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Space & Astronomy

Has Hawking radiation been proven correct ?

By T.K. Randall
April 25, 2016 · Comment icon 10 comments

Has proof of Hawking radiation been found in the lab ? Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Stephen Hawking's theory of energy being emitted by a black hole may finally earn him a Nobel Prize.
Over 40 years ago the world-renowned physicist determined that matter and energy absorbed by a black hole may not be trapped there forever because small amounts of thermal radiation are being emitted back in to space all the time - a phenomenon known as Hawking radiation.

Finding conclusive evidence of this taking place has proven particularly difficult, but now physics professor Jeff Steinhauer from Technion university in Haifa has found a creative way around the problem by creating his own miniature black hole in the laboratory using sound.

In his experiments he used super-cooled helium to simulate a black hole's event horizon and then used sound waves to replicate what happens when something is drawn in to it.
The results showed evidence of phonons - small packets of energy that make up sound waves - escaping the 'black hole' exactly as predicted by Hawking's equations.

While his findings are currently undergoing a significant degree of scrutiny, if he is correct then it would mean that Hawking has been right about black hole evaporation all along.

"The experiments are beautiful," said physicist Silke Weinfurtner. "Jeff has done an amazing job, but some of the claims he makes are open to debate. This is worth discussing."

Source: The Australian | Comments (10)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by paperdyer 8 years ago
Very interesting. Way over my head. I wonder how long the scrutiny will last? As long as a black hole is only being simulated, we should be OK.
Comment icon #2 Posted by BeastieRunner 8 years ago
Very interesting. Way over my head. I wonder how long the scrutiny will last? As long as a black hole is only being simulated, we should be OK. I don't know why but that made me chuckle.
Comment icon #3 Posted by Darkenpath25 8 years ago
I don't believe anything Steven Hawkings says , He's just another narcissist wanting attention ,
Comment icon #4 Posted by FlyingAngel 8 years ago
But it's still a "super-cooled helium", right? Not testing on the real one Stephen Hawking's theory of energy being emitted by a black hole may finally earn him a Nobel Prize. Read More: http://www.unexplain...-proven-correct Article is for subscriber only. Can't view
Comment icon #5 Posted by GreenmansGod 8 years ago
But it's still a "super-cooled helium", right? Not testing on the real one Article is for subscriber only. Can't view I found an article we can read. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3557380/Black-holes-created-LAB-confirm-Stephen-Hawking-s-radiation-theory-win-physicist-Nobel-Prize.html
Comment icon #6 Posted by pallidin 8 years ago
No fan of Hawking in his latter years. But I do think that this is an aspect of black hole expression, and thus potential detection.
Comment icon #7 Posted by Peter B 8 years ago
I don't believe anything Steven Hawkings says , He's just another narcissist wanting attention , ?? How does someone testing one of Hawking's theories make Hawking a narcissist?
Comment icon #8 Posted by Astra. 8 years ago
I don't believe anything Steven Hawkings says , He's just another narcissist wanting attention , That's different - I never thought of Steven Hawking's as being a narcissist. What gave you that idea ?I think of him as a person who has offered much. He is pretty much considered a living legend for his amazing contributions to quantum physics. Not a bad feat huh ?
Comment icon #9 Posted by Emma_Acid 8 years ago
I don't believe anything Steven Hawkings says , He's just another narcissist wanting attention , Good job modern physics doesn't rely on what you "believe".
Comment icon #10 Posted by Krater 8 years ago
Well, yes. Mr. Hawking is a brilliant mind. However, there are many in the field that have contributed as much, if not more. He gets special attention due to his condition.


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