Wormholes: the maths
The complete (maximally extended) Schwarzschild black hole in Kruskal–Szekeres coordinates, where light travels at 45°. Exact.
Equations
- U² − V² = (r/rs − 1) er/rs
- Kruskal coordinates U (space-like) and V (time-like), related to the radius r.
- (1 − r/rs) er/rs = V²
- On the slice at time V, the throat of the bridge (U = 0) has this radius: widest (r = rs) at V = 0, pinching to zero at V = ±1.
Constants
| rs | 2GM/c² | the horizon radius (units of the lab) |
Worked examples ✓ checked on every change
| Throat radius at V = 0 | 1.00 r_s | widest: one horizon radius |
| Throat radius at V = 0.91 | 0.495 r_s | solving (1 − r) eʳ = V² |
What's simplified
- An eternal black hole with a second universe: a real black hole formed by collapse has no bridge.
- The bridge picture on the right is schematic; the throat radius is exact.
Where it breaks
At the singularity (V² − U² = 1), and for real, collapsing black holes.
Sources: M. Kruskal, Phys. Rev. 119, 1743 (1960); G. Szekeres (1960); R. Fuller & J. Wheeler, Phys. Rev. 128, 919 (1962).