PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY COLLOQUIUM

Thursday, April 26, 2007
4:10 p.m.

1415 Biomedical & Physical Sciences Bldg.

Refreshments at 3:30 pm in Rm. 1400 BPS Bldg


Speaker: Martin D. Einhorn 
         Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics
         University of California at Santa Barbara

Title:   Hawking's Black Hole Information Paradox

Abstract:

Thirty years ago, Hawking discovered that quantum corrections imply that
classically stable black holes should actually radiate and lose energy.
He also found that the spectrum of radiation was thermal, like that of a
black body.  This suggested that the evaporation of a black hole would
actually contradict basic principles of quantum mechanics.  This paradox
will be explained, and a possible solution to the conundrum elaborated.