English

Kretschmann Scalar for a Kerr-Newman Black Hole

Astrophysics 2009-10-31 v1

Abstract

I have derived the Kretschmann scalar for a general black hole of mass m, angular momentum per unit mass a, and electric charge Q. The Kretschmann scalar gives the amount of curvature of spacetime, as a function of position near (and within) a black hole. This allows one to display the "appearance" of the black hole itself, whether the black hole is merely of stellar mass, or is a supermassive black hole at the center of an active galaxy. Schwarzschild black holes, rotating black holes, electrically charged black holes, and rotating electrically-charged black holes, are all illustrated. Rotating black holes are discovered to possess a negative curvature that is not analagous to that of a saddle.

Cite

@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9912320,
  title  = {Kretschmann Scalar for a Kerr-Newman Black Hole},
  author = {Richard C. Henry},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9912320},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

14 pages including four figures