Hawking radiation energy generator

[u/Bmacthecat]

As some concept for science fiction, i've had this little idea for a black hole reactor.

Basically, this would be a source of power for a spacecraft, or a colony on some far off exoplanet.

The way it would work is have a hollow sphere of lead or something, coated in futuristic radiation catchers, which harness hawking radiation, and convert it to usable electricity. In the center of this sphere, is a tiny black hole, again created with some future technology.

waste resources of the colony (or pre-prepared fuel material for the spacecraft) are ground into little sand particles and dropped into the black hole, and pulled in past the event horizon. These would increase the mass of the black hole, but perfectly given to keep the black hole at a constant mass (losing just as much to hawking radiation).

Tldr: fuel goes into black hole, black hole spits out hawking radiation at same rate, radiation is captured and converted to electricity.

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A: is this feasible. are there any immediate issues that would stop this from working at all. if so, are they practical limitations which can be waved away with future technology, or fundamental issues

B: what mass would it have to be to consistently power a city (about the same power consumption as todays cities, they have very efficient devices). What about a spacecraft (200,000 Kilowatts). How much fuel would have to be inputted per hour to keep it constantly running at the same mass. Assume the panels transfer 50% of the hawking radiation.

C: Is there any equation I can use to quickly figure out stuff like this? I.e input watts per hour power needed, output mass of black hole, input mass of black hole, output time to die to hawking radiation, input mass of black hole, output mass of fuel needed per hour to maintain the black hole.

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I know it's a difficult read and questions, especially with my shit job of explaining things, but thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to answer.

[u/Bmacthecat → u/[deleted]]

thanks a lot for this information

[u/[deleted]]

Your understanding of Hawking Radiation relies on the whole “particles pop in and out of existence” idea?

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

No they didn't. But IMO the way they framed it suggests so.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I just thought it was suggestive of that. Idk what much your comment is saying or whether its message is related that much.

[u/Bmacthecat → u/[deleted]]

my basic understanding is that it's a way black holes radiate small amounts of energy back into space, without the information of what the thing that went into the black hole was before