Space

According to data from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, the origins of the free-flying photons in the early cosmic dawn were small dwarf galaxies that flared to life, clearing the fog of murky hydrogen that filled intergalactic space..."They produce ionizing photons that transform neutral hydrogen into ionized plasma during cosmic reionization. It highlights the importance of understanding low-mass galaxies in shaping the Universe's history."...Scientists thought that the sources responsible for most of the clearing must have been powerful – huge black holes whose accretion produces blazing light, for example, and large galaxies in the throes of star formation (baby stars produce a lot of UV light)...Surprisingly, [JWST]'s observations now suggest that dwarf galaxies are the key player in reionization...""Despite their tiny size, these low-mass galaxies are prolific producers of energetic radiation, and their abundance during this period is so substantial that their collective influence can transform the entire state of the Universe.""

Paywall Bypass Link: https://archive.is/Qgex2

TLDR:

• Theoretical and experimental evidence now strongly supports the possibility of energy extraction from spinning objects, including black holes.

• Creating a “black hole bomb” is no longer just science fiction—lab-scale analogs exist.

• Realizing a full-scale version (especially around a real black hole) is still far in the future, but the groundwork is being laid.

Main Idea

It is theoretically and experimentally possible to extract energy from spinning black holes, and under specific conditions, this could be amplified to create what’s known as a “black hole bomb.”

Theoretical Background

Penrose Process (1969)

• Proposed by Roger Penrose.

• Energy can be extracted from a spinning black hole via its ergosphere.

• The ergosphere is a region just outside the event horizon where spacetime is dragged due to the black hole’s spin.

• Inside this region:

  • Objects cannot remain stationary.
  • Energy can be gained if mass is ejected in the right way.
  • A spacecraft, for instance, could enter the ergosphere and leave with more energy than it had.

Zeldovich Effect (1971)

• Proposed by Yakov Zeldovich.
• Rotating bodies (not just black holes) can amplify electromagnetic waves via rotational energy.
• Predicted that light or sound aimed at a spinning object could gain energy upon reflection.
• Required extremely high rotational speeds—nearly relativistic—for noticeable effects.

Experimental Verification

Sound Waves (2020)

• Spinning absorptive disc increased the energy of low-frequency sound waves.
• Proved the Zeldovich effect using acoustics.

Electromagnetic Waves (2023–2024)

• A spinning aluminum cylinder with surrounding magnetic coils showed energy amplification of EM waves.
• Rotation direction affected energy gain/loss.
• First real-world proof of the superradiance concept from Zeldovich's theory.

Black Hole Bomb Concept (1972)

Key Mechanism

• Enclose a spinning black hole (or any rotating energy source) with a reflective mirror.

• Waves bounce between the mirror and ergosphere, each time gaining energy from the black hole’s spin.

• This creates a positive feedback loop:

  • Energy builds exponentially.
  • Could result in an enormous explosion (i.e., a “black hole bomb”).
  • Or energy could be released in a controlled burst, like a black hole plasma gun.

Recent Experiments (2024)

• Miniature black hole bomb analog was created:

  • A metal cylinder was rotated.
  • Surrounded by coils acting as magnetic mirrors.
  • EM waves were amplified exponentially when rotation threshold was met.
  • Verified theoretical predictions experimentally for the first time.

Challenges & Future Research

For Actual Black Holes

• Creating a real reflective mirror around a black hole is still theoretical.
• Stabilizing such a structure near a black hole is currently beyond our technology.

Next Step: Quantum Foam

• Researchers aim to attempt amplification using quantum vacuum energy (quantum foam).

• If successful:

  • Could demonstrate energy extraction from spacetime itself.
  • Would confirm another Zeldovich prediction.
  • Potential Nobel Prize-level breakthrough.

source