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First "Observation" of Hawking Radiation

Posted by kdawson on from the simulation-or-experiment dept.

KentuckyFC writes "Italian physicists are claiming the first observation of Hawking radiation, but not from a black hole. Instead they've spotted it streaming from a sonic horizon in a Bose Einstein Condensate (abstract on the arXiv). That's consistent with previous predictions but they're claiming the 'first' even though the experiment was only a numerical simulation. Does that really count?"

3 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Doesn't Count by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Does that really count?
    No, no it does not.

    A numerical model is little more than a highly specific and round off error prone implementation of existing analytical results. All these guys have done, at most, is shown the correctness of Hawking's analysis. If that.
    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
  2. Shenanigans! by multimediavt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm sorry, but I'm with the "no way this counts" camp. Theories have to be tested in the physical world to be proved. Theoretical physics included folks. That's why we have supercolliders and Z-machines, duh! Numerical analysis can help predict physical behavior but it is not law until it is proved in the real world. Sorry guys.

    1. Re:Shenanigans! by huckamania · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is the 'new' science. First you have a theory, then you promote your theory, then someone takes a poll and then it becomes fact.

      Computer simulations are acceptable proof in the 'new' science. Even flawed computer simulations are acceptable proof as they prove that the simulations are getting better.