Can black holes be formed by focussing radiation?

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether black holes can form through the focusing of radiation by analyzing gravitational lensing effects, concluding that such mechanisms are not viable for black hole formation.

Contribution

The study provides evidence that gravitational lensing of radiation from a finite number of sources cannot lead to black hole formation.

Findings

Gravitational lensing of limited sources does not produce black holes.

Black hole formation via radiation focusing is unlikely.

The paper rules out a potential formation mechanism.

Abstract

Black holes are extreme outcomes of General Relativity, and can form through a variety of ways, including gravitational collapse of massive stars, or quantum fluctuations in the early universe. Here, we ask the question of whether they can form via focusing of radiation by compact binaries or intense lasers, or via trapping at the light ring of black holes. We provide evidence that gravitational lensing of radiation from a small, finite number of sources is not a viable mechanism to form black holes.