Black Hole Radiation: Stephen Hawking's Theory Explained

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SUMMARY

Stephen Hawking's theory posits that black holes can emit radiation, known as Hawking radiation, due to the creation of particle-antiparticle pairs near the event horizon. These pairs are generated continuously throughout space, influenced by quantum fluctuations. Near the event horizon, one particle may fall into the black hole while the other escapes, leading to the observable radiation. This phenomenon is linked to the intense gravitational forces present at the event horizon, which differ from other regions of the black hole.

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  • Knowledge of gravitational effects in general relativity
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AbsoluteZer0
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Hi,

According to Stephen Hawking, it is theoretically possible for black holes to emit radiation. How is this so? As I understand, please correct me if I'm wrong, it has to do with the creation of particle/antiparticle pairs. Are these particles generated as a result of the intense gravitational attraction near the event horizon? (Does the gravitational attraction near the event horizon differ at all from the other locations in the black hole?) If the above is correct, do the particles escape through tunneling?

Thanks,
 
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Are these particles generated as a result of the intense gravitational attraction near the event horizon?
They are "generated" everywhere and all the time* - they are responsible for the Casimir effect, too, for example, which can be measured here on Earth and without any gravity.

Close to the event horizon, one particle might pass the horizon - the other particle outside cannot "see" it any more to annihilate and there is a chance that it can escape. Don't take this analogy too far.

*that view is problematic itself, but it works here.
 

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