We consider the Plebański class of electrovacuum solutions to the Einstein equations with a cosmological constant. These space-times, which are also known as the Kerr-Newman-NUT-(anti-)de Sitter space-times, are characterized by a mass m, a spin a, a parameter β that comprises electric and magnetic charge, a NUT parameter and a cosmological constant Λ. Based on a detailed discussion of the photon regions in these space-times (i.e., of the regions in which spherical lightlike geodesics exist), we derive an analytical formula for the shadow of a Kerr-Newman-NUT-(anti-)de Sitter black hole, for an observer at given Boyer-Lindquist coordinates (r O , ϑ O ) in the domain of outer communication. We visualize the photon regions and the shadows for various values of the parameters.
In an earlier paper we have analytically determined the photon regions and the shadows of black holes of the Plebański class of metrics which are also known as the Kerr-Newman-NUT-(anti-)deSitter metrics. These metrics are characterized by six parameters: mass, spin, electric and magnetic charge, gravitomagnetic NUT charge, and the cosmological constant. Here we extend this analysis to the Plebański-Demiański class of metrics which contains, in addition to these six parameters, the so-called acceleration parameter. All these metrics are axially symmetric and stationary type D solutions to the EinsteinMaxwell equations with a cosmological constant. We derive analytical formulas for the photon regions (i.e., for the regions that contain spherical lightlike geodesics) and for the boundary curve of the shadow as it is seen by an observer at Boyer-Lindquist coordinates (r O , ϑ O ) in the domain of outer communication. Whereas all relevant formulas are derived for the whole Plebański-Demiański class, we concentrate on the accelerated Kerr metric (i.e., only mass, spin and acceleration parameter are different from zero) when discussing the influence of the acceleration parameter on the photon region and on the shadow in terms of pictures. The accelerated Kerr metric is also known as the rotating C-metric. We discuss how our analytical formulas can be used for calculating the horizontal and vertical angular diameters of the shadow and we estimate these values for the black holes at the center of our Galaxy and at the center of M87.
Einstein’s General theory of relativity (GR) successfully describes gravity. Although GR has been accurately tested in weak gravitational fields, it remains largely untested in the general strong field cases. One of the most fundamental predictions of GR is the existence of black holes (BHs). After the recent direct detection of gravitational waves by LIGO, there is now near conclusive evidence for the existence of stellar-mass BHs. In spite of this exciting discovery, there is not yet direct evidence of the existence of BHs using astronomical observations in the electromagnetic spectrum. Are BHs observable astrophysical objects? Does GR hold in its most extreme limit or are alternatives needed? The prime target to address these fundamental questions is in the center of our own Milky Way, which hosts the closest and best-constrained supermassive BH candidate in the universe, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Three different types of experiments hold the promise to test GR in a strong-field regime using observations of Sgr A* with new-generation instruments. The first experiment consists of making a standard astronomical image of the synchrotron emission from the relativistic plasma accreting onto Sgr A*. This emission forms a “shadow” around the event horizon cast against the background, whose predicted size ([Formula: see text]as) can now be resolved by upcoming very long baseline radio interferometry experiments at mm-waves such as the event horizon telescope (EHT). The second experiment aims to monitor stars orbiting Sgr A* with the next-generation near-infrared (NIR) interferometer GRAVITY at the very large telescope (VLT). The third experiment aims to detect and study a radio pulsar in tight orbit about Sgr A* using radio telescopes (including the Atacama large millimeter array or ALMA). The BlackHoleCam project exploits the synergy between these three different techniques and contributes directly to them at different levels. These efforts will eventually enable us to measure fundamental BH parameters (mass, spin, and quadrupole moment) with sufficiently high precision to provide fundamental tests of GR (e.g. testing the no-hair theorem) and probe the spacetime around a BH in any metric theory of gravity. Here, we review our current knowledge of the physical properties of Sgr A* as well as the current status of such experimental efforts towards imaging the event horizon, measuring stellar orbits, and timing pulsars around Sgr A*. We conclude that the Galactic center provides a unique fundamental-physics laboratory for experimental tests of BH accretion and theories of gravity in their most extreme limits.
BOOST (BOOst Symmetry Test) is a proposed satellite mission to search for violations of Lorentz invariance by comparing two optical frequency references. One is based on a long-term stable optical resonator and the other on a hyperfine transition in molecular iodine. This mission will allow to determine several parameters of the standard model extension in the electron sector up to two orders of magnitude better than with the current best experiments. Here, we will give an overview of the mission, the science case and the payload.
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