Actually his solution to the problem of what happens to matter/energy that is absorbed by a black hole. According to the Theory of Conservation this matter/energy cannot disappear. Hawkings' solution is that over fantastic periods of time black holes evaporate by emitting what is called Hawking Radiation. This radiation- created by the black hole's gravitational energy providing energy to quantum particles- lowers the total amount of gravitic energy and thereby a black holes mass.

Any thoughts on your end? I think it is an elegant solution to describe what happens on the outside boundary of a black holes' event horizon. But I am not certain that it is a full explanation.

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Posted by airfernando

Member since Oct 2015

15248 posts

Posted on 3/14/18 at 10:14 pm to Paul B Ammer

Hawking didn't think much of his own theory. Didn't he change his mind on the so called event horizon? If the event horizon theory is wrong, which he came to believe, then his "work" on Hawking radiation would be obsolete.

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Posted by Kentucker

Rabbit Hash, KY

Member since Apr 2013

20055 posts

Posted on 3/15/18 at 10:35 am to Paul B Ammer

Hawking’s early thoughts on black holes included the loss of information from the Universe. It was his friendly “battles” with Leonard Susskind that convinced him that he was wrong. He responded with his solution of black hole radiation.

He was second only to Einstein in his ability to perform thought experiments. Of course, Hawking was far superior to Einstein in mathematics. His “Hawking Radiation” Theory will stand the test of time, I think.

He loved the idea that black holes were a potential portal between dimensions, with “white holes” as the exits into other Universes, but was wise enough to accede to Susskind’s great logic. Black holes are still mysterious agglomerations of matter but Hawking and Susskind showed that they exist entirely within the Universe.

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