Black hole production via quantum tunneling

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that black holes can form through quantum tunneling even when classical physics forbids it, highlighting the quantum instability of trans-Planckian particles.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum tunneling mechanism for black hole production in particle collisions, extending understanding beyond classical scattering.

Findings

Black hole formation via tunneling is possible at impact parameters larger than the gravitational radius.

Trans-Planckian particles are unstable against black hole transition.

Quantum effects enable black hole production in scenarios previously considered classically forbidden.

Abstract

Particles colliding at impact parameter much larger than the effective gravitational radius can not classically form a black hole and just scatter off the radial potential barrier separating the particles. We show that the process of the black hole production can still go quantum-mechanically via familiar mechanism of the under-barrier tunneling. The mechanism is illustrated for collision of a trans-Planckian particle and a lighter particle. Our analysis reveals instability of trans-Planckian particles against transition to the phase of black hole.