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وحوش اينشتاين حياة الثقوب السوداء وتاريخها
علم الثقوب السوداء المذهل ، ودور تلك الثقوب السوداء في فهم ماضي كوننا ومستقبله. الثقوب السوداء هي الأجسام الأكثر تطرفا في الكون، لكنها مع ذلك منتشرة في كل مكان . فكل نجم ضخم يخلف وراه ثقبا اسود عند وفاته ، وتأوي كل مجرة ثقبا اسود ضخما في مركزها . وعلى نحو غامض مخيف تواصل هذه الأجرام العملاقة المظلمة إدهاش العلماء ، حتى الذين يمضون حياتهم في دراستها . ما الذي تشكل أولا ، المجرة أم ثقبها الأسود المركزي ؟ ماذا سيحدث إذا دخلت في إحدى هذه الثقوب السوداء ، الموت الفوري ام شيء أكثر غرابة ؟ بل ربما كان السؤال الأكثر أهمية هو : كيف لنا أن نعرف أي شيء عن تلك الثقوب السوداء يقينا ، هي بطبيعتها تقوم بتدمير المعلومات ؟ في هذا الكتاب ، يصحب عالم الفلك الشهير « کریس إمبي » القراء في رحلة استكشافية لهذه الأسئلة وغيرها من خلال أحدث ما توصلت إليه الفيزياء الفلكية ، وكذلك دور تاريخ الثقوب السوداء في الفيزياء النظرية ، من تأكيد معادلات نسبية أينشتاين العامة إلى اختبار نظرية الأوتار . فيمزج هذا التاريخ بسرد مثير للظواهر التي شهدها العلماء أثناء رصد الثقوب السوداء ، كدوران النجوم واحتشادها كأسراب النحل حول مرکز مجرتنا ، والثقوب السوداء التي تؤدي رقصة جاذبية مع النجوم المرئية والصدام المدوي بين ثقبين أسودين ، الذي يطلق التموجات في الزمكان . ويكشف هذا الكتاب على نحو واضح وجذاب وعميق كيفية ارتباط فهمنا للثقوب السوداء ارتباطا جوهريا بطريقة فهمنا للكون وموقعنا داخله ، فمن أبسط الأسئلة إلى أشدها تعقيدا - من أصغر الجسيمات إلى طبيعة الزمكان نفسه - ربما تكون الثقوب السوداء هي مفتاح الفهم الأعمق للكون. دار بوك مانيا,كريس إمبي,وحوش أينشتاين
328 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2018
92 people are currently reading
999 people want to read
About the author
Chris Impey
26 books144 followersChris Impey is a University Distinguished Professor in the Astronomy Department and Associate Dean in the College of Science at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He has written popular articles on astronomy and is the author of a number of popular science books. The Living Cosmos is a tour of the search for life in the universe, and the pair of books How It Ends and How It Began cover the origin and fate of everything in the universe. Talking About Life is a series of conversations with pioneers in astrobiology. With Holly Henry, he wrote about the scientific and cultural impact of a dozen iconic NASA missions, Dreams of Other Worlds. A book about his experiences teaching cosmology to Tibetan monks, Humble Before the Void was published in 2014, and his book about the future of humans in space, called Beyond, was published in 2015. His first novel is called Shadow World.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 5, 2019
Pirmā grāmatu par melnajiem caurumiem man rokās nonāca desmit gadu vecumā. Tā saucās Visums un to bija sarakstījis Aizeks Azimovs. Tur gan runa nebija tieši par melnajiem caurumiem, bet par tā laika supertrendīgo astronomisko parādību kvazāru. Vēlāk es izlasīju grāmatu krievu valodā, kuras nosaukums ir pagaisis no manas atmiņas. Tajā es uzzināju par Švarcšilda rādiusu un Kerra melnajiem caurumiem. Laika gaitā biju sagrābstījies informāciju dažādās kosmoloģijas grāmatās. Nebija nekāds brīnums, ka, Jānī Rozē plauktā pamanījis šo grāmatu, es to tūlīt arī iegādājos.
Melnie caurumi Visumā ir bijuši gandrīz vienmēr, sākot no pavisam maziem līdz Saules sistēmas lieluma. Tagad jau var droši teikt, ka katras galaktikas centrā ir vismaz viens no supermasīvajiem un miljoniem sīkāku izkaisīti pa visu galaktiku. Atceramies arī satraukumu pirms Lielā Hadronu paātrinātāja palaišanas, kad daži entuziasti, kuriem ir švaki gājis matemātikā, bļāva par iespēju izveidot melno caurumu, kas aprīs visu zemi. Tas gan bija no pirksta izzīsts apgalvojums. Melnie caurumi būs arī pēdējie objekti, kas paliks Visumā ilgi pēc tam, kad visas zvaigznes jau būs izdzisušas.
Strukturāli grāmata ir uzrakstīta perfekti, sākot ar Džona Mičela (John Michell) ideju, ka varētu eksistēt objekts, kura gravitācija būtu tik liela, ka pat gaisma nevarētu no tā izsprukt līdz LIGO eksperimentam un gravitācijas viļņu atklāšanai. Tam visam pa vidu ir blazāri, pulsāri, kvazāri, neitronu zvaigznes, baltie punduri un simtiem zinātnieku, kas visu vai daļu no savas karjeras ir veltījuši gravitācijas pētīšanai. Man personīgi liela daļa no informācijas nebija nekāds jaunums, bet tik labi sastrukturētu notikumu izklāstu man nācās lasīt pirmo reizi.
