Gravitational lensing of luminous matter that surrounds a black hole or some other sufficiently compact object produces an infinite sequence of images. Besides the direct (or primary) image, it comprises demagnified and deformed replicas of the original known as photon rings which are progressively nearing the boundary of the socalled shadow. In the present paper, we present analytical approximation formulas for higher-order photon rings for an asymptotically flat, static, spherically symmetric spacetime that admits a photon sphere. We consider a geometrically thin disk of light sources in the equatorial plane and an observer at arbitrary inclination far away from the center. Fixing the emission radius and leveraging the strong deflection limit, which provides an analytical logarithmic approximation for the deflection angle, we find the deformed shape of higher-order photon rings in the form of a polar equation on the observer's screen. It has been suggested by other authors to use the relative size of photon rings for characterizing the underlying spacetime. In particular, the relative separation between two neighboring photon rings, which we call "gap parameter", was considered. We analytically calculate the gap parameter of higher-order photon rings for metrics of the considered class that may depend on multiple parameters. The advantage of using this quantity is in the fact that, to within the assumed approximations, it is independent of the mass of the central object (or of some other characteristic parameter if the mass is zero) and of the distance of the observer. Measurements of the gap parameter, which may become possible in the near future, will restrict the spacetime models that are in agreement with the observations. Even without knowing the inner and outer radii of the shining disk, it will conclusively rule out some metrics. Some examples are provided.
We discuss two spherically symmetric solutions admitted by the Horndeski (or scalar tensor) theory in the context of solar system and astrophysical scenarios. One of these solutions is derived for Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity, while the other originates from the coupling of the Gauss-Bonnet invariant with a scalar field. Specifically, we discuss the perihelion precession and the bending angle of light for these two different spherically symmetric spacetimes derived in references \cite{Maeda:2006hj} and \cite{Sotiriou:2014pfa} respectively. The later in particular, applies only to the black ho…
In this paper, we revisit the problem of using gravitational wave data to test the Einstein-dilation-Gauss-Bonnet theory, by using nine selected gravitational wave events from GWTC-3. Compared with existing work, we are taking into account the higher harmonics more properly and we also study the contribution of the merger-ringdown data. Using the inspiral data alone, we find that the best result is from GW200115, giving $\sqrt{|α|} < 1.1$ km, which is about 17\% tighter than the previous best result. We also notice the possible existence of a simple unexpected relation among the constraints fr…
In the present letter we examine the possibility of constraining dyon black holes based on the available observational data at the scale of the Solar system. For this we consider the classical tests of general relativity, viz., the perihelion precession of the planet Mercury and the deflection of light by the Sun. In connection to mathematical analysis we are considering static and spherically symmetric dyon black hole which carries both the electric and magnetic charge simultaneously, which are encoded it by the parameters $λ_0$ and $β_0$. We constrain these two parameters using the Solar sys…
The general parametrization of spherically symmetric and asymptotically flat black-hole spacetimes in arbitrary metric theories of gravity was suggested in [3]. The parametrization is based on the continued fraction expansion in terms of the compact radial coordinate and has superior convergence and strict hierarchy of parameters. It is known that some observable quantities, related to particle motion around the black hole, such as the eikonal quasinormal modes, radius of the shadow, frequency at the innermost stable circular orbit, and others, depend mostly on only a few of the lowest coeffic…
Metric Reconstruction and Second Order Perturbation for Generic Spherically Symmetric spacetime
School of Fundamental Physics and Mathematical Sciences, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS（杭州高等研究院基础物理与数学学院，UCAS）；University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学）；Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院理论物理研究所）
It is proved that spherically symmetric extermal black holes possess at least one external light ring. Our remarkably compact proof is based on the dominant energy condition which characterizes the external matter fields in the non-vacuum extremal black-hole spacetimes.
ZARM, University of Bremen（不来梅大学 ZARM）；Università degli studi di Salerno（萨莱诺大学）；Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Napoli – Gruppo collegato di Salerno（意大利国家核物理研究所（INFN）那不勒斯分部 - 萨莱诺协作组）；University of Bremen, Faculty 1（不来梅大学第一学院）
In a very interesting paper, Cunha, Berti, and Herdeiro have recently claimed that ultra-compact objects, self-gravitating horizonless solutions of the Einstein field equations which have a light ring, must possess at least {\it two} (and, in general, an even number of) light rings, of which the inner one is {\it stable}. In the present compact paper we explicitly prove that, while this intriguing theorem is generally true, there is an important exception in the presence of degenerate light rings which, in the spherically symmetric static case, are characterized by the simple dimensionless rel…
In this paper, we investigate how the fine structure constant, $α$, locally varies in the presence of a static and spherically symmetric gravitational source. The procedure consists in calculating the solution and the energy eigenvalues of a massive scalar field around that source, considering the weak-field regimen. From this result, we obtain expressions for an spatially variable fine structure constant by considering suitable modifications in the involved parameters admitting some scenarios of semi-classical and quantum gravities. Constraints on free parameters of the approached theories ar…
