scholarly journals Universal interferometric signatures of a black hole’s photon ring

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. eaaz1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Johnson ◽  
Alexandru Lupsasca ◽  
Andrew Strominger ◽  
George N. Wong ◽  
Shahar Hadar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Infinite Sequence ◽  
High Order ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Self Similar

The Event Horizon Telescope image of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87 is dominated by a bright, unresolved ring. General relativity predicts that embedded within this image lies a thin “photon ring,” which is composed of an infinite sequence of self-similar subrings that are indexed by the number of photon orbits around the black hole. The subrings approach the edge of the black hole “shadow,” becoming exponentially narrower but weaker with increasing orbit number, with seemingly negligible contributions from high-order subrings. Here, we show that these subrings produce strong and universal signatures on long interferometric baselines. These signatures offer the possibility of precise measurements of black hole mass and spin, as well as tests of general relativity, using only a sparse interferometric array.

scholarly journals The Brightest Point in Accretion Disk and Black Hole Spin: Implication to the Image of Black Hole M87*

Universe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav I. Dokuchaev ◽  
Natalia O. Nazarova
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Disk Model ◽  
Dark Region ◽  
High Resolution Image ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Black Hole Spin ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Expected Position

We propose the simple new method for extracting the value of the black hole spin from the direct high-resolution image of black hole by using a thin accretion disk model. In this model, the observed dark region on the first image of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87, obtained by the Event Horizon Telescope, is a silhouette of the black hole event horizon. The outline of this silhouette is the equator of the event horizon sphere. The dark silhouette of the black hole event horizon is placed within the expected position of the black hole shadow, which is not revealed on the first image. We calculated numerically the relation between the observed position of the black hole silhouette and the brightest point in the thin accretion disk, depending on the black hole spin. From this relation, we derive the spin of the supermassive black hole M87*, a = 0.75 ± 0.15 .

scholarly journals Supermassive black hole tests of general relativity with eLISA

2015 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cédric Huwyler ◽  
Edward K. Porter ◽  
Philippe Jetzer
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole

scholarly journals Visible Shapes of Black Holes M87* and SgrA*

Universe ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav I. Dokuchaev ◽  
Natalia O. Nazarova
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Dark Spot ◽  
Disk Model ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Visible Images ◽  
Inner Parts

We review the physical origins for possible visible images of the supermassive black hole M87* in the galaxy M87 and SgrA* in the Milky Way Galaxy. The classical dark black hole shadow of the maximal size is visible in the case of luminous background behind the black hole at the distance exceeding the so-called photon spheres. The notably smaller dark shadow (dark silhouette) of the black hole event horizon is visible if the black hole is highlighted by the inner parts of the luminous accreting matter inside the photon spheres. The first image of the supermassive black hole M87*, obtained by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, shows the lensed dark image of the southern hemisphere of the black hole event horizon globe, highlighted by accreting matter, while the classical black hole shadow is invisible at all. A size of the dark spot on the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) image agrees with a corresponding size of the dark event horizon silhouette in a thin accretion disk model in the case of either the high or moderate value of the black hole spin, a≳0.75.

scholarly journals The shadow of M87∗ black hole within rational nonlinear electrodynamics

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (35) ◽  
pp. 2050291
Author(s):  
S. I. Kruglov
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Magnetic Charge ◽  
Nonlinear Electrodynamics ◽  
Black Hole Mass

We consider rational nonlinear electrodynamics with the Lagrangian [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] is the Lorentz invariant), proposed in Ref. 63, coupled to General Relativity. The effective geometry induced by nonlinear electrodynamics corrections are found. We determine shadow’s size of regular non-rotating magnetic black holes and compare them with the shadow size of the super-massive M87[Formula: see text] black hole imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration. Assuming that the black hole mass has a pure electromagnetic nature, we obtain the black hole magnetic charge. The size of the shadow obtained is very close to the shadow size of non-regular neutral Schwarzschild black holes. As a result, we can interpret the super-massive M87[Formula: see text] black hole as a regular (without singularities) magnetized black hole.

scholarly journals M87 Supermassive Black Hole Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mekhala Ganguly
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Virgo Cluster ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Cluster Of Galaxies ◽  
Hot Plasma ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Relativistic Particles

