Black Holes = very very big atom?

[Icefire]

AS most of us know the majority of known matter is comprised of neutrons, electrons, and protrons which are arranged into atoms, which are then usually arranged into molecules. Using nuclear fusion we can smash atoms into each other to create even bigger atoms. Because atoms are comprised mostly of the empty space between the nucleus and the orbiting electrons, a single atom with the same mass of many atoms will always be smaller, because with all of the newer atoms the empty space adds up.

 

Now say when a star explodes, the atoms at the core collape into each other to creat a single super-massive atom with the same mass as the individual atoms that it was originally made up of. if this single atom has a large enough mass it could pull nearby matter to it and then with sheer gravitation force rip the matter down into it's individual subatomic particles, increasing the mass of this atom.

 

 

That is my theory of a black hole and I'm sticking with it.

[ajb]

Now say when a star explodes, the atoms at the core collape into each other to creat a single super-massive atom with the same mass as the individual atoms that it was originally made up of.

 

No mass defect?

 

A "massive atom" sounds a bit like a neutron star. The core would consist of neutrons (maybe in the form of a superfluid) and there would then be layers of ions and electrons on the surface.

[Icefire]

Maybe so. but since Neutron stars and black holes are usually generated the same way and the outcome differs depending on the initial mass, it is possible that at some point the mass of the neutron star is strong enough that the neutron star exhibits the familiar black-hole abilities.

[ajb]

... mass of the neutron star is strong enough that the neutron star exhibits the familiar black-hole abilities.

 

Like what?

 

The exterior solution to the field equations that describes the space-time around a neutron star is the same as that of a black hole. So, yes they do share some properties.

[Radical Edward]

black holes aren't atoms because the repulsion due to the strong force can't overcome the gravitational field.

 

Neutron stars however are basically very large atoms, or can at least be shown to be something like that.

 

For the interested reader; take the semi empirical mass formula

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-empirical_mass_formula

 

which shows the binding energies of the nucleus for various sorts of atom. Now adjust the terms relating to protons; the coulomb term and the asymmetry term, making the assumption that there are no protons in your atom. You'll find that your "atom" can never be stable. Now insert gravity as a perturbation, and work out when it will be stable again. You get roughly the mass of a neutron star. So from this, a neutron star is a giant atom with no protons in it.

 

This is only crude however, but it is pretty cool. I like it.