GRAVITY may have the power to create quantum monsters. A strong gravitational field can induce a runaway effect in quantum fluctuations in apparently empty space, resulting in a burgeoning concentration of energy that may explode stars or create black holes. So say Daniel Vanzella and William Lima at the University of São Paulo in Brazil.
Quantum phenomena are not thought to have any significant influence over processes on the astrophysical scale, such as the compression of gas clouds into stars. That's the domain of gravity, which in turn is not supposed to be much affected by quantum events, like an elephant unaware of the microbes on its skin. In only a few exotic cases, such as singularities inside black holes, do gravity and quantum-level forces influence the same processes.
Now calculations by Vanzella and Lima suggest gravity can trigger a powerful reaction in the fluctuating quantum fields of forces in ...
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