Sep 24, 2010 20:01 GMT  ·  By
Computer model shows that 5D black strings devolve into "normal" black holes, connected by thin filaments
   Computer model shows that 5D black strings devolve into "normal" black holes, connected by thin filaments

According to the results of a new study, it would appear that bizarre cousins of the black hole, structures known as black strings, may exist if the Universe has extra dimensions that have remained hidden from sight.

At this time, there are four main dimensions, three measuring distance, and time. But physicists believe that the Cosmos may have had a lot more dimensions in the moments right after the Big Bang.

In time, those dimensions may have collapsed on themselves, disappeared or merged to form new, more evolved ones. However, there is currently no valid method of testing this hypothesis.

In the new investigation, researchers considered a Universe that featured five dimensions, and therefore included black strings within. They they analyzed how the strings evolved over time.

The study was made difficult from the get-go by a very interesting phenomenon, and namely the scientists' inability to actually perceive how a 5-dimensional space would look like.

When extrapolating the shape and function of a black hole, they came up with a cylinder-like construct, which resembled a 3D, spherical black hole that had been copied and stacked upon itself in a single direction.

“One of the problems that comes with thinking about higher dimensions is it's hard to even picture these things,” explains University of Guelph expert and study researcher Luis Lehner.

He also holds appointments at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PITP), and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIAR), all in Canada.

The expert is also the author of a new paper detailing the findings, which appears in the latest issue of the esteemed scientific journal Physical Review Letters, LiveScience reports.

Princeton University physicist Frans Pretorius was also an author of the paper. The two developed a computer model that could simulate a 5D black hole, as well as its effect on surrounding matter.

Surprisingly, it was discovered that such a construct would not remain stable for prolonged periods of time, the team members say.

It's shape and general configuration are too demanding, in the sense that even the smallest perturbations could set off a chain of events that would destroy them.

“If there are extra dimensions they might be very, very small – little curled up dimensions,” Pretorius says, adding that we might never become able to recognize such hidden dimensions.

“The things we know of as black holes might really be black strings but we can't see the other dimensions,” the expert adds further.