Laikam nojaušot, ka caurmēra lasītājam ir alerģija pret matemātiku, te praktiski iztrūkst vienādojumu, kas uzskatāmi parāda, kāpēc process notiek tieši tā un ne savādāk. Tādēļ lasītājs ir pasargāts no iespējas pašrocīgi aprēķināt supermasīvas zvaigznes kolapsu, lai redzētu, kas tur sanāks. Tādēļ sanāk vai nu autoram ticēt uz vārda, vai arī paskatīties atsaucē un visu nočekot pašam.
Es personīgi ieguvu no šīs grāmatas pāris lietas. Pirmā – man jau no bērnu dienām, uzzinot par neitronu zvaigznēm, bija šķitis, ka tās pēc būtības ir milzīgi atomu kodoli, kas turas kopā tikai pateicoties gravitācijai. Un ko tu domājies, autors garām ejot apstiprināja manas aizdomas. Otrā lieta ir saistīta ar gravitācijas viļņu izplatīšanās ātrumu. Es savulaik esmu lasījis ne tikai gudras grāmatas vien, man ir nācies lasīt arī tādas grāmatas, kuras lasot šķiet gudras, bet patiesībā tur ir tikai sēnalas. Šajā laikā es acīmredzot vēl nespēju kritiski izvērtēt informāciju un man prātā aizķērās viens artefakts, ka neviens īsti nezina, cik ātri izplatās gravitācija. Pareizā atbilde ir gaismas ātrums, un to es zinu jau sen, bet katru reizi, kad es izlasu kārtējo šī fakta pierādījumu, grāmatas autors manās acīs nopelna papildus zvaigznīti. Trešā – autors izvairās no tukšām spekulācijām un te nav sastopama nodaļa par melno caurumu pielietojumu sadzīvē. Praktiski nav piesauktas tārpejas, laika mašīnas un citas zinātniskai fantastikai piedienošas lietas. Trakākais, kas te ir sastopams, ir scenārijs, kā tāltālā nākotnē zemes lieluma planēta riņķojot ap saules lieluma melno caurumu varētu iegūt veselu kilovatu enerģijas gada laikā par spīti entropijai.
Grāmatai lieku 9 no 10 ballēm, ja patīk astronomija un ir vēlme izlasīt par kādu tās mazu sadaļu visu no A-Z, tad iesaku šo. Nekādas priekšzināšanas, izņemot loģisko domāšanu, šai grāmatai nav nepieciešamas.
Melnie caurumi Visumā ir bijuši gandrīz vienmēr, sākot no pavisam maziem līdz Saules sistēmas lieluma. Tagad jau var droši teikt, ka katras galaktikas centrā ir vismaz viens no supermasīvajiem un miljoniem sīkāku izkaisīti pa visu galaktiku. Atceramies arī satraukumu pirms Lielā Hadronu paātrinātāja palaišanas, kad daži entuziasti, kuriem ir švaki gājis matemātikā, bļāva par iespēju izveidot melno caurumu, kas aprīs visu zemi. Tas gan bija no pirksta izzīsts apgalvojums. Melnie caurumi būs arī pēdējie objekti, kas paliks Visumā ilgi pēc tam, kad visas zvaigznes jau būs izdzisušas.
Strukturāli grāmata ir uzrakstīta perfekti, sākot ar Džona Mičela (John Michell) ideju, ka varētu eksistēt objekts, kura gravitācija būtu tik liela, ka pat gaisma nevarētu no tā izsprukt līdz LIGO eksperimentam un gravitācijas viļņu atklāšanai. Tam visam pa vidu ir blazāri, pulsāri, kvazāri, neitronu zvaigznes, baltie punduri un simtiem zinātnieku, kas visu vai daļu no savas karjeras ir veltījuši gravitācijas pētīšanai. Man personīgi liela daļa no informācijas nebija nekāds jaunums, bet tik labi sastrukturētu notikumu izklāstu man nācās lasīt pirmo reizi.
Laikam nojaušot, ka caurmēra lasītājam ir alerģija pret matemātiku, te praktiski iztrūkst vienādojumu, kas uzskatāmi parāda, kāpēc process notiek tieši tā un ne savādāk. Tādēļ lasītājs ir pasargāts no iespējas pašrocīgi aprēķināt supermasīvas zvaigznes kolapsu, lai redzētu, kas tur sanāks. Tādēļ sanāk vai nu autoram ticēt uz vārda, vai arī paskatīties atsaucē un visu nočekot pašam.
