Gravitational Waves, Gamma Ray Bursts, and Black Stars
arXiv:1611.03853 · doi:10.1142/S0218271816440259
Abstract
Stars that are collapsing toward forming a black hole but appear frozen near their Schwarzschild horizon are termed "black stars". The collision of two black stars leads to gravitational radiation during the merging phase followed by a delayed gamma ray burst during coalescence. The recent observation of gravitational waves by LIGO, followed by a possible gamma ray counterpart by Fermi, suggests that the source may have been a merger of two black stars with profound implications for quantum gravity and the nature of black holes.
6 pages. Essay based on arXiv:0706.1203. Honorable mention in the 2016 Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competition