Astrophysical implications of hypothetical stable TeV-scale black holes

TL;DR

This paper investigates the hypothetical scenario of stable TeV-scale black holes produced at the LHC, concluding that such black holes pose no risk to Earth within its natural lifetime based on physical laws and astronomical data.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of TeV-scale black hole accretion scenarios, ruling out potential macroscopic effects on Earth and astrophysical objects, and reassures safety based on scientific evidence.

Findings

TeV-scale black holes are unlikely to affect Earth within its lifetime.

Black holes would catalyze decay of dense astrophysical objects if they could pose a threat.

Scientific and astronomical data support the safety of 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.