Es personīgi ieguvu no šīs grāmatas pāris lietas. Pirmā – man jau no bērnu dienām, uzzinot par neitronu zvaigznēm, bija šķitis, ka tās pēc būtības ir milzīgi atomu kodoli, kas turas kopā tikai pateicoties gravitācijai. Un ko tu domājies, autors garām ejot apstiprināja manas aizdomas. Otrā lieta ir saistīta ar gravitācijas viļņu izplatīšanās ātrumu. Es savulaik esmu lasījis ne tikai gudras grāmatas vien, man ir nācies lasīt arī tādas grāmatas, kuras lasot šķiet gudras, bet patiesībā tur ir tikai sēnalas. Šajā laikā es acīmredzot vēl nespēju kritiski izvērtēt informāciju un man prātā aizķērās viens artefakts, ka neviens īsti nezina, cik ātri izplatās gravitācija. Pareizā atbilde ir gaismas ātrums, un to es zinu jau sen, bet katru reizi, kad es izlasu kārtējo šī fakta pierādījumu, grāmatas autors manās acīs nopelna papildus zvaigznīti. Trešā – autors izvairās no tukšām spekulācijām un te nav sastopama nodaļa par melno caurumu pielietojumu sadzīvē. Praktiski nav piesauktas tārpejas, laika mašīnas un citas zinātniskai fantastikai piedienošas lietas. Trakākais, kas te ir sastopams, ir scenārijs, kā tāltālā nākotnē zemes lieluma planēta riņķojot ap saules lieluma melno caurumu varētu iegūt veselu kilovatu enerģijas gada laikā par spīti entropijai.
Grāmatai lieku 9 no 10 ballēm, ja patīk astronomija un ir vēlme izlasīt par kādu tās mazu sadaļu visu no A-Z, tad iesaku šo. Nekādas priekšzināšanas, izņemot loģisko domāšanu, šai grāmatai nav nepieciešamas.
February 28, 2019
This is Black Hole 101. Most books about astronomy are very difficult to understand because they expect you to have a degree in physics. Not this one. I understand almost everything Impey is trying to say.
So Einstein’s general relativity predicts black holes. We now have proof that they exist everywhere. Stars are constantly balancing 2 forces: gravity and energy release. The former pulls it in and the latter expands it. When fuels are finished gravity becomes stronger and the star collapses. Small ones collapse to white dwarves; medium ones collapse to neutron stars. Big ones collapse to become black holes, where density is *gasp* infinite at the centre called the singularity. There is also the event horizon where nothing, even light, can escape, where escape velocity is also infinite.
Black holes have different masses (exactly how each can have the same ‘infinite’ density at the centre but different mass is mind boggling. I just cannot compare 2 infinites but that is general relativity. Black holes have been proven through binaries where 2 solar entities circle each other. They sent out different waves that can be detected and they obey the laws of general relativity.
Active black holes are quasars or blazers which have bright accretion discs a la the show Interstellar. Those were formed when stars were gobbled up by the black holes, half joining them and the other half expelled and end up circling the black hole. Active quasars are rare and happened mostly in the early age of the universe. Eventually all the stars are gobbled up and black holes become quiet and unseeable, only to decay slowly according to Stephen Hawking.
Each galaxy has a gigantic black hole at the centre, whose mass is equal to the total mass of stars in the galaxy. They hold the core stars and allow them to rotate around the centre.
Black Holes allow us to test general relativity in the space time distortion caused by mass, and gravitational waves which were released when black holes collided. Our GPS technology must take into account gravity’s distortion of time space or else positions will be off by 10km....no more Google Map...
A solid 5 star book for the layman!
So Einstein’s general relativity predicts black holes. We now have proof that they exist everywhere. Stars are constantly balancing 2 forces: gravity and energy release. The former pulls it in and the latter expands it. When fuels are finished gravity becomes stronger and the star collapses. Small ones collapse to white dwarves; medium ones collapse to neutron stars. Big ones collapse to become black holes, where density is *gasp* infinite at the centre called the singularity. There is also the event horizon where nothing, even light, can escape, where escape velocity is also infinite.
Black holes have different masses (exactly how each can have the same ‘infinite’ density at the centre but different mass is mind boggling. I just cannot compare 2 infinites but that is general relativity. Black holes have been proven through binaries where 2 solar entities circle each other. They sent out different waves that can be detected and they obey the laws of general relativity.
Active black holes are quasars or blazers which have bright accretion discs a la the show Interstellar. Those were formed when stars were gobbled up by the black holes, half joining them and the other half expelled and end up circling the black hole. Active quasars are rare and happened mostly in the early age of the universe. Eventually all the stars are gobbled up and black holes become quiet and unseeable, only to decay slowly according to Stephen Hawking.
Each galaxy has a gigantic black hole at the centre, whose mass is equal to the total mass of stars in the galaxy. They hold the core stars and allow them to rotate around the centre.
Black Holes allow us to test general relativity in the space time distortion caused by mass, and gravitational waves which were released when black holes collided. Our GPS technology must take into account gravity’s distortion of time space or else positions will be off by 10km....no more Google Map...
A solid 5 star book for the layman!
January 20, 2021
كتاب جيد و يستعرض حياة الثقوب السوداء من البداية حتى النهاية، و يحكي قصتها منذ ان كانت مجرد نظرية ثم كانت محط سخرية، حتى ان مسمى "ثقب اسود" كان قد أطلق من باب السخرية على هذه النظرية ثم اصبحت بعد ذلك حقيقة لابد منها.
الثقوب السوداء قد تمثل واحدة من أصعب الأمور التي يمكن تخيلها، و هي تمثل رعبا حقيقيا عند تأملها و قد تعتبر أخطر شيء موجود في هذا الكون.
يعيب الكتاب انه ممل في بعض اجزائه نظرا للتفاصيل التي يذكرها.
