Scientists from China have proposed a new method to convert miniature black holes into powerful and rechargeable “batteries”. In a paper published in the authoritative journal Physics Review D, Jan-Feng May and Run-Ti Yang from the Center for Joint Quantum Research and the Department of Physics of Tianjin University explain how to extract electrical energy from hypothetical black holes that lack rotation or electric charge, such as Schwarzshild or primary black holes.
Various theoretical methods exist to extract energy from black holes. For instance, particles or waves moving around a rotating black hole can gain more energy than they initially had, given certain conditions. This demonstrates the extraction of energy from the rotation of the black hole. However, the black hole eventually loses this energy, making further extraction impossible.
In contrast, May and Yang propose a method to recharge the black hole by introducing numerous charged alpha particles with the same mass and charge. Under specific conditions, the black hole’s gravitational attraction will overcome the electric charge that usually repels particles, enabling the particles to be absorbed by the black hole rather than expelled from it. As a result, the black hole can be recharged multiple times, although not indefinitely. This concept is based on the assumption that the black hole is extremely small, similar in size to an atom.
Scientists have calculated that they can convert approximately 25 percent of the mass of the introduced particles into electric energy, resulting in an efficiency of 25 percent. In comparison, commercially available wind turbines have an efficiency range of 20 to 40 percent. Additionally, the black hole could function as a nuclear reactor, enhancing the natural process of energy release during the decay of alpha particles.
However, there are several significant reservations regarding this research. Cosmologist Caty Mack points out that the idea of extracting energy from black holes is not new. The uniqueness of this study lies in the discussion of miniature primary black holes. Nevertheless, Mack explains that there is still no evidence of the existence of primary black holes. Furthermore, due to their small size and high speed, capturing them to extract theoretical energy is nearly impossible. “You cannot grab them. You cannot pick them up, use electric or magnetic fields. They will simply go through any capture attempts,” says Mack.
Therefore, practical application is not the aim of this work. Mack states, “They really are not trying to offer a new technology.” If such an application existed, it would provide theoretical physicists with an opportunity to explore something that could help to better understand or expand our knowledge of physics in the universe. Nonetheless, Mack has doubts about the theoretical application of this idea, but she adds, “I can’t