Bekenstein-Hawking Entropy: A Brief Overview

Abstract: In the early 1970s, Jacob Bekenstein proposed that black holes possess an entropy proportional to the area of their event horizon, introducing the Generalized Second Law of thermodynamics. Stephen Hawking initially objected to this idea, but his subsequent analysis of quantum field theory in curved spacetime led to the prediction of Hawking radiation and the concept of black hole temperature. This study offers a concise overview of the development of black hole thermodynamics between 1972 and 1975, highlighting the theoretical evolution of both Bekenstein's and Hawking's contributions. The work also reflects on the lasting impact of these developments on modern theoretical physics and quantum gravity.