الثقوب السوداء قد تمثل واحدة من أصعب الأمور التي يمكن تخيلها، و هي تمثل رعبا حقيقيا عند تأملها و قد تعتبر أخطر شيء موجود في هذا الكون.
يعيب الكتاب انه ممل في بعض اجزائه نظرا للتفاصيل التي يذكرها.
January 19, 2019
Einstein’s Monsters focuses on the most awesome objects in the universe, black holes. Author Chris Impey dives deep into the history of our understanding of these fascinating celestial bodies.
As we all know, a black hole is the final evolution of a star with a certain level of mass. Our own local star, the Sun, will never become a black hole. It just doesn’t have enough mass to do so. Stars are nuclear fusion ‘engines,’ they convert the mass of the star into radiation capable of balancing out the power of gravity. Eventually, that fuel runs out and the star stops shining. This could end up in one of three ways. With a star of the mass of around our Sun, it will become a White Dwarf, a star that is slightly larger becomes a Neutron Star, and a star of even greater magnitude becomes a black hole.
Anyway, Impey does an excellent job of explaining what a black hole is and how we realized that they exist. Throughout the book, he explains how exactly these theories came to pass and were developed. The black hole as a concept existed ever since we understood the idea of Escape Velocity. A black hole is a region of space that has warped to the point where it is cut off from the rest of the universe. The gravity of the black hole is so powerful that even light cannot escape it. At the core of the black hole is the singularity, a point of supposedly infinite density blocked off from the rest of the universe by the event horizon.
Since it talks about the life and times of black holes, it covers the whole gamut of what we know without going into the field equations and so on.
The book is really interesting and enjoyable. It is also recent enough to acknowledge the death of Steven Hawking. I would recommend it if you are interested in stuff like this.
As we all know, a black hole is the final evolution of a star with a certain level of mass. Our own local star, the Sun, will never become a black hole. It just doesn’t have enough mass to do so. Stars are nuclear fusion ‘engines,’ they convert the mass of the star into radiation capable of balancing out the power of gravity. Eventually, that fuel runs out and the star stops shining. This could end up in one of three ways. With a star of the mass of around our Sun, it will become a White Dwarf, a star that is slightly larger becomes a Neutron Star, and a star of even greater magnitude becomes a black hole.
Anyway, Impey does an excellent job of explaining what a black hole is and how we realized that they exist. Throughout the book, he explains how exactly these theories came to pass and were developed. The black hole as a concept existed ever since we understood the idea of Escape Velocity. A black hole is a region of space that has warped to the point where it is cut off from the rest of the universe. The gravity of the black hole is so powerful that even light cannot escape it. At the core of the black hole is the singularity, a point of supposedly infinite density blocked off from the rest of the universe by the event horizon.
Since it talks about the life and times of black holes, it covers the whole gamut of what we know without going into the field equations and so on.
The book is really interesting and enjoyable. It is also recent enough to acknowledge the death of Steven Hawking. I would recommend it if you are interested in stuff like this.
June 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I don’t really know anything about science, and generally mathematics goes over my head, but I found this book to be understandable. I definitely recommend it for those interested in space and black holes.
September 15, 2024
OMG. okay. this book was actually so incredible I cannot even begin to explain!!! i have always had an interest in astronomy, but it had been on my periphery for quite some time, and I just picked this book up from the library on a whim- not expecting to be SUCKED IN. while it answered a lot of the questions i have about the universe and its inner workings, it piqued my interest and created so many more questions. when i said in an earlier update that i am now genuinely considering changing my major to astrophysics, i meant it LOL!!! i am so excited to learn about the impossibles of the universe and i want to find ways to explain the inexplicable !!! RAH!!! definitely going to be one of my favorites foreevverrrr :333
August 1, 2024
I read a hardback version of this book while commuting to and from work as a new habit.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Physics was one of my favorite subjects, and I had hoped to pursue it in college but couldn’t. Books like this, written for non-academic readers, are perfect for keeping me engaged when I want to learn something new. I appreciate how it follows historical experiments and key figures in the field, starting with Einstein and culminating in the recent LIGO developments to detect gravitational waves. The book's images effectively help readers visualize different concepts.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Physics was one of my favorite subjects, and I had hoped to pursue it in college but couldn’t. Books like this, written for non-academic readers, are perfect for keeping me engaged when I want to learn something new. I appreciate how it follows historical experiments and key figures in the field, starting with Einstein and culminating in the recent LIGO developments to detect gravitational waves. The book's images effectively help readers visualize different concepts.
April 7, 2020
This is a phenomenal book by a master scientific writer.
Black holes are perhaps the most facinating piece of our universe. Science , philosophy and reality itself boils at a blackhole. I couldn't possibly recommend this book any more , brilliant !!
Black holes are perhaps the most facinating piece of our universe. Science , philosophy and reality itself boils at a blackhole. I couldn't possibly recommend this book any more , brilliant !!
February 27, 2025
كتاب يتحدث عن الثقوب السوداء بتفاصيل دقيقة و رائعة.
تقريبا انذكرت كل تفاصيل الثقوب السوداء؛ ما قبل اكتشافها إلى ما بعد ذلك و العلماء الذين وقفوا خلف اكتشافها و اسهاماتهم. معظم أجزاء الكتاب لن تشعر بالملل لكن مخك سينفجر من بعض الحقائق الصادمة عن الثقوب السوداء.
