Numerical evolution of shocks in the interior of Kerr black holes

TL;DR

This paper numerically investigates the interior dynamics of Kerr black holes, revealing the formation of shock waves near the inner horizon that grow exponentially and cause extreme tidal forces and acceleration for passing observers.

Contribution

It demonstrates the formation and growth of non-axisymmetric shock waves inside Kerr black holes through numerical solutions of Einstein's equations.

Findings

Shock waves form near the inner horizon.

Shock amplitudes grow exponentially.

Observers experience extreme tidal forces and acceleration.

Abstract

We numerically solve Einstein's equations coupled to a scalar field in the interior of Kerr black holes. We find shock waves form near the inner horizon. The shocks grow exponentially in amplitude and need not be axisymmetric. Observers who pass through the shocks experience exponentially large tidal forces and are accelerated exponentially close to the speed of light.