scholarly journals Testing General Relativity with black hole X-ray data: a progress report

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cosimo Bambi
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Weak Field ◽  
Progress Report ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Binary Pulsars ◽  
The Past ◽  
Modern Physics ◽  
New Generation

AbstractEinstein’s theory of General Relativity is one of the pillars of modern physics. For decades, the theory has been mainly tested in the weak field regime with experiments in the Solar System and observations of binary pulsars. Thanks to a new generation of observational facilities, the past 5 years have seen remarkable changes in this field and there are now numerous efforts for testing General Relativity in the strong field regime with black holes and neutron stars using different techniques. Here I will review the work of my group at Fudan University devoted to test General Relativity with black hole X-ray data.

scholarly journals The confrontation between general relativity and experiment

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S261) ◽  
pp. 198-199
Author(s):  
Clifford M. Will
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Equivalence Principle ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Weak Field ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Spacetime Geometry ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Laser Interferometric

AbstractWe review the experimental evidence for Einstein's general relativity. A variety of high precision null experiments confirm the Einstein Equivalence Principle, which underlies the concept that gravitation is synonymous with spacetime geometry, and must be described by a metric theory. Solar system experiments that test the weak-field, post-Newtonian limit of metric theories strongly favor general relativity. Binary pulsars test gravitational-wave damping and aspects of strong-field general relativity. During the coming decades, tests of general relativity in new regimes may be possible. Laser interferometric gravitational-wave observatories on Earth and in space may provide new tests via precise measurements of the properties of gravitational waves. Future efforts using X-ray, infrared, gamma-ray and gravitational-wave astronomy may one day test general relativity in the strong-field regime near black holes and neutron stars.

scholarly journals Galactic center pulsar as a test of black hole existence and properties

1979 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
pp. 401-404
Author(s):  
B. Paczyński ◽  
V. Trimble
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Central Black Hole ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Period Orbit ◽  
Short Period

There is a reasonable chance of finding a (probably X-ray) pulsar in a short-period orbit around the galactic center. Such a pulsar can provide a test distinguishing a central black hole from a supermassive object or spinar. It also makes available a good clock in a region of space in which GM/Rc2 is much larger than solar system values, thus allowing strong-field tests of general relativity.

scholarly journals Venturing beyond the ISCO: detecting X-ray emission from the plunging regions around black holes

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (4) ◽  
pp. 5532-5550 ◽  
Author(s):  
D R Wilkins ◽  
C S Reynolds ◽  
A C Fabian
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Energy Band ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Region Detection ◽  
Improving Accuracy

ABSTRACT We explore how X-ray reverberation around black holes may reveal the presence of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO), predicted by general relativity, and probe the dynamics of the plunging region between the ISCO and the event horizon. Being able to directly detect the presence of the ISCO and probe the dynamics of material plunging through the event horizon represents a unique test of general relativity in the strong field regime. X-ray reverberation off of the accretion disc and material in the plunging region is modelled using general relativistic ray tracing simulations. X-ray reverberation from the plunging region has a minimal effect on the time-averaged X-ray spectrum and the overall lag-energy spectrum, but is manifested in the lag in the highest frequency Fourier components, above $0.01\, c^{3}\, (GM)^{-1}$ (scaled for the mass of the black hole) in the 2–4 keV energy band for a non-spinning black hole or the 1–2 keV energy band for a maximally spinning black hole. The plunging region is distinguished from disc emission not just by the energy shifts characteristic of plunging orbits, but by the rapid increase in ionization of material through the plunging region. Detection requires measurement of time lags to an accuracy of 20 per cent at these frequencies. Improving accuracy to 12 per cent will enable constraints to be placed on the dynamics of material in the plunging region and distinguish plunging orbits from material remaining on stable circular orbits, confirming the existence of the ISCO, a prime discovery space for future X-ray missions.

scholarly journals Driven black holes: from Kolmogorov scaling to turbulent wakes