الكتاب موجه للعامة لكنه ليس موجه لشخص مبتدأ في علم الفلك. تحتاج تكون ملم ببعض مبادئ الفيزياء و الرياضيات .
تقريبا انذكرت كل تفاصيل الثقوب السوداء؛ ما قبل اكتشافها إلى ما بعد ذلك و العلماء الذين وقفوا خلف اكتشافها و اسهاماتهم. معظم أجزاء الكتاب لن تشعر بالملل لكن مخك سينفجر من بعض الحقائق الصادمة عن الثقوب السوداء.
الكتاب موجه للعامة لكنه ليس موجه لشخص مبتدأ في علم الفلك. تحتاج تكون ملم ببعض مبادئ الفيزياء و الرياضيات .
August 25, 2019
Too long...
February 6, 2023
Read it really fast (writing style was good) but retained nothing from it in my brain. Oh well
March 20, 2024
TL;DR An excellent primer on black holes. I recommend.
Black holes in popular media have occupied this weird niche within the cultural zeitgeist. It is often representative as the ultimate finality and death, an unknown full of danger and potential. Black holes rear their looming, ugly head every few years when some new astronomical finding happens, reminding us that it is an inevitability. Impey does a good job dispelling these strange and uncomfortable notions while highlighting the truths underneath these conceptions. What I like about Einstein's Monsters is that it doesn't start by diving into the physics of a black hole. Instead, it sprinkles the physics into the history of black holes, and the incredulous story of their discovery.
If you couldn't tell, I liked this one. Those jumping straight into this book with no knowledge of physics or astronomy will be a little confused by the technical terms, and it suffers the same scaling issue that astronomers and physicists always have, i.e., telling me some is "one billion trillion times heavier than the Earth" is meaningless to me (unfortunately, this can't really be helped in astronomy). However, it is a fun read that combines technicality and storytelling in a focused manner. I recommend for anyone looking to learn more about black holes.
Black holes in popular media have occupied this weird niche within the cultural zeitgeist. It is often representative as the ultimate finality and death, an unknown full of danger and potential. Black holes rear their looming, ugly head every few years when some new astronomical finding happens, reminding us that it is an inevitability. Impey does a good job dispelling these strange and uncomfortable notions while highlighting the truths underneath these conceptions. What I like about Einstein's Monsters is that it doesn't start by diving into the physics of a black hole. Instead, it sprinkles the physics into the history of black holes, and the incredulous story of their discovery.
If you couldn't tell, I liked this one. Those jumping straight into this book with no knowledge of physics or astronomy will be a little confused by the technical terms, and it suffers the same scaling issue that astronomers and physicists always have, i.e., telling me some is "one billion trillion times heavier than the Earth" is meaningless to me (unfortunately, this can't really be helped in astronomy). However, it is a fun read that combines technicality and storytelling in a focused manner. I recommend for anyone looking to learn more about black holes.
September 20, 2019
A very informative and captivating read!
February 11, 2019
This isn’t a book for science/space beginners like me. It will help if you have a general understanding of physics and science before you read this. The author does use good analogies, references poetry, and includes recaps that increase understanding. That said, a lot of this went over my head. I gave up reading the footnotes about halfway through, which I do think helped with the flow of information. But I liked the more personal nature of some of these notes. I would have liked this book more if I started with a more general “space” science refresher. Not something I’d usually read but I got an Advanced Reader Copy from the library so why not? And I do know more about black holes now.
April 27, 2025
تطورت الثقوب السوداء من غرائب رياضية إلى ركائز أساسية في الفيزياء الفلكية، مُشكّلةً فهمنا للجاذبية والزمكان وبنية الكون. وتستكشف الأبحاث الجارية دورها في تكوين المجرات، والجاذبية الكمومية، ومصير المعلومات.
انتشر مصطلح "الثقب الأسود" على يد جون ويلر في ستينيات القرن العشرين.
اقترح جون ميشيل (1783) وبيير سيمون لابلاس (1796) وجود "نجوم مظلمة" باستخدام جاذبية نيوتن، مشيرين إلى وجود أجسامٍ ذات سرعات إفلات تتجاوز سرعة الضوء.
- شكّلت النسبية العامة لأينشتاين (1915) الإطارَ لنظرية الثقوب السوداء الحديثة.
- استنتج كارل شوارزشيلد (1916) أول حلٍّ لمعادلات أينشتاين، واصفًا ثقبًا أسود غير دوار (مقياس شوارزشيلد).
روجر بنروز (ستينيات القرن الماضي): أثبت تكوّن المتفردات في النجوم المنهارة، وحصل على جائزة نوبل (2020).
- ستيفن هوكينج: وضع نظرية إشعاع هوكينج (1974)، موضحًا أن الثقوب السوداء تُصدر جسيمات كمية وتتبخر ببطء.
- سوبراهمانيان شاندراسيخار: عرّف حد الكتلة (حد شاندراسيخار، حوالي 1.4 كتلة شمسية) لاستقرار الأقزام البيضاء، مما أدى إلى فهم انهيار النجوم.
*التكوين ودورة الحياة
1. الثقوب السوداء ذات الكتلة النجمية:
- تتشكل من انهيار نواة النجوم الضخمة (>20 كتلة شمسية) في المستعرات العظمى. تُصبح البقايا التي تزيد كتلتها عن 3 كتل شمسية ثقوبًا سوداء.
