Black holes are regions of space with gravity so strong that even light cannot escape. In general relativity, traditional black holes are surrounded by an event horizon. From an outside perspective, these black holes appear featureless—a contradiction to quantum mechanics, which suggests they must have intricate microstructure.
String theory introduces the concept of “fuzzballs” to replace the classical idea of black holes, providing a more detailed representation of their microscopic nature. While general relativity effectively describes black holes’ large-scale properties, it lacks precision in detailing their microstructure.
Advanced theories beyond Einstein’s equations, like supermazes, offer a clearer view of the complex microscopic features of brane black holes.
Physicists at USC have developed an innovative approach that redefines our understanding of black holes by delving into their detailed structure. Their research introduces “supermazes,” theoretical frameworks rooted in string theory, offering a more precise and comprehensive view of black holes.
This breakthrough sheds light on the microscopic complexity of black holes, marking a significant advancement in theoretical physics. The study further demonstrates how fuzzballs—objects that mimic black holes while revealing their intricate structure—can be constructed using supermazes of physical objects in higher-dimensional spacetime.
Earlier studies provided a rough picture of black holes, like a low-resolution image with 1,000 pixels. In contrast, supermazes offer a highly detailed, “billion-pixel” view, allowing scientists to explore the intricate masterpiece of black hole structure.
This breakthrough stems from M-theory, an advanced extension of string theory. According to M-theory, the basic components of the universe, called strings, are not limited to one dimension. Instead, they exist as multidimensional objects called “branes” (short for membranes) extending across multiple spatial dimensions. Branes play a crucial role in understanding the structure and behavior of black holes at a microscopic level.
The research focused on intersecting systems of M2-branes (two-dimensional) and M5-branes (five-dimensional) within supergravity, a simplified version of M-theory at lower energies. The maze was envisioned as a ‘substrate,’ capable of encoding all the information about the black hole — whether it involves its origin or anything that has ever fallen into it. This approach offers a deeper understanding of black hole structure and the intricate processes within.
The study introduces a groundbreaking “maze function,” a mathematical tool to explore how intersecting M2 and M5 branes in supergravity can reveal new geometries and describe black holes. This maze function not only reproduces black hole entropy but also holds the potential to explain black hole microstates.
While brane intersections have been extensively studied in string theory, this research reimagines them to offer fresh perspectives on black hole structure. The maze function is governed by a nonlinear differential equation akin to the Monge-Ampère equation, which directs the geometry and dynamics of brane interactions. This advancement deepens our understanding of black holes on a microscopic level.
Maze functions are essential for connecting brane configurations to supergravity solutions, offering a novel approach to studying black-hole microstates. Acting like a “billion-pixel camera,” the maze function provides an incredibly detailed view of black holes’ microscopic structures.
This research marks an initial step toward creating a complete string theory framework to describe the intricate microstructure of brane black holes.
Journal Reference:
- Bena, I., Houppe, A., Toulikas, D. et al. Maze topiary in supergravity. J. High Energy. Phys. 2025, 120 (2025). DOI: 10.1007/JHEP03(2025)120
Source: Tech Explorist
