A simulated black hole has been created using lasers for the first time ever in a laboratory at St Andrews University.

Scientists used light pulses to create an artificial event horizon—the point of no return in a black hole.

They hope by using more sophisticated lasers and advanced optical fibres their horizon will eventually be strong enough to test Professor Stephen Hawking’s theory black holes radiate light.

The university was quick to stress there was no danger, as the device only acts on light in optical fibres.

Professor Ulf Leonhardt and Dr Friedrich Konig fired laser light down an optical fibre, creating a distortion that trapped a wave of light.

The black hole could allow physicists to investigate what happens to light on both sides of an event horizon—something that is impossible in astrophysics.

Professor Leonhardt said, “Creating optical analogues (simulations) of the event horizon has been an exciting adventure with many ups and downs, high hopes and deep disappointments.

“So far, most of it is still theory, but we succeeded in the first small step of demonstrating in the laboratory the physics of horizons for light.”

Although the development was described as a milestone, the scientists claim people create event horizons every day—for example by making a long-distance telephone call or by running a tap.

A horizon is formed at the point where the river moves faster than the speed of the waves.

Professor Leonhardt explained, “Let water from a tap flow onto a flat surface until a ring of water waves appears.

“The water inside the ring is smooth and moves faster than the waves around it, making it impossible for the waves to enter the ring.

“Instead, the water flows outwards and gets slower.

“Rings of waves form at the circle where the water slows down to the speed of the waves.

“This circle represents a white hole horizon.”

In telecommunications, event horizons are simulated when information is carried by light pulses that change the speed of light.

“Whenever people communicate via fibre optics— using the internet or making long-distance phone calls— they create numerous artificial event horizons as a side effect without noticing it.

“The front end of each pulse generates a black hole horizon, an area that light cannot leave, while the trailing end acts like a white hole horizon, an area that light cannot enter.”

The research, published in Science magazine, was funded by Professor Leonhardt’s cousins and grants from the Leverhulme Trust and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.