- تُوصف بحد تولمان-أوبنهايمر-فولكوف لاستقرار النجوم النيوترونية.
2. الثقوب السوداء فائقة الكتلة (SMBHs):
- توجد في مراكز المجرات (مثل القوس أ* في درب التبانة). لا تزال أصولها محل جدل: فقد تنمو عبر التراكم، أو الاندماج، أو الانهيار المباشر في الكون المبكر.
3. الثقوب السوداء المتوسطة والبدائية:
- الثقوب متوسطة الكتلة (١٠٠-١٠⁵ كتلة شمسية) نادرة؛ بينما قد تتكون الثقوب البدائية (افتراضية) من تقلبات الكثافة في الكون المبكر.
*التطور والموت
- النمو: تراكم المادة والاندماجات (رُصدت عبر موجات الجاذبية بواسطة ليغو/فيرغو).
- التبخر: يُسبب إشعاع هوكينج فقدانًا في الكتلة على مدى حوالي ١٠⁶⁷ سنة للثقوب ذات الكتلة النجمية، مما يجعلها ضئيلة في الكون الحالي.
*٠تاريخ الرصد
- الأدلة المبكرة:
- الدجاجة X-1 (1971): أول نجم مرشح ذو كتلة نجمية، تم تحديده بالأشعة السينية من أقراص التراكم.
- الكوازارات (ستينيات القرن الماضي): تعمل بواسطة الثقوب السوداء فائقة الكتلة التي تتراكم الغاز.
- *الاكتشافات الحديثة:
- *تلسكوب أفق الحدث (2019/2022): صور لمجرة M87* ومجرة القوس A* تُظهر ظلال أفق الحدث.
- موجات الجاذبية:اكتشافات اندماج الثقوب السوداء (مثل GW150914 عام 2015).
ماذا تفعل الثقوب السوداء في الزمكان؟
يمكن تعريف الثقب الأسود على أنه منطقة للزمكان الذي قد انحنى لدرجة أنه «اقتُطِع)) من بقية الكون. ولكن حتى على مسافة من الثقب الأسود، فإن انحناء الزمكان سيتسبب في انحراف الجسيمات والضوء، عندما طور أينشتاين النسبية العامة، لم تكن هناك ثقوب سوداء معروفة. لذا خضعت نظريته للاختبار من خلال تأثير بسيط؛ ألا وهو الانحراف الطفيف للضوء القادم من نجم بعيد بينما يقترب من الشمس خلال طريقه إلى الأرض. يُلاحظ ذلك بسهولة بالغة خلال الكسوف الشمسي، عندما تختفي الشمس خلف القمر ويكون النجم الخلفي مرئيًّا.! في عام ١٩١٩، أي بعد ثلاث سنوات فقط من نشر نظرية النسبية العامة، قاس آرثر إدنجتون وزملاؤه هذا الانحراف في الوقت نفسه من البرازيل وجنوب أفريقيا. فجاءت النتائج مطابقة لما تنبأ به أينشتاين.
احتلت هذه النتائج صدارة الصفحات الأولى في معظم الصحف، وازداد الأمر درامية ولا شك بسبب رمزية تأكيد عالم بريطاني لعمل عالم ألماني مع نهاية حرب طويلة ودامية. أصبح أينشتاين من المشاهير بين عشية وضحاها. لقد كان واثقًا جدًّا من النتيجة؛ فعندما سُئل عن رد فعله لو لم تتأكد النسبية العامة خلال هذه التجربة، قال:
«كنت سأشعر حينها بالأسف على الرب، فالنظرية صحيحة على أي حال))." ( ص 147)
يطرح الكتاب الكثير من الأسئلة حول الثقوب السوداء ، ويجيب عنها، و يحاول الكاتب عبر مادة الكتاب إيضاح للقارئ آخر ما توصل له العلم حول الثقوب السوداء بتاريخها وحاضرها ومستقبلها منذ الانفجار العظيم حتى تاريخ كتابة هذه المادة .
May 30, 2024
With hardly any mind-bending formulae, but with generously sprinkled diagrams explaining all the esoteric concepts it covers, this book is a treat to read. Black Holes have been one of the most mysterious ideas in the history of human knowledge - it is right there in its name. There's a large black hole where knowledge should be. Drawing on the works of giants in the field, Mr. Impey has drawn an impressive study guide into the life and times of a black hole.
Right from the start, the writing is engaging - if a little repetitive at times. While I was glued to the book for the most part, there were times that I had to just skip over brief sections in mild bouts of exasperation. There are unnecessary callouts to contexts explained recently that have no place in a book like this one. At times, I felt like I was reading a script for a NOVA episode, where each ad break is followed by a teaser line or two, to rekindle audience's attention, before diving into the next topic.
To be honest though, it is a mild gripe for a book that is so chock-full of actual hands-on and first-hand experiential knowledge on the subject of black holes, knowledge that the author has gathered by actually spending brutally cold nights peering out of exotically large telescopes into the inky blackness of the night sky - for hours at a time. It is back-breaking excruciating and mind-numbing work, and his efforts show in his anecdotes of those nights, and of how his peers have used those opportunities to snatch from the universe - and find a matching place for - one more piece of this cosmic puzzle, that literally transcends time and space!
