What Can We Learn From Analogue Experiments?

TL;DR

Analogue experiments using fluid dynamics and Bose-Einstein condensates have been developed to simulate and study black hole phenomena like Hawking radiation, offering insights into quantum gravity in controlled laboratory settings.

Contribution

This paper reviews the development and findings of analogue gravity experiments, evaluating their potential to provide evidence for black hole Hawking radiation.

Findings

Experimental observation of Hawking radiation in Bose-Einstein condensates

Analogue experiments can mimic key aspects of black hole physics

Insights gained may inform quantum gravity theories

Abstract

In 1981 Unruh proposed that fluid mechanical experiments could be used to probe key aspects of the quantum phenomenology of black holes. In particular, he claimed that an analogue to Hawking radiation could be created within a fluid mechanical `dumb hole', with the event horizon replaced by a sonic horizon. Since then an entire sub-field of `analogue gravity' has been created. In 2016 Steinhauer reported the experimental observation of quantum Hawking radiation and its entanglement in a Bose-Einstein condensate analogue black hole. What can we learn from such analogue experiments? In particular, in what sense can they provide evidence of novel phenomena such as black hole Hawking radiation?