Primordial black holes—hypothetical remnants of the early universe—could fundamentally alter the life cycle of stars if captured, creating a phenomenon researchers call a “Hawking star.” According to a study by Ore Gottlieb and colleagues at MIT, these stars eventually succumb to the black hole at their core, either through explosive destruction or a slow, steady consumption of stellar matter.
What is a Hawking star?
A Hawking star is a stellar object formed when a star captures a primordial black hole (PBH) of planetary or lunar mass. As the black hole settles into the star’s core, it begins to accrete surrounding stellar material. Research published in the study The Life and Death of Stars That Capture Primordial Black Holes (arXiv:2606.02700) suggests that this process is most likely to occur in three-body systems, where gravitational interactions force the black hole onto a trajectory that repeatedly intersects the star.
How do these stars reach their end?
Gottlieb’s team identified two distinct evolutionary paths for a star that has captured a PBH. In the first scenario, the black hole triggers the formation of an accretion disk within the star’s core. This disk generates massive, high-energy particle jets that can tear the star apart, mimicking the visual signature of a supernova. In the second scenario, the accretion rate is limited, leading to a long-term equilibrium. In this case, the black hole slowly consumes the star from the inside out, leaving behind a black hole with a mass comparable to the original star.
Primordial black holes are strictly hypothetical at this stage. While they are a leading candidate for explaining the nature of dark matter, their existence has yet to be confirmed by observational astronomy.
Why do these findings matter for modern astrophysics?
The study provides a framework for how astronomers might detect these elusive objects. If Hawking stars exist, their “deaths” would produce unique multi-messenger signals. A supernova-like destruction would release specific radiation patterns, while the slow consumption scenario would emit distinct gravitational waves. By analyzing these signals, researchers hope to determine if PBHs contribute significantly to the total mass of dark matter in the universe.
Comparison: Two paths of stellar destruction
| Scenario | Observable Signature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Explosive | Supernova-like radiation | Light, fast-rotating black hole |
| Equilibrium | Gravitational waves | Stellar-mass black hole |
Frequently Asked Questions
Could our Sun become a Hawking star?
While theoretically possible if a primordial black hole were to pass through the Sun, there is currently no evidence that such an event is imminent or likely.
What is the mass of a primordial black hole?
Estimates vary widely because PBHs remain theoretical. Some models suggest they could have the mass of stars, while others propose they could be as small as asteroids or objects with the mass of the Moon.
How do researchers detect these events?
Researchers look for specific radiation or gravitational wave signatures that differ from those produced by standard stellar evolution or typical supernovae.
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