Black Hole Creation in 2+1 Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that high-energy collisions of point particles in 2+1 dimensional gravity with negative cosmological constant can result in the formation of BTZ black holes, providing explicit solutions and discussing possible extensions.

Contribution

It presents an explicit solution for black hole formation from particle collisions in 2+1 dimensions and discusses the potential for rotating black hole creation.

Findings

Explicit solution for collapse of massless particles into a non-rotating black hole

High-energy particle collisions can produce BTZ black holes

Rotating black holes may also form from massive particle collisions

Abstract

When two point particles, coupled to three dimensional gravity with a negative cosmological constant, approach each other with a sufficiently large center of mass energy, then a BTZ black hole is created. An explicit solution to the Einstein equations is presented, describing the collapse of two massless particles into a non-rotating black hole. Some general arguments imply that massive particles can be used as well, and the creation of a rotating black hole is also possible.