Hawking Radiation is a theoretical prediction made by physicist Stephen Hawking in 1974, suggesting that black holes are not completely black but emit radiation due to quantum effects near their event horizon. According to quantum mechanics, particle-antiparticle pairs constantly pop into existence and annihilate each other in empty space. Near a black hole's event horizon, one of these particles can be captured while the other escapes, leading to the radiation observed outside the black hole. This process results in a gradual loss of mass for the black hole, potentially causing it to evaporate over time. The emitted radiation is characterized by a temperature inversely proportional to the black hole's mass, given by the formula:
where is the temperature of the radiation, is the reduced Planck's constant, is the speed of light, is the gravitational constant, is the mass of the black hole, and is Boltzmann's constant. This groundbreaking concept not only links quantum mechanics and general relativity but also has profound implications for our understanding of black holes and the nature of the universe.
Start your personalized study experience with acemate today. Sign up for free and find summaries and mock exams for your university.