1. Joined
    24 Sep '06
    Moves
    3736
    01 Nov '08 07:23
    It is attributed to the great Stephen Hawking; this I understand.

    Can someone please break down the idea in layman's terms?
  2. Subscribersonhouse
    Fast and Curious
    slatington, pa, usa
    Joined
    28 Dec '04
    Moves
    53223
    01 Nov '08 09:33
    Originally posted by nihilismor
    It is attributed to the great Stephen Hawking; this I understand.

    Can someone please break down the idea in layman's terms?
    It has to do with black holes, where because virtual particles actually exits, but they are created in pairs, if they are near a black hole, one particle comes into existence with its partner but one goes in and one gets out, making look like the black hole is radiating. It is supposed to suck energy out of the black hole so they have a certain lifespan at the end, blowing up into what is called a 'white hole'. So this radiation is due to these particles breaking up, getting divorced, so to speak.
  3. Germany
    Joined
    27 Oct '08
    Moves
    3118
    01 Nov '08 19:521 edit
    It's a process similar to Cherenkov radiation, perhaps if you understand that you will understand the origin of Hawking radiation. (tip: Wikipedia)

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