Is the range of EM forc affected by Black Hole Gravity

In summary, the electromagnetic field is influenced by virtual photons according to QED and responds to gravity due to the massive nature of the photons. This means that in the presence of strong gravity, such as that of a black hole, the range of the electromagnetic force is affected as only a few virtual photons would be able to travel a large distance. Recommended books and papers related to this topic include "The Black Hole War" by Leonard Susskind and studying the four relativistic black hole solutions: Schwarzschild solution, Reissner-Nordström metric, Kerr metric, and Kerr-Newman metric. It may also be helpful to consider the effects of these solutions on electromagnetic radiation mathematically.
  • #1
kista
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The electromagnetic field is mediated by virtual photons according to QED. These virtual photons, by virtue of being massive, should respond to Gravity. Therefore, in the presence of strong gravity such as that of a black hole range of EM force should be affected because very few virtual photons would manage to travel a large distance.
Can anyone tell me books/papers related to any such effect.
 
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  • #2
Can anyone tell me books/papers related to any such effect.

I'm going to disagree with your basic premise(s) as you have stated it: There is nothing "virtual" about a photon emitted from a black hole...it's just like any other photon... it's "Hawking radiation" (or "black hole evaporation") and you can read about it via those names...which is all we can observe...but Hawking radiation has never been obvserved. It is based on quantum reasoning.

Photons are massless, but having energy (and momentum) do respond to a gravitational field...photons follow geodesics so they get curved in the presence of gravitational potential. A black hole has HUGE gravity, the most that a given volume can hold, so its EM fields outside the event horizon are also HUGE.

If a virtual photon pair appears just outside the event horizon of a black hole, and one is gobbled up by the black hole, the remaining photon is REAL. I don't think an isolated virtual photon has ever been detected, nor do we expect to ever do so. A photon always travels at the speed of light (locally) but as it moves away from a black hole it's frequency (and energy) is reduced...but it still moves at c locally. You could argue that the curvature due to the black hole causes it to take a different classical path, so maybe it takes longer to get to a given point, but all electromagnetic radiation has infinite reach.

A popular text, minimal math, that discusses black holes, horizons, information, virtual particles and such is THE BLACK HOLE WAR by Leonard Susskind..a founder of the holographic principle...the war was with Stephen Hawking.

If none of the above is what you were seeking, you might check out the four relativistic black hole solutions: Schwarzschild solution, Reissner–Nordström metric , Kerr metric, Kerr–Newman metric...
These have been discussed here on Physics Forums and you can find an introduction here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwarzschild_metric
Be sure to read SEE ALSO at the bottom of the above reference...

Maybe somebody knows how these solutions affect electromagnetic radiation mathematically...mathematically/specifically...we generally consider electromagnetic and gravitation fields as varying the inverse of distance squared...don't know exactly how these might be affected by the above solutions...anybody??
 
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  • #3


There is ongoing research and debate in the scientific community about the potential effects of black hole gravity on the range of the electromagnetic force. Some theories suggest that the presence of a black hole could distort the virtual photon field, leading to a decrease in the range of the electromagnetic force. This is because the virtual photons, which are responsible for mediating the electromagnetic force, would have to travel through the strong gravitational field of the black hole, potentially reducing their ability to travel long distances.

However, there is currently no consensus on the exact nature and magnitude of this effect. Some studies suggest that the impact of black hole gravity on the range of the electromagnetic force would be minimal, while others propose more significant effects. Further research and experimentation are needed to fully understand the potential impact of black hole gravity on the electromagnetic force.

As for books or papers related to this topic, some potential resources include "The Quantum Vacuum: An Introduction to Quantum Electrodynamics" by Peter W. Milonni, "Black Holes, Gravitational Radiation and the Universe" by B. S. Sathyaprakash and B. F. Schutz, and "Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime and Black Hole Thermodynamics" by Robert M. Wald. Additionally, there are numerous articles and studies available online that discuss the potential effects of black hole gravity on the electromagnetic force.
 

Related to Is the range of EM forc affected by Black Hole Gravity

1. How does a black hole affect the range of electromagnetic forces?

Black holes have an immense gravitational pull, which can distort the fabric of space and time. This distortion can affect the range of electromagnetic forces, as the force particles may be pulled in towards the black hole or their paths may be altered.

2. Can black hole gravity weaken the range of EM forces?

Yes, the strong gravitational pull of a black hole can weaken the range of electromagnetic forces. This is because the force particles may become trapped in the black hole's gravitational field and unable to travel as far as they would in regular space.

3. Is the range of EM forces increased or decreased by black hole gravity?

The range of electromagnetic forces is typically decreased by black hole gravity. However, in some cases, if the force particles are accelerated by the black hole's strong gravitational pull, the range may be increased.

4. Can the range of EM forces be completely blocked by a black hole's gravity?

No, the range of electromagnetic forces cannot be completely blocked by a black hole's gravity. While the range may be weakened or altered, the forces will still be present and able to interact with matter outside of the black hole's event horizon.

5. How does the range of EM forces near a black hole compare to the rest of space?

The range of electromagnetic forces near a black hole is significantly affected by the strong gravitational pull, while the range in regular space is relatively unaffected by gravity. This means that the range of EM forces near a black hole may be shorter or longer depending on the specific conditions.

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