We study the quasi-normal modes (QNMs) of static, spherically symmetric black holes in $f(R)$ theories. We show how these modes in theories with non-trivial $f(R)$ are fundamentally different from those in General Relativity. In the special case of $f(R) = αR^2$ theories, it has been recently argued that iso-spectrality between scalar and vector modes breaks down. Here, we show that such a break down is quite general across all $f(R)$ theories, as long as they satisfy $f''(0)/(1+f''(0)) \neq 0$, where a prime denotes derivative of the function with respect to its argument. We specifically disc…
We present a detailed study of the spherically symmetric solutions in Lorentz breaking massive gravity. There is an undetermined function $\mathcal{F}(X, w_1, w_2, w_3)$ in the action of Stückelberg fields $S_ϕ=Λ^4\int{d^4x\sqrt{-g}\mathcal{F}}$, which should be resolved through physical means. In the general relativity, the spherically symmetric solution to the Einstein equation is a benchmark and its massive deformation also play a crucial role in Lorentz breaking massive gravity. $\mathcal{F}$ will satisfy the constraint equation $T_0^1=0$ from the spherically symmetric Einstein tensor $G_0…
Constraining the geometry of rotating black holes with eikonal QNMs
Università di Napoli “Federico II”（那不勒斯费德里科二世大学）；Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli（意大利国家核物理研究所，那不勒斯分部）；University of Tübingen（蒂宾根大学）
Constraining deviations from the Teukolsky equation with GW250114
University of Tübingen（蒂宾根大学）；Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)（马克斯·普朗克引力物理研究所（爱因斯坦研究所））；Universidade de Lisboa（里斯本大学）
In this work we study whether parametrized spherically symmetric black hole solutions in metric theories of gravity can appear to be isospectral when studying perturbations. From a theory agnostic point of view, the test scalar field wave equation is the ideal starting point to approach the quasi-normal mode spectrum in alternative black hole solutions. We use a parametrization for the metric proposed by Rezzolla and Zhidenko, as well as the the higher order WKB method in the determination of the quasi-normal mode spectra. We look for possible degeneracies in a tractable subset of the paramete…
In case of a spherically symmetric non-linear scalar field (SF) in flat space, besides singularity at the center, spherical singularities can occur for non-zero values of radial variable $r>0$. We show that in the General Relativity the gravitational field suppresses the occurrence of the spherical singularities under some generic conditions. Our consideration deals with asymptotically flat space-times around static spherically symmetric configurations in presence of $N$ non-linear SFs, which are minimally coupled to gravity. Constraints are imposed on the SF potentials, which guarantee a mono…
This work discusses observational evidences of quantum effects on geometry in a black hole (BH) astrophysical context. We study properties of a family of loop quantum corrected regular BH solutions and their horizons, focusing on the geometry symmetries. We explore a recent model where the geometry is determined by a metric quantum modification outside the horizon: a regular static spherical solution of minisuperspace BH metric with Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) corrections. The solutions are characterized by some polymeric functions and the emergence of a singularity in the limiting Schwarzschil…
Within quantum-gravity approaches and beyond, different mechanisms for singularity resolution in black holes exist. Under a set of assumptions that we spell out in detail, these mechanisms leave their imprint in shadow images of spherically symmetric black holes. We find that even current EHT accuracy is sufficient to place nontrivial constraints on the scale of new physics within one modified spacetime, if the EHT measurement of M87* is combined with an independent measurement of the black-hole mass. In other spacetimes, increased accuracy is required that the next-generation EHT may deliver.…
The photon ring, shadow and observational appearance of the emission originating near a charged black-bounce are investigated. Based on the geodesic analysis, we determine the upper and lower limits of critical impact parameters of a charged black-bounce. In particular, we find that the charged black-bounce shares the same critical impact parameter with the Reissner-Nordstöm black hole. In addition, we classify the light trajectories coming from the region near the charged black-bounce by utilizing the rays tracing procedure, and then investigate the observational appearance of the emissions f…
Horizon singularity, energy conditions and shadows in time-dependent and spherically symmetric spacetime
KEK Theory Center, Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)（高能加速器研究机构粒子与核研究研究所理论中心）；Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe, Nagoya University（名古屋大学小林-益川粒子起源宇宙学研究所）；Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC)（空间科学研究所）；Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA)（加泰罗尼亚高级研究学院）；University of Valladolid UVA（巴利亚多利德大学）；Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC)（塞阿拉联邦大学）
The silhouette of a black hole having a critical curve (an unstable bound photon orbit) when illuminated by an optically thin accretion disk whose emission is confined to the equatorial plane shows a distinctive central brightness depression (the shadow) whose outer edge consists of a series of strongly lensed, self-similar rings superimposed with the disk's direct emission. While the size and shape of the critical curve depend only on the background geometry, the pattern of bright and dark regions (including the size and depth of the shadow itself) in the image is strongly influenced by the (…
We discuss construction and observational properties of wormholes obtained by connecting two Reissner-Nordstrom spacetimes with distinct mass and charge parameters. These objects are spherically symmetric, but not reflection-symmetric, as the connected spacetimes differ. The reflection-asymmetric wormholes may reflect a significant fraction of the infalling radiation back to the spacetime of its origin. We interpret this effect in a simple framework of the effective photon potential. Depending on the model parameters, image of such a wormhole seen by a distant observer (its "shadow") may conta…
We study the light rings and shadows of an uniparametric family of spherically symmetric geometries interpolating between the Schwarzschild solution, a regular black hole, and a traversable wormhole, and dubbed as black bounces, all of them sharing the same critical impact parameter. We consider the ray-tracing method in order to study the impact parameter regions corresponding to the direct, lensed, and photon ring emission, finding a broadening of all these regions for black bounce solutions as compared to the Schwarzschild one. Using this, we determine the optical appearance of black bounce…