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Andrade ◽  
Christiana Pantelidou ◽  
Julian Sonner ◽  
Benjamin Withers
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Dynamics ◽  
Black Holes ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
De Sitter ◽  
Event Horizons ◽  
Binary Mergers ◽  
Tidal Deformations ◽  
Proof Of Principle

Abstract General relativity governs the nonlinear dynamics of spacetime, including black holes and their event horizons. We demonstrate that forced black hole horizons exhibit statistically steady turbulent spacetime dynamics consistent with Kolmogorov’s theory of 1941. As a proof of principle we focus on black holes in asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes in a large number of dimensions, where greater analytic control is gained. We focus on cases where the effective horizon dynamics is restricted to 2+1 dimensions. We also demonstrate that tidal deformations of the horizon induce turbulent dynamics. When set in motion relative to the horizon a deformation develops a turbulent spacetime wake, indicating that turbulent spacetime dynamics may play a role in binary mergers and other strong-field phenomena.

scholarly journals Thermal and radiation driving can produce observable disc winds in hard-state X-ray binaries

2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (4) ◽  
pp. 5271-5279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Higginbottom ◽  
Christian Knigge ◽  
Stuart A Sim ◽  
Knox S Long ◽  
James H Matthews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Black Hole Binaries ◽  
Soft State ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hard State ◽  
New Generation

ABSTRACT X-ray signatures of outflowing gas have been detected in several accreting black hole binaries, always in the soft state. A key question raised by these observations is whether these winds might also exist in the hard state. Here, we carry out the first full-frequency radiation hydrodynamic simulations of luminous (${L = 0.5 \, L_{\mathrm{\mathrm{ Edd}}}}$) black hole X-ray binary systems in both the hard and the soft state, with realistic spectral energy distributions (SEDs). Our simulations are designed to describe X-ray transients near the peak of their outburst, just before and after the hard-to-soft state transition. At these luminosities, it is essential to include radiation driving, and we include not only electron scattering, but also photoelectric and line interactions. We find powerful outflows with ${\dot{M}_{\mathrm{ wind}} \simeq 2 \, \dot{M}_{\mathrm{ acc}}}$ are driven by thermal and radiation pressure in both hard and soft states. The hard-state wind is significantly faster and carries approximately 20 times as much kinetic energy as the soft-state wind. However, in the hard state the wind is more ionized, and so weaker X-ray absorption lines are seen over a narrower range of viewing angles. Nevertheless, for inclinations ≳80°, blueshifted wind-formed Fe xxv and Fe xxvi features should be observable even in the hard state. Given that the data required to detect these lines currently exist for only a single system in a luminous hard state – the peculiar GRS 1915+105 – we urge the acquisition of new observations to test this prediction. The new generation of X-ray spectrometers should be able to resolve the velocity structure.

Binary pulsars as probes of relativistic gravity

1992 ◽  
Vol 341 (1660) ◽  
pp. 135-149 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Binary Systems ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Weak Field ◽  
Multidimensional Space ◽  
Alternative Theory ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Binary Pulsars ◽  
Weak Field Limit ◽  
Self Gravity

Until now, most experiments have succeeded in testing relativistic gravity only in its extreme weak-field limit. Because of the strong self-gravity of neutron stars, observations of pulsars in binary systems provide a unique opportunity for probing the strong-field régime of relativistic gravity. The two basic approaches to using binary pulsar measurements as probes of relativistic gravity are reviewed: the phenomenological (‘parametrized post-keplerian’ formalism) and the alternative-theory approach (multidimensional space of possible theories). The experimental constraints recently derived from the actual timing observations of three binary pulsars are summarized. General relativity passes these new, strong-field tests with complete success.

scholarly journals Glimpses of the past activity of Sgr A★ inferred from X-ray echoes in Sgr C

2018 ◽  
Vol 610 ◽  
pp. A34 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Chuard ◽  
R. Terrier ◽  
A. Goldwurm ◽  
M. Clavel ◽  
S. Soldi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Monte Carlo Model ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Past Activity

