Black holes and bits: A simple path to Bekenstein-Hawking entropy
Abstract
In the early 1970s, Jacob Bekenstein discovered that black holes have entropy, which became one of the greatest scientific revolutions of the second half of the 20th century. The objective of this paper is to present a simple derivation -- partly heuristic and partly geometric -- of the equation for the entropy of a black hole, which we now know as the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. We will also briefly explore the physical implications of this equation and its relationship to the work of Stephen Hawking.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Black Holes and Theoretical Physics
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Statistical Mechanics and Entropy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Publication date
- 24 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint