Introduction to the Debate: Black Holes and Dark Matter

For decades, the idea of dark matter playing a crucial role in the formation of black holes has gained traction among astrophysicists. However, a closer look at the fundamental theories and empirical evidence raises questions about this hypothesis. Some theorists suggest that dark matter may not behave the same way as ordinary matter in terms of energy emission, leading to an interesting conundrum: can dark matter form and sustain black holes?

Singularity and Cannibalism: A Theoretical Obstacle

One of the primary concerns revolves around the nature of singularities. According to A. Zee, in his book Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell, Einstein once proposed that a particle could bounce back at the Schwarzschild radius. This concept presents an initial challenge to the traditional understanding of black holes, suggesting that the event horizon may not be as absolute as we believed. Moreover, the cannibalistic nature of black holes, where they would merge and evaporate almost instantaneously via Hawking radiation, complicates the situation further. This process, also known as the Planck mass black hole, leaves only a remnant, which further reduces the mass available for black hole formation.

Alternative Theories on Black Holes and Dark Matter

Despite the widespread acceptance of these theories, recent studies and unconventional views argue that the concept of black holes and their relationship with dark matter might be more complex. Some notable physicists, such as George Chaplin, challenge the existence of black holes altogether. His article, Black Holes Do Not Exist, published in Nature Magazine, March 31, 2005, presents a compelling argument based on the behavior of particles within a black hole's event horizon.

Challenges with Perception and Reality

Theoretical physicists often encounter significant discrepancies between the observed behavior of particles near the event horizon and the behaviors predicted by conventional theories. For instance, consider the velocity measurements of an object falling into a black hole. The velocity, v, as observed by the object is given by:

v_{object} c sqrt{frac{r_s}{r}}

which asymptotically approaches the speed of light c as r approaches the event horizon r_s. Contrarily, the velocity observed from Earth is:

v_{Earth} c sqrt{frac{r_s}{r(1-r_s/r)}}

Plotting these equations reveals that in the observer's view, nothing actually falls into the black hole. Instead, objects appear to slow down, dim, and shift towards red until they are effectively lost from sight. Stephen Hawking explained this phenomenon by stating, “Although you wouldn't notice anything particular as you fell into a black hole, someone watching you from a distance would never see you cross the event horizon. Instead, you would appear to slow down and hover just outside. You would get dimmer and dimmer and redder and redder until you were effectively lost from sight.”

Resolution: A Speculative Approach

In my view, dark matter itself could be a form of minuscule black holes, each of a single Planck mass. These entities might not merge upon contact and instead, existing in a steady state, contributing to the overall mass distribution in the universe. The concept of black holes merging and evaporating too quickly due to Hawking radiation could lead to a universe that is fundamentally different from what we observe. An alternative model, where these contractions are cyclic and do not lead to immediate evaporation, could better align with the observed universe.

If you are interested in learning more about this speculative approach, I invite you to explore the referenced articles and works. The discussion on the nature of black holes and the role of dark matter is an ongoing and fascinating field of study. Feel free to reach out for further discussion and exploration.