Spin fluctuations and black hole singularities: the onset of quantum gravity is spacelike. (23rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bianchi, Eugenio; Haggard, Hal M
• Is Part Of: New journal of physics. Volume 20:Number 10(2018:Oct.)
• Publication Date: 2018-10-23
• Subjects: black hole -- singularity -- Bekenstein–Hawking entropy -- spin fluctuation -- microcanonical -- gravitational waves -- quantum gravity; Physics -- Periodicals; Physics; Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/aae71d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-2630

Abstract

Abstract: Due to quantum fluctuations, a black hole of mass M represents an average over an ensemble of black hole geometries with angular momentum. This observation is apparently at odds with the fact that the curvature singularity inside a rotating black hole is timelike, while the one inside a non-rotating black hole is spacelike. Is the average of timelike singularities really spacelike? We use the Bekenstein–Hawking entropy formula to introduce a microcanonical ensemble for spin fluctuations and show that the onset of quantum gravity is always spacelike. We discuss the impact of this result on singularity resolution in quantum gravity and hint at the possibility of an observational test.