Stimulated Black Hole Evaporation

Abstract

Black holes are extreme expressions of gravity. Their existence is predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity and is supported by observations. Black holes obey quantum mechanics and evaporate spontaneously. Here it is shown that a mass rate $R_f\sim 3\times 10^{-8} (M_0/M)^{1/2}$ $M_0$ yr$^{-1}$ onto the horizon of a black hole with mass $M$ (in units of solar mass $M_0$) stimulates a black hole into rapid evaporation. Specifically, $\sim 3 M_0$ black holes can emit a large fraction of their mass, and explode, in $M/R_f \sim 3\times 10^7 (M/M_0)^{3/2}$ yr. These stimulated black holes radiate a spectral line power $P \sim 2\times 10^{39} (M_0/M)^{1/2}$ erg s$^{-1}$, at a wavelength $\lambda \sim 3\times 10^5 (M/M_0)$ cm. This prediction can be observationally verified.