black hole no-hair theorem

E6813

The black hole no-hair theorem is a principle in general relativity stating that stationary black holes are completely characterized by only a few macroscopic parameters—mass, electric charge, and angular momentum—regardless of the details of the matter that formed them.

Aliases (1)

Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf no-hair theorem
theorem in general relativity
appliesTo stationary black holes
assumes Einstein field equations
absence of matter fields outside the black hole other than electromagnetic field
asymptotic flatness of spacetime
classical, non-quantum description of gravity
cosmic censorship hypothesis in many formulations
stationarity
category black hole physics
mathematical relativity
concerns classical black holes
consequence all stationary, asymptotically flat, electrovac black holes are described by the Kerr–Newman family of solutions
contrastsWith dependence on microscopic details of collapsing matter
excludes additional classical hair such as higher independent multipole moments
field general relativity
hasExtension no-hair conjectures for additional fields
hasImplication information about infalling matter is not encoded in additional classical observables outside the horizon
hasLimitation does not fully address dynamical or non-stationary black holes
may not apply in non-asymptotically flat spacetimes such as with cosmological constant
hasNameOrigin metaphor that black holes have no hair, meaning no additional distinguishing features
hasStatus rigorously proven only under specific assumptions
holdsFor charged rotating black holes described by the Kerr–Newman metric
non-rotating uncharged black holes described by the Schwarzschild metric
uncharged rotating black holes described by the Kerr metric
implies black holes have no additional independent multipole moments beyond those determined by mass, charge, and angular momentum
details of the matter that formed a black hole are not observable from outside except through mass, charge, and angular momentum
influences black hole information paradox
black hole thermodynamics
involves angular momentum dipole moment
electric monopole moment
mass monopole moment
isAbout macroscopic characterization of black holes
mayBeModifiedBy quantum effects
mayFailIn theories with additional long-range fields
motivates search for observational signatures of deviations from Kerr geometry
parameter angular momentum
electric charge
mass
relatedConcept Israel–Carter–Robinson uniqueness theorems
Kerr–Newman black hole
relatesTo black hole uniqueness theorems
event horizon
statesThat a stationary black hole is completely characterized by a small set of macroscopic parameters
testedBy ringdown phase observations of binary black hole mergers
usedIn astrophysical modeling of black holes
tests of general relativity with gravitational waves

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Schwarzschild black hole
obeysLaw
Israel–Carter–Robinson uniqueness theorems ("no-hair theorem")
relatedTo

Please wait…