Related papers: Multiple Rings in the Shadow of Extremely Compact …
The existence of light rings in a spacetime is closely related to the existence of black hole horizons and observables such as the ringdown and the shadow. Black holes, compared to nonvacuum ultracompact objects, have rather unique…
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…
The horizonless configuration of regular black holes has recently attracted attention as a model for ultracompact stars. In this paper, we propose a new class of regular black hole models sourced by a de Sitter vacuum with a finite radius.…
The imaging by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) of the supermassive central objects at the heart of the M87 and Milky Way (Sgr A$^\star$) galaxies, has marked the first step into peering at the photon rings and central brightness…
There are now multiple direct probes of the region near black hole horizons, including direct imaging with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). As a result, it is now of considerable interest to identify what aspects of the underlying…
The horizon-scale images of black holes obtained with the Event Horizon Telescope have provided new probes of their metrics and tests of General Relativity. The images are characterized by a bright, near circular ring from the…
Event horizons are (generically) not physically observable. In contrast, apparent horizons (and the closely related trapping horizons) are generically physically observable --- in the sense that they can be detected by observers working in…
Astrophysical observations point toward strong evidence for the existence of black holes (BHs). Nevertheless, it is yet to be established or ruled out with confidence whether some exotic compact objects (ECOs), capable of mimicking black…
Our understanding of strong gravity near supermassive compact objects has recently improved thanks to the measurements made by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). We use here the M87* shadow size to infer constraints on the physical charges…
The properties of the relativistic rings which show up in images of a source when a black hole lies between the source and observer are examined. The impact parameters are calculated, along with the distances of closest approach of the rays…
General relativity has passed all solar system experiments and neutron star based tests, such as binary pulsar observations, with flying colors. A more exotic arena for testing general relativity is in systems that contain one or more black…
Astronomers have discovered many candidate black holes in X-ray binaries and in the nuclei of galaxies. The candidate objects are too massive to be neutron stars, and for this reason they are considered to be black holes. While the evidence…
We briefly discuss non-singular black hole models, with the main focus on the properties of non-singular evaporating black holes. Such black holes possess an apparent horizon, however the event horizon may be absent. In such a case, the…
Black holes are presumed to have an ideal ability to absorb and keep matter. Whatever comes close to the event horizon, a boundary separating the inside region of a black hole from the outside world, inevitably goes in and remains inside…
Several recently found properties of the event horizon of black holes are discussed. One of them is the reflection of the incoming particles on the horizon. A particle approaching the black hole can bounce on the horizon back, into the…
The images of the supermassive black holes Sgr A* and M87* by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration mark a special milestone in the history of the subject. For the first time we are able to see the shadow of black holes, testing…
The existence of black holes and of spacetime singularities is a fundamental issue in science. Despite this, observations supporting their existence are scarce, and their interpretation unclear. We overview how strong a case for black holes…
The direct detection of a bright, ring-like structure in horizon-resolving images of M87* by the Event Horizon Telescope is a striking validation of general relativity. The angular size and shape of the ring is a degenerate measure of the…
Superradiant scattering processes are studied in general relativistic systems which, unlike rotating and/or charged black holes, do not exhibit an event horizon. Inspired by Zel'dovich's seminal works on the amplification of waves by a…
Very strong evidence suggests that Sagittarius A*, a compact radio source at the center of the Milky Way, marks the position of a super massive black hole. The proximity of Sgr A* in combination with its mass makes its apparent event…