More than anything else, the author's sheer passion and enthusiasm rubs off when reading this. The field of study is constantly evolving and growing, despite having to deal with subjects that have literally been 13.8 billion years in the making, are thousands of light years away, and some of which weigh in at a portly millions of times our Sun. So, yeah, nothing normal about them, and that's obviously what makes the subject that much more alluring, and awe-inducing!
One just wishes it was organized a little better - I can't seriously try to suggest what could have been a better order of chapters or content, but the way it is currently written, it didn't really feel as if the entire narrative flowed in one direction. There were zig-zags, and meanderings and unequal distribution of space, and overall just not the most polished end result.
A definite recommendation, despite minor complaints. Just the Notes and Bibliography are worth the effort!
Right from the start, the writing is engaging - if a little repetitive at times. While I was glued to the book for the most part, there were times that I had to just skip over brief sections in mild bouts of exasperation. There are unnecessary callouts to contexts explained recently that have no place in a book like this one. At times, I felt like I was reading a script for a NOVA episode, where each ad break is followed by a teaser line or two, to rekindle audience's attention, before diving into the next topic.
To be honest though, it is a mild gripe for a book that is so chock-full of actual hands-on and first-hand experiential knowledge on the subject of black holes, knowledge that the author has gathered by actually spending brutally cold nights peering out of exotically large telescopes into the inky blackness of the night sky - for hours at a time. It is back-breaking excruciating and mind-numbing work, and his efforts show in his anecdotes of those nights, and of how his peers have used those opportunities to snatch from the universe - and find a matching place for - one more piece of this cosmic puzzle, that literally transcends time and space!
More than anything else, the author's sheer passion and enthusiasm rubs off when reading this. The field of study is constantly evolving and growing, despite having to deal with subjects that have literally been 13.8 billion years in the making, are thousands of light years away, and some of which weigh in at a portly millions of times our Sun. So, yeah, nothing normal about them, and that's obviously what makes the subject that much more alluring, and awe-inducing!
One just wishes it was organized a little better - I can't seriously try to suggest what could have been a better order of chapters or content, but the way it is currently written, it didn't really feel as if the entire narrative flowed in one direction. There were zig-zags, and meanderings and unequal distribution of space, and overall just not the most polished end result.
A definite recommendation, despite minor complaints. Just the Notes and Bibliography are worth the effort!
February 11, 2021
"The discovery supports the idea that black holes grow the same way aggressive companies do, by mergers and acquisitions."
A riveting book about black holes that ended quickly than I expected. Actually, more like "hoped." I'm, at most, have basic knowledge about astronomy and it felt daunting for me to pick this book up. Truthfully, I only did so because I took two of Professor's online classes and wanted to see if I can handle this book with my knowledge. To my surprise, I could handle it and even more surprisingly I could understand it. I must admit that the second half of the book was sort of hard to wrap my head around, since they aren't in layman's terms but I managed to do it. I think it's less about me and more about Professor Impey being quite adept at using simple and easily imaginable analogies to explain complex phenomenons pertaining astronomy or black holes. I enjoyed a lot of those analogies, along with some humorous quotes.
"At this point, researchers are exploring a technique called general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics, which is a real conversation stopper at cocktail parties."
"Like an Italian sports car, the detectors were expensive, tempermental, and prone to break down."
"Why is gravity so weak? This doesn't seem like a sensible question, especially on a day when you find it hard to get out of bed."
And since this is a non-fiction book written by a white man about a field dominated by men, I didn't think that professor would even talk about women in the field. I know that he's probably not sexist, based on the way he talked about it in the lectures. But I didn't think he will go out of his way to mention about the sexist history of the field and comment on it repeatedly. It wasn't in-your-face. It certainly wasn't an obvious token for approval. But someone who's read a lot of non-fiction books in my lifetime, I can say with certainity that writers don't do it enough and I greatly appreciate that he did.
I would like to comment more on the subject of black holes but seeing as this is the first astronomy book about black holes that I've ever read (I think) and that most of my knowledge of the field came from the author himself, I don't think I'm qualified enough. But if you have basic knowledge of astronomy and you came asking to me about books on black holes, I'd recommend this to you in a heartbeat. If you don't have the basic knowledge though, I'd probably ask to you read some articles or redirect you to a website before recommending this.
A riveting book about black holes that ended quickly than I expected. Actually, more like "hoped." I'm, at most, have basic knowledge about astronomy and it felt daunting for me to pick this book up. Truthfully, I only did so because I took two of Professor's online classes and wanted to see if I can handle this book with my knowledge. To my surprise, I could handle it and even more surprisingly I could understand it. I must admit that the second half of the book was sort of hard to wrap my head around, since they aren't in layman's terms but I managed to do it. I think it's less about me and more about Professor Impey being quite adept at using simple and easily imaginable analogies to explain complex phenomenons pertaining astronomy or black holes. I enjoyed a lot of those analogies, along with some humorous quotes.
"At this point, researchers are exploring a technique called general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics, which is a real conversation stopper at cocktail parties."
"Like an Italian sports car, the detectors were expensive, tempermental, and prone to break down."
"Why is gravity so weak? This doesn't seem like a sensible question, especially on a day when you find it hard to get out of bed."
