2017
Life under a black sun
OPATRNÝ, Tomáš; Lukáš RICHTEREK and Pavel BAKALABasic information
Original name
Life under a black sun
Authors
OPATRNÝ, Tomáš (203 Czech Republic); Lukáš RICHTEREK (203 Czech Republic) and Pavel BAKALA (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)
Edition
American Journal of Physics, 2017, 0002-9505
Other information
Language
English
Type of outcome
Article in a journal
Field of Study
10308 Astronomy
Country of publisher
United States of America
Confidentiality degree
is not subject to a state or trade secret
References:
RIV identification code
RIV/47813059:19240/17:A0000060
Organization
Filozoficko-přírodovědecká fakulta – Slezská univerzita v Opavě – Repository
UT WoS
000391941800004
EID Scopus
2-s2.0-85006757728
Keywords in English
life; Dyson sphere; Interstellar; energy
Tags
Tags
International impact, Reviewed
Changed: 5/4/2018 15:54, Jan Hladík
Abstract
V originále
Life is dependent on the income of energy with low entropy and the disposal of energy with high entropy. On Earth, the low-entropy energy is provided by solar radiation and the high-entropy energy is disposed of as infrared radiation emitted into cold space. Here, we turn the situation around and imagine the cosmic background radiation as the low-entropy source of energy for a planet orbiting a black hole into which the high-entropy energy is expelled. We estimate the power that can be produced by thermodynamic processes on such a planet, with a particular interest in planets orbiting a fast rotating Kerr black hole as in the science fiction movie Interstellar. We also briefly discuss a reverse Dyson sphere absorbing cosmic background radiation from the outside and dumping waste energy to a black hole inside.