In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists in the UK have successfully replicated the energy extraction process around a rotating black hole in a laboratory setting. This experiment, led by Hendrik Ulbricht at the University of Southampton, validates a theory first proposed in 1971 by Nobel laureate Roger Penrose.
The team constructed a device featuring a rotating aluminum cylinder surrounded by magnetic coils. These coils generated a magnetic field, mimicking the conditions near a black hole where objects are dragged along at immense speeds. This setup allowed them to demonstrate the 'superradiance' effect, where energy can be extracted and amplified.
Building on Penrose's theory and the work of Soviet physicist Yakov Zeldovich, the experiment showed that energy amplification occurs when light passes around a rotating metallic cylinder. By surrounding the cylinder with a reflective mirror, they created a feedback loop, amplifying the energy. This breakthrough provides valuable insights into how black holes interact with their surroundings and could potentially unlock new methods of energy generation.