And since this is a non-fiction book written by a white man about a field dominated by men, I didn't think that professor would even talk about women in the field. I know that he's probably not sexist, based on the way he talked about it in the lectures. But I didn't think he will go out of his way to mention about the sexist history of the field and comment on it repeatedly. It wasn't in-your-face. It certainly wasn't an obvious token for approval. But someone who's read a lot of non-fiction books in my lifetime, I can say with certainity that writers don't do it enough and I greatly appreciate that he did.
I would like to comment more on the subject of black holes but seeing as this is the first astronomy book about black holes that I've ever read (I think) and that most of my knowledge of the field came from the author himself, I don't think I'm qualified enough. But if you have basic knowledge of astronomy and you came asking to me about books on black holes, I'd recommend this to you in a heartbeat. If you don't have the basic knowledge though, I'd probably ask to you read some articles or redirect you to a website before recommending this.
December 16, 2018
Its rare to find a died in the wool science practicioner who can talk about their field in such an accessible and informative way, but that's Imprey for you. Fortunately, his field is the most interesting in all of physics, the study of black holes.
Unlike so very many of the astronomy and physics books that are made today, this one is not 2/3 a history of scientists slowly building their knowledge until a final and rushed 1/3 of recent discoveries, but rather a well paced back and forth of concepts, how they were discovered, who discovered them, and what their real and potential imports might well be. All the while the sub-categories are split up between topics of how we learn about black holes, and what we can learn about the greater universe from them.
Unlike so very many of the astronomy and physics books that are made today, this one is not 2/3 a history of scientists slowly building their knowledge until a final and rushed 1/3 of recent discoveries, but rather a well paced back and forth of concepts, how they were discovered, who discovered them, and what their real and potential imports might well be. All the while the sub-categories are split up between topics of how we learn about black holes, and what we can learn about the greater universe from them.
May 24, 2019
Phew!
To get a baseline of my ignorance, when news last month of the first images of a black hole, my first thought was, “huh?... haven’t there been pictures of black holes for decades?”
Fortunately, I was drawn to Chris Impey’s book on my local library’s new book shelves and got a bit of a schooling. Impey provides a thorough historical survey of Einstein’s “monsters” and removes all that is monstrous replacing it with reason. While much of the math and more than a few of the theories flew well over my head, I definitely appreciated the explanation of the life cycle of the stars.
To get a baseline of my ignorance, when news last month of the first images of a black hole, my first thought was, “huh?... haven’t there been pictures of black holes for decades?”
Fortunately, I was drawn to Chris Impey’s book on my local library’s new book shelves and got a bit of a schooling. Impey provides a thorough historical survey of Einstein’s “monsters” and removes all that is monstrous replacing it with reason. While much of the math and more than a few of the theories flew well over my head, I definitely appreciated the explanation of the life cycle of the stars.
December 20, 2024
Absolutely wonderful and fascinating. I’ve been interested in black holes since I first heard of them years and years ago. I have followed the science, articles, interviews with scientists, etc, so much was familiar to me. But I also learned a great deal more about black holes, their discovery, how they’re studied, gravity, relativity, etc.
This book is written for the general public, but leaves nothing out. Chris has a gift for explaining the complex in easy to understand language. The organization of the book was very well done.
I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last!
This book is written for the general public, but leaves nothing out. Chris has a gift for explaining the complex in easy to understand language. The organization of the book was very well done.
I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last!
April 30, 2019
Chris Impey is a very good, science writer. He takes incredibly complex subject matter and makes it understandable. I love non-fiction books that make me feel as though I've stepped through the looking glass. Impey's book does just that. After the last page was read, I can honestly say I'm better educated on black holes and the physics that underpins these amazing creatures.
December 27, 2018
Impey explores the most mysterious "monsters" predicted in Einstein's general relativity theory, giving experimental, observational, and theoretical details. Readers will be amazed, perhaps bewildered, and left wondering how the universe (or multiverses) came to be.
April 17, 2019
I would highly recommend this book to those who are interested and patent enough to focus on quit complex subject matter.
Extremely well written and wonderful illustrations. Mysterious and eye opening experience to read and digest.
Lynnette
Extremely well written and wonderful illustrations. Mysterious and eye opening experience to read and digest.
Lynnette
July 15, 2019
I thought this book was informative and accessible. I liked that Impey opened with the history of black holes, it helped to set the stage for the rest of the book. Impey uses clear metaphors and explains complex ideas without loosing the reader and without being pedantic.
November 5, 2019
Read it the same year as I read Black Hole Blues. Shouldn't have buy needed some ebooks for a business trip. It covers much of the same ground, but without all the discussions of personalities. Interesting, with a little more science, but nothing special.
June 11, 2020
A very interesting read. I learned a lot about black holes and how astronomers and astrophysicists measure and observe things that are very far away. It was a little over my head at time but I was still able to grasp the general ideas.
February 19, 2021
A fantastic read, varying from science obviously dumbed down as I could understand it to touching on the life stories of those who made the break throughs. Certainly worth a read in small bites to allow to sink in.
December 15, 2018
Interesting read on forces, gravitational and relativity theory, black holes, physicists, astronomy, advances in telecopy but portions of the book was a tough read for me.
January 14, 2019
It's more technical than other books of this type, but still it's well written.
Read
August 20, 2019Amazingly good. Some difficult parts, but that's what it's all about.
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