Abstract
We investigate the classical formation of a D-dimensional black hole in a high-energy collision of two particles. The existence of an apparent horizon is related to the solution of an unusual boundary-value problem for Poisson’s equation in flat space. For a sufficiently small impact parameter, we construct solutions giving such apparent horizons in These supply improved estimates of the classical cross section for black hole production, and of the mass of the resulting black holes. We also argue that a horizon can be found in a region of weak curvature, suggesting that these solutions are valid starting points for a semiclassical analysis of quantum black hole formation.
- Received 23 April 2002
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.66.044011
©2002 American Physical Society