M87 is a giant elliptical galaxy in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. The radio source has a core which coincides with the nucleus of the galaxy and a jet of emission which is detected from radio to X-ray bands. A supermassive black hole is assumed to be at the centre of M87 which sends out relativistic particles in the form jets along its axis of rotation. Relativistic particles accelerated in a magnetic field, give out synchrotron radiation. The centre is surrounded by an accretion disc, which is the closest that we can probe into a black hole. High resolution observations are needed to examine the nature of the radio emission closest to the centre of M87. An array of millimetre-band telescopes across the globe were used as an interferometer, called the Event Horizon Telescope, (EHT) to probe the nuclear region. The angular resolution of this interferometer array is 25 microarc sec, at a wavelength of 1.3mm and the data was carefully calibrated and imaged. The resulting image shows an asymmetric ring which is consistent with the predictions of strong gravitational lensing of synchrotron emission from hot plasma near the event horizon. In this paper, we review the results of the observations of the radio galaxy, M87, using the Event Horizon Telescope

scholarly journals Populating the Galaxy Velocity Dispersion: Supermassive Black Hole Mass Diagram, A Catalogue of (Mbh, σ) Values

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alister W. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Stellar Cluster ◽  
Barred Galaxies ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy

AbstractAn updated catalogue of 76 galaxies, with direct measurements of supermassive black-hole mass (Mbh) plus, when available, the central velocity dispersion (σ0) of their host bulge is provided. Fifty of these mass measurements are considered reliable, while the others remain somewhat uncertain at this time. An additional nine stellar systems, including one stellar cluster and three globular clusters, are listed as hosting potential intermediate mass black holes <106M⊙.With this larger data set, the demographics within the Mbh–σ0 diagram are briefly explored. Many barred galaxies are shown to be offset from the Mbh–σ0 relation defined by the non-barred galaxies, in the sense that their velocity dispersions are too high. Furthermore, including 88 AGN with black-hole mass estimates from reverberation mapping studies, we speculate that barred AGN may follow this same general trend. We also show that some AGN with σ0 < 100 km s−1 tend to reside up to (∼0.6 dex) ∼1.0 dex above the (barless) Mbh–σ0 relation. Finally, it is shown that ‘core galaxies’ appear not to define an additional subdivision of the Mbh–σ0 diagram, although improved methods for measuring σ0 values may be valuable.

scholarly journals Simulations of imaging the event horizon of Sagittarius A* from space

2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freek Roelofs ◽  
Heino Falcke ◽  
Christiaan Brinkerink ◽  
Monika Mościbrodzka ◽  
Leonid I. Gurvits ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Satellite Orbits ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Sagittarius A ◽  
Long Baseline ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Long Baselines

Context. It has been proposed that Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at submillimeter waves will allow us to image the shadow of the black hole in the center of our Milky Way, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), and thereby test basic predictions of the theory of general relativity. Aims. This paper presents imaging simulations of a new Space VLBI (SVLBI) mission concept. An initial design study of the concept has been presented in the form of the Event Horizon Imager (EHI). The EHI may be suitable for imaging Sgr A* at high frequencies (up to ∼690 GHz), which has significant advantages over performing ground-based VLBI at 230 GHz. The concept EHI design consists of two or three satellites in polar or equatorial circular medium-Earth orbits (MEOs) with slightly different radii. Due to the relative drift of the satellites along the individual orbits over the course of several weeks, this setup will result in a dense spiral-shaped uv-coverage with long baselines (up to ∼60 Gλ), allowing for extremely high-resolution and high-fidelity imaging of radio sources. Methods. We simulated observations of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) models of Sgr A* for the proposed configuration and calculate the expected noise based on preliminary system parameters. On long baselines, where the signal-to-noise ratio may be low, fringes could be detected assuming that the system is sufficiently phase stable and the satellite orbits can be reconstructed with sufficient accuracy. Averaging visibilities accumulated over multiple epochs of observations could then help improving the image quality. With three satellites instead of two, closure phases could be used for imaging. Results. Our simulations show that the EHI could be capable of imaging the black hole shadow of Sgr A* with a resolution of 4 μas (about 8% of the shadow diameter) within several months of observing time. Conclusion. Our preliminary study of the EHI concept shows that it is potentially of high scientific value. It could be used to measure black hole shadows much more precisely than with ground-based VLBI, allowing for stronger tests of general relativity and accretion models.

scholarly journals Polarization whorls from M87* at the event horizon telescope

2020 ◽  
Vol 476 (2237) ◽  
pp. 20190618
Author(s):  
Alexandru Lupsasca ◽  
Daniel Kapec ◽  
Yichen Shi ◽  
Delilah E. A. Gates ◽  
Andrew Strominger
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
High Spin ◽  
Conformal Symmetry ◽  
Distinctive Pattern ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole

The event horizon telescope (EHT) is expected to soon produce polarimetric images of the supermassive black hole at the centre of the neighbouring galaxy M87. There are indications that this black hole is rapidly spinning. General relativity predicts that such a high-spin black hole has an emergent conformal symmetry near its event horizon. In this paper, we use this symmetry to analytically predict the polarized near-horizon emissions to be seen at the EHT and find a distinctive pattern of whorls aligned with the spin.

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