The energy to create a virtual particle-antiparticle pair lasts only a short time and does not have to be accounted for in the usual conservation of energy balance. However, if the virtual particles are transformed into real particles, their energy must come from some physical source. In the case of the Hawking process, what is the source of this energy?
A) electromagnetic waves from the black hole
B) magnetic energy from the black hole
C) the mass-energy of the black hole
D) the accretion disk

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy for the creation of real particle-antiparticle pairs near a black hole, as described by the Hawking radiation process, comes from the mass-energy of the black hole itself. This process gradually reduces the mass and energy of the black hole.

The Energy to Create a Virtual Particle-Antiparticle Pair Lasts Only