Conversion of protons to positrons by a black hole

Abstract

The conversion of protons to positrons at the horizon of a black hole (BH) is considered. It is shown that the process may efficiently proceed for BHs with masses in the range $\sim 10^{18}$ -- $10^{21}$ g. It is argued that the electric charge of BH acquired by the proton accretion to BH could create electric field near BH horizon close to the critical Schwinger one. It leads to efficient electron-positron pair production, when electrons are back captured by the BH while positrons are emitted into outer space. Annihilation of these positrons with electrons in the interstellar medium may at least partially explain the origin of the observed 511 keV line.