Astrophysical implications of hypothetical stable TeV-scale black holes

Abstract

We analyze macroscopic effects of TeV-scale black holes, such as could possibly be produced at the LHC, in what is regarded as an extremely hypothetical scenario in which they are stable and, if trapped inside Earth, begin to accrete matter. We examine a wide variety of TeV-scale gravity scenarios, basing the resulting accretion models on first-principles, basic, and well-tested physical laws. These scenarios fall into two classes, depending on whether accretion could have any macroscopic effect on the Earth at times shorter than the Sun's natural lifetime. We argue that cases with such effect at shorter times than the solar lifetime are ruled out, since in these scenarios black holes produced by cosmic rays impinging on much denser white dwarfs and neutron stars would then catalyze their decay on timescales incompatible with their known lifetimes. We also comment on relevant lifetimes for astronomical objects that capture primordial black holes. In short, this study finds no basis for concerns that TeV-scale black holes from the LHC could pose a risk to Earth on time scales shorter than the Earth's natural lifetime. Indeed, conservative arguments based on detailed calculations and the best-available scientific knowledge, including solid astronomical data, conclude, from multiple perspectives, that there is no risk of any significance whatsoever from such black holes.Comment: Version2: Minor corrections/fixed typos; updated reference

Black Holes at the LHC: Progress since 2002

“…Recent analysis shows that the macroscopic effects of TeV-scale black holes should have already been seen in various astrophysical environments if those black holes are long-lived or stable [46,47]. This analysis is important since there can be the extremely hypothetical but dangerous possibility that the mini black holes, which are to be produced by the LHC, can 'eat' the whole earth.…”

Possibility of hypothetical stable micro black hole production at future 100 TeV collider

“…In our work we refer often to the methods proposed in the study [19] of safety of the LHC in the context of the stable micro black holes production. However, we propose an improved method of the calculation of the number of the black holes trapped inside the Earth during the work of high energy collider.…”

“…However, we propose an improved method of the calculation of the number of the black holes trapped inside the Earth during the work of high energy collider. Besides, we examine some astrophysical mechanisms of micro black hole production, that were not considered in [19] and which provide conservative model-independent constraints.…”

Pair production of small black holes in heterotic string theories

“…The possibility that black holes be (pair) produced in high energy collisions is a fascinating possibility [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10] not without some worries [11,12]. A very massive particle should behave as a small black hole when its Compton length λ C = h/Mc is smaller than the Schwarzschild radius R S = 2G N M/c 2 i.e.…”