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If I understand the answers provided in this Link Why singularity in a black hole, and not just "very dense"? Then the singularity at $r=0$ may just be a mathematical artifact, and may not actually be physically realistic. If so then what's the fuss about within the scientific community about black holes being singularity points as if it applies in the real physical world, why don't we treat theoretical singularity points and realistic black holes separately why must we associate real black holes with the mathematical artifacts we call singularities?

Qmechanic
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Precious Adegbite
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2 Answers2

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Why don't we treat theoretical singularity points and realistic black holes separately?

Because black holes, as we understand them presently, are the prediction of GR, and the same theory results in singularity near their center. So unless and until we can come up with a theoretical framework that agrees with the prediction of GR and at the same time have singularity-free black holes, we would have to settle with the GR definition of black holes.

Singularity-free black holes are called regular black holes in the literature, and work on them is ongoing, e.g., see this review.

S.G
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Why must we associate real black holes with the mathematical artifacts we call singularities ?

The simplest model of the interior (inside the event horizon) of a black hole that is consistent with GR leads to a singularity at the point $r=0$. This singularity is generally believed to be not physically possible, in which case the simple GR model of the interior of a black hole must be incorrect.

I don't think there is a "fuss" about this, but it does naturally lead physicists to want to know how to build a better model of the interior of a black hole (and especially the region near $r=0$). There are various alternatives, including non-singular black hole models, fuzzballs (the string theory solution) and Planck stars (the loop quantum gravity solution). Without a generally accepted theory of quantum gravity, we don't have a good way to choose between these alternatives.

gandalf61
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