Open Questions in Black Hole Physics

Dear Colleagues,

Black holes are fascinating objects that hold the key to uncover the intimate relation between gravitation and the quantum, as well as a number of astrophysical phenomena. The strength of their gravitational field is responsible for extreme deformations of the causal structure of space-time, leading to intriguing thermodynamic properties and serious tensions with our understanding of the quantum world. The current picture of the Universe could hardly be explained without recurring to them, even though they are very elusive and defy direct observational detection.

The coming years are likely to witness important breakthroughs in our view of black holes and their astrophysical and quantum properties through the direct detection of gravitational waves and Hawking radiation in analogue models. A number of fundamental open questions might find an answer and new ones may emerge. Are black holes, seen as regions of space-time hidden behind an event horizon, astrophysically realizable? Are there viable compact-object alternatives? Will black hole mergers allow us to experimentally probe the strong-field gravitational regime? What happens when two singularities meet in a black hole merger? Do singularities have a physical role? Can wormholes alleviate the issue of singularities? How much can we learn about black holes from analogue models? What is the end state of black hole evaporation? Why primordial black hole explosions have not been observed yet? What aspects of black holes are modified in a quantum theory of gravity? How does a supermassive black hole interact with its host galaxy? These are just a few examples of the Open Questions in Black Hole Physics we expect to address in this Special Issue of Universe.

Dr. Gonzalo J. Olmo
Dr. Diego Rubiera-Garcia
Collection Editors

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