rederive this upper bound from an application of the generalized second law of thermodynamics to a gedanken experiment in which an entropy-bearing charged system falls into a Schwarzschild black hole. A crucial step in the analysis is the inclusion of the effect of the spacetime curvature on the electrostatic self-interaction of the charged system.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Mode-Coupling in Rotating Gravitational Collapse of a Scalar Field

We present an analytic study of the mode-coupling phenomena for a scalar field propagating on a rotating Kerr background. Physically, this phenomena is caused by the dragging of reference frames, due to the black-hole (or star's) rotation. We find that different modes become mixed during the evolution and the asymptotic late-time tails are dominated by a mode which, in general, has an angular distribution different from the original one. We show that a rotating Kerr black hole becomes `bald' slower than a spherically-symmetric Schwarzschild black hole.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Black-Hole Polarization and Cosmic Censorship

The destruction of the black-hole event horizon is ruled out by both cosmic censorship and the generalized second law of thermodynamics. We test the consistency of this prediction in a (more) `dangerous' version of the gedanken experiment suggested by Bekenstein and Rosenzweig. A U(1)-charged particle is lowered {\it slowly} into a near extremal black hole which is not endowed with a U(1) gauge field. The energy delivered to the black hole can be {\it red-shifted} by letting the assimilation point approach the black-hole horizon. At first sight, therefore, the particle is not hindered from entering the black hole and removing its horizon. However, we show that this dangerous situation is excluded by a combination of {\it two} factors not considered in former gedanken experiments: the effect of the spacetime curvature on the electrostatic {\it self-interaction} of the charged system (the black-hole polarization), and the {\it finite} size of the charged body.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Cosmic Censorship: the Role of Quantum Physics

The cosmic censorship hypothesis introduced by Penrose thirty years ago is still one of the most important open questions in {\it classical} general relativity. The main goal of this paper is to put forward the idea that cosmic censorship is intrinsically a {\it quantum} phenomena. We construct a gedanken experiment which seems to violate the cosmic censorship principle within the purely {\it classical} framework of general relativity. We prove, however, that {\it quantum} physics restores the validity of the conjecture. It is therefore suggested that cosmic censorship might be enforced by a quantum theory of gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

High-Order Contamination in the Tail of Gravitational Collapse

It is well known that the late-time behaviour of gravitational collapse is {\it dominated} by an inverse power-law decaying tail. We calculate {\it higher-order corrections} to this power-law behaviour in a spherically symmetric gravitational collapse. The dominant ``contamination'' is shown to die off at late times as $M^2t^{-4}\ln(t/M)$. This decay rate is much {\it slower} than has been considered so far. It implies, for instance, that an `exact' (numerical) determination of the power index to within $\sim 1 %$ requires extremely long integration times of order $10^4 M$. We show that the leading order fingerprint of the black-hole electric {\it charge} is of order $Q^2t^{-4}$.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Best Approximation to a Reversible Process in Black-Hole Physics and the Area Spectrum of Spherical Black Holes

The assimilation of a quantum (finite size) particle by a Reissner-Nordström black hole inevitably involves an increase in the black-hole surface area. It is shown that this increase can be minimized if one considers the capture of the lightest charged particle in nature. The unavoidable area increase is attributed to two physical reasons: the Heisenberg quantum uncertainty principle and a Schwinger-type charge emission (vacuum polarization). The fundamental lower bound on the area increase is $4 \hbar$, which is smaller than the value given by Bekenstein for neutral particles. Thus, this process is a better approximation to a reversible process in black-hole physics. The universality of the minimal area increase is a further evidence in favor of a uniformly spaced area spectrum for spherical quantum black holes. Moreover, this universal value is in excellent agreement with the area spacing predicted by Mukhanov and Bekenstein and independently by Hod.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Universal Upper Bound to the Entropy of a Charged System

We derive a universal upper bound to the entropy of a charged system. The entropy bound follows from application of the generalized second law of thermodynamics to a gedanken experiment in which an entropy-bearing charged system falls into a charged black hole. This bound is stronger than the Bekenstein entropy bound for neutral systems.

gr-qc↗