Black Hole Cannibalism

Abstract

We consider a version of the Hayden-Preskill thought experiment in which the message thrown into the black hole is itself a smaller black hole. We then discuss the implications of the existence of a recovery channel for this black hole message at asymptotic infinity, resulting in a sharpening of the black hole information paradox for observers who never need to approach a horizon. We suggest decoherence mechanisms as a way of resolving this sharpened paradox.

arXiv comment6 pages, 2 figures; Essay written for the Gravity Research Foundation 2021 Awards for Essays on Gravitation

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