A black hole as light as 40 tons can exist inside a star if dark matter helps

A black hole as light as 40 metric tons can exist inside a star if dark matter helps, according to new research. The study shows that such a black hole can grow rather than evaporate, with continued dark matter feeding sustaining its growth. The research, published in Physical Review D, finds that under suitable conditions, a black hole with an initial mass of about 40 metric tons can overcome Hawking evaporation and continue to grow. The key is dark matter, which allows the black hole to maintain its mass despite the evaporation process.

The research outlines that the critical mass for a growing black hole depends on the properties of the star and its environment. If dark matter feeding is included, the critical mass can fall significantly. For a white dwarf in the Galactic disk, the critical initial mass is about 10,000 metric tons, but in the more dark matter-rich Galactic bulge environment, it can fall to just 40 metric tons. This means that a 40-ton black hole can grow inside a compact star instead of evaporating, with continued dark matter feeding helping to sustain its growth.

The findings suggest that the stars have performed the experiment for us, acting as natural dark matter detectors over astronomical timescales. The results indicate that dark matter can play a crucial role in the formation and growth of black holes inside compact stars. The study highlights the importance of dark matter in determining the fate of black holes, showing that even a small black hole can grow rather than evaporate under the right conditions.

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