Context. For a decade now, evidence has accumulated that giant molecular clouds located within the central molecular zone of our Galaxy reflect X-rays coming from past outbursts of the Galactic supermassive black hole. However, the number of illuminating events as well as their ages and durations are still unresolved questions. Aims. We aim to reconstruct parts of the history of the supermassive black hole Sgr A★ by studying this reflection phenomenon in the molecular complex Sgr C and by determining the line-of-sight positions of its main bright substructures. Methods. Using observations made with the X-ray observatories XMM-Newton and Chandra and between 2000 and 2014, we investigated the variability of the reflected emission, which consists of a Fe Kα line at 6.4 keV and a Compton continuum. We carried out an imaging and a spectral analysis. We also used a Monte Carlo model of the reflected spectra to constrain the line-of-sight positions of the brightest clumps, and hence to assign an approximate date to the associated illuminating events. Results. We show that the Fe Kα emission from Sgr C exhibits significant variability in both space and time, which confirms its reflection origin. The most likely illuminating source is Sgr A★. On the one hand, we report two distinct variability timescales, as one clump undergoes a sudden rise and fall in about 2005, while two others vary smoothly throughout the whole 2000–2014 period. On the other hand, by fitting the Monte Carlo model to the data, we are able to place tight constraints on the 3D positions of the clumps. These two independent approaches provide a consistent picture of the past activity of Sgr A★, since the two slowly varying clumps are located on the same wavefront, while the third (rapidly varying) clump corresponds to a different wavefront, that is, to a different illuminating event. Conclusions. This work shows that Sgr A★ experienced at least two powerful outbursts in the past 300 yrs, and for the first time, we provide an estimation of their age. Extending this approach to other molecular complexes, such as Sgr A, will allow this two-event scenario to be tested further.

scholarly journals QPO-jet relation in X-ray binaries

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (H15) ◽  
pp. 243-244
Author(s):  
Tomaso M. Belloni
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Clear Picture ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Past ◽  
Timing Properties ◽  
Radio Band ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractIn the past years, a clear picture of the evolution of outbursts of black-hole X-ray binaries has emerged. While the X-ray properties can be classified into our distinct states, based on spectral and timing properties, the observations in the radio band have shown strong links between accretion and ejection properties. Here I briefly outline the association between X-ray timing and jet properties.

scholarly journals Prospects for probing strong gravity with a pulsar-black hole system

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S291) ◽  
pp. 171-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Wex ◽  
K. Liu ◽  
R. P. Eatough ◽  
M. Kramer ◽  
J. M. Cordes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Quadrupole Moment ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Mass Measurement ◽  
Test System ◽  
Space Time ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Radio Telescopes ◽  
Strong Gravity

AbstractThe discovery of a pulsar (PSR) in orbit around a black hole (BH) is expected to provide a superb new probe of relativistic gravity and BH properties. Apart from a precise mass measurement for the BH, one could expect a clean verification of the dragging of space-time caused by the BH spin. In order to measure the quadrupole moment of the BH for testing the no-hair theorem of general relativity (GR), one has to hope for a sufficiently massive BH. In this respect, a PSR orbiting the super-massive BH in the center of our Galaxy would be the ultimate laboratory for gravity tests with PSRs. But even for gravity theories that predict the same properties for BHs as GR, a PSR-BH system would constitute an excellent test system, due to the high grade of asymmetry in the strong field properties of these two components. Here we highlight some of the potential gravity tests that one could expect from different PSR-BH systems, utilizing present and future radio telescopes, like FAST and SKA.

scholarly journals Binary pulsars and tests of general relativity

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S261) ◽  
pp. 218-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. H. Stairs
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Binary Pulsars ◽  
The Difference

AbstractBinary pulsars are a valuable laboratory for gravitational experiments. Double-neutron-star systems such as the double pulsar provide the most stringent tests of strong-field gravity available to date, while pulsars with white-dwarf companions constrain departures from general relativity based on the difference in gravitational binding energies in the two stars. Future observations may open up entirely new tests of the predictions of general relativity.

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