Introducing the black hole

1971/01/01 by R. Ruffini, Remo Ruffini, John A. Wheeler +1 · 1 voice · 666 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Black hole (networking) #Classical mechanics #Compact star #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Einstein #Galaxy #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Gravitation #Gravitational collapse #Intermediate-mass black hole #Neutron star #Philosophy #Physics #Pulsar #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Solar mass #Space (punctuation) #Stellar black hole #Theoretical physics #Universe

paper · pdf · doi:10.1063/1.3022513

published in Physics Today 24(1), 30-41 (AIP Publishing)

openalex publication_date 1971/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

The quasistellar object, the pulsar, the neutron star have all come onto the scene of physics within the space of a few years. Is the next entrant destined to be the black hole? If so, it is difficult to think of any development that could be of greater significance. A black hole, whether of “ordinary size” (approximately one solar mass, 1 M⊙), or much larger (around 106 M⊙ to 1010 M⊙, as proposed in the nuclei of some galaxies) provides our “laboratory model” for the gravitational collapse, predicted by Einstein's theory, of the universe itself.

Citations

• On Continued Gravitational Contraction

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Discussions

• From our archives: “Introducing the black hole” by Remo Ruffini and John A. Wheeler According to present cosmology, certain stars end their careers in a total gravitational collapse that transcends th [bsky, 6 points, 0 comments]

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