What does the image of the black hole say about general relativity?

In summary, the "photo of black hole" is consistent with general relativity within current bounds, as stated in the main paper. The observed image shows the shadow of a Kerr black hole, as predicted by general relativity, and the asymmetry in brightness can be explained by relativistic beaming of emission from a plasma rotating near the speed of light around the black hole.
  • #1
haael
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We all heard about the "photo of black hole".

My question is: did this image show any hints of physics beyond general relativity?

I read once (not sure where) that the apparent size of black hole shadow is very sensitive to corrections to general relativity. Add some minor correction and the shadow gets much bigger / smaller.

Can we say that the "photo of black hole" is consistent with general relativity within current bounds?
 
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  • #2
The main paper:
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab0ec7/metasays this in the abstract:
"Overall, the observed image is consistent with expectations for the shadow of a Kerr black hole as predicted by general relativity. The asymmetry in brightness in the ring can be explained in terms of relativistic beaming of the emission from a plasma rotating close to the speed of light around a black hole. "
 
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Related to What does the image of the black hole say about general relativity?

1. What is the image of the black hole?

The image of the black hole is a photograph captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) in 2019. It shows a bright ring of light surrounding a dark region, which is the shadow of the black hole. This image is the first direct visual evidence of a black hole's existence.

2. How does the image of the black hole relate to general relativity?

The image of the black hole confirms one of the key predictions of general relativity - the existence of a black hole's event horizon. This is the point of no return, where the gravitational pull is so strong that even light cannot escape. The shape and size of the black hole's shadow also match with the predictions of general relativity.

3. Why is the image of the black hole important for our understanding of the universe?

The image of the black hole provides visual evidence for the existence of black holes, which were previously only theorized. It also helps us understand the behavior of matter and light in the extreme conditions of a black hole, which can further our understanding of the laws of physics and the universe.

4. How was the image of the black hole captured?

The image of the black hole was captured using a technique called interferometry, where multiple telescopes around the world were synchronized to create a virtual telescope the size of the Earth. This allowed for a higher resolution image to be captured. The data was then processed using advanced algorithms to create the final image.

5. Does the image of the black hole provide any new insights into general relativity?

Yes, the image of the black hole provides a new way to test and validate general relativity. It allows us to study the effects of strong gravity and the behavior of light in the presence of a massive object. This can help us refine our understanding of general relativity and potentially uncover new insights into the workings of the universe.

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