Life under a black sun

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical possibility of life and energy processes on planets orbiting black holes, analyzing thermodynamic energy exchange with cosmic background radiation and black holes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scenario where a planet or Dyson sphere interacts thermodynamically with a black hole's radiation, expanding the scope of astrophysical energy considerations.

Findings

Estimated power generation potential on black hole orbiting planets.

Analyzed thermodynamic processes involving cosmic background radiation.

Discussed feasibility of a reverse Dyson sphere around black holes.

Abstract

Life is dependent on the income of energy with low entropy and the disposal of energy with high entropy. On Earth, the low-entropy energy is provided by solar radiation and the high-entropy energy is disposed as infrared radiation emitted into the cold space. Here we turn the situation around and assume cosmic background radiation as the low-entropy source of energy for a planet orbiting a black hole into which the high-entropy energy is disposed. We estimate the power that can be produced by thermodynamic processes on such a planet, with a particular interest in planets orbiting a fast rotating Kerr black hole as in the science fiction movie {\em Interstellar}. We also briefly discuss a reverse Dyson sphere absorbing cosmic background radiation from the outside and dumping waste energy to a black hole inside.