Testing the rotational nature of the supermassive object M87* from the circularity and size of its first image
Fudan University · Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics · +6 more institutions
Abstract
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has recently released the first image of a black hole (BH), opening a new window onto tests of general relativity in the strong field regime. In this paper, we derive constraints on the nature of M87* (the supermassive object at the center of the galaxy M87), exploiting the fact that its shadow appears to be highly circular, and using measurements of its angular size. We first consider the simple case where M87* is assumed to be a Kerr BH. We find that the inferred circularity of M87* excludes Kerr BHs with observation angle ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{obs}}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ for dimensionless rotational parameter…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 31.96
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 90
Authors
4- CBCosimo BambiCorresponding
Fudan University
- KFKatherine Freese
Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, Stockholm University, University of Michigan
- SVSunny Vagnozzi
Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, Stockholm University, University of Cambridge
- LVLuca Visinelli
Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, Uppsala University, Delta Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Amsterdam
Topics & keywords
- Object (grammar)
- Computer vision
- Physics
- Artificial intelligence
- Astrophysics
- Computer science