Testing the rotational nature of the supermassive object M87* from the circularity and size of its first image

Abstract

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has recently released the first image of a black hole (BH), opening a new window onto tests of general relativity in the strong field regime. In this paper, we derive constraints on the nature of M87* (the supermassive object at the center of the galaxy M87), exploiting the fact that its shadow appears to be highly circular, and using measurements of its angular size.

Luca Visinelli

Assistant Professor of Theoretical Physics (RTT)

Theoretical physicist working across particle physics, astrophysics, cosmology, and experimental searches.