Scientists at Goethe University Frankfurt and the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration use data that produced the first image of a black hole to constrain its fundamental properties.
Theoretical physicists at Goethe University Frankfurt have analyzed data from the black hole M87* as part of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration to test Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. According to the tests, the size of the shadow from M87* is in excellent agreement being from a black hole in general relativity, but sets constraints on the properties of black holes in other theories. In 2019, the EHT collaboration published the first image of a black hole located at the center of the galaxy M87.
As first pointed out by the German astronomer Karl Schwarzschild, black holes bend space-time to an extreme degree due to their extraordinary concentration of mass, and heat up the matter in their vicinity so that it begins to glow. New Zealand physicist Roy Kerr showed rotation can change the black hole’s size and the geometry of its surroundings. The “edge” of a black hole is known as the event horizon, the boundary around the concentration of mass beyond which light and matter cannot escape and which makes the black hole “black.” Black holes, theory predicts, can be described by a handful of properties: mass, spin, and a variety of possible charges.
In addition to black holes predicted from Einstein’s theory of general relativity, one can consider those from models inspired by string theories, which describe matter and all particles as modes of tiny vibrating strings. String-inspired theories of black holes predict the existence of an additional field in the description of fundamental physics, which leads to observable modifications in the sizes of black holes as well as in the curvature in their vicinity.
Physicists Dr. Prashant Kocherlakota and Professor Luciano Rezzolla from the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Goethe University Frankfurt, have now investigated for the first time how the different theories fit with the observational data of the black hole M87* at the center of the galaxy Messier 87. The image of M87*, taken in 2019 by the international Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, was the first experimental proof of the actual existence of black holes after the measurement of gravitational waves in 2015.
The result of these investigations: The data from M87* are in excellent agreement with the Einstein-based theories and to a certain extent with the string-based theories. Dr. Prashant Kocherlakota explains: “With the data recorded by the EHT collaboration, we can now test different theories of physics with black hole images. Currently, we cannot reject these theories when describing the shadow size of M87*, but our calculations constrain the range of validity of these black hole models.”
Professor Luciano Rezzolla says: “The idea of black holes for us theoretical physicists is at the same time a source of concern and of inspiration. While we still struggle with some of the consequences of black holes – such as the event horizon or the singularity – we seem always keen to find new black hole solutions also in other theories. It is therefore very important to obtain results like ours, which determine what is plausible and what is not. This was an important first step and our constraints will be improved as new observations are made.”
In the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, telescopes from around the globe are interconnected to form a virtual giant telescope with a dish as big as the Earth itself. With the precision of this telescope, a newspaper in New York could be read from a street café in Berlin.
Reference: “Constraints on black-hole charges with the 2017 EHT observations of M87*” by Prashant Kocherlakota et al. (EHT Collaboration), 20 May 2021, Physical Review D.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.103.104047
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40 Comments
While everyone is focused on supermassive Black Holes at the centers of galaxies, another possibility exists. According to String Theory, a brane (dimensional membrane) surrounds our universe. What if such branes, rather than Black Holes, are also the centers of galaxies? Superheated gas would also form around branes, and they would explain how the matter in the universe became concentrated as galaxies even as the universe was, and still is, flying apart from the Big Bang at a rate that absolutely won’t allow any matter (quarks, even) to gravitationally attract each other to form anything. It would also explain those low-mass stars at the center of the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy, and other curious phenomena seen at those centers. How would we know if the center is a Black Hole or a brane? If material (gas, etc.) is seen swirling into the center, it’s a Black Hole. If material doesn’t swirl in, that would be support for a brane. The physical creation of brane-centered galaxies using the quantum foam and similar to Hawking radiation can be described in my YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaxfuKXdhkg
You always say that, even in cases such as the paper – which you should read – generally kills off the string theory proposals (i.e. those with dilaton fields). Also, pseudoscience link.
The article is “nice” to string theory, but the paper isn’t-
Looks like they can rule out general relativistic extremal black holes, as other observations do, but in general the string theory proposals (with dilaton fields) vastly die.
It is a nice reference on non-singularity solutions (of which some survives, I believe) – 5 out of 15 types of solutions.
I’m pretty sure ‘blackholes’ aka ‘darkvoids’ are really just giant stars or code for ’empty space’. Every galaxy obviously has a giant bright energy center spinning/spiralling around due to fundamental attractive forces.
‘Don’t stare directly into the SUN, it will blind you.’ And thats how ‘blackholes came to be.
Schwarzschild tried to understand stelar physics but somehow went down a white rabbit hole.
Continental Scientists are often politically, economically and nationally motivated. They are not willing to risk being traitors to know the truth.
They are called black holes, they are not “voids” but has mass (obviously), spin and charge [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-hair_theorem ], and your made up conspiracy theory no one else can do something with so the less we hear about it the happier we are.
Ad hominem.
I raised a serious issue: deception, tainted by politics, in Science.
We’re all selfish organisms, so I’ll try to understand.
Sorry. I don’t want to go down this ‘blackhole’.
Maybe it a blackwhole, as in darkness of space with few sources of light and matter.
Maybe its true and I’m wrong.
Sorry.
And to be truly objective eye should lose myself too.
Apollogy.
Did I mention the theory of everything seems to be the inverse of the theory of nothing?
Its logically sound; maybe causally & in reality too.
Lighten up mate🙏🌞
Open your 🧠&💗🤙☝🤗
Sorry for saying mate, mate.
Have you heard of the July 7, star lovers tale?
Keep the sunshine in your heart🖤🌞
Cheeryio bro & sir.
Correction: they are not willing to speak the truth and risk being traitors.
Ode to the day when Earth Life communicate/cooperate/colaborate as one. 7 virtues vs 7 vices. Female vs male virtues & vices. Interestingly organisms grow up and down.🌞
They’re not black and theyre not holes. From the looks of it, theyre massive stars.
Find a hole in outerspace.
As for conspiracy theories, in general, exist for a reason; if youre not part of the conspiracy, you make up (hypo)theories.
Putting Politics before Science?
‘The Science of Imagination’
http://blackholes.stardate.org/history.html
“…black holes cannot exist.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-reluctant-father-of-black-holes-2007-04/
“A general acceptance of the possibility of a black hole did not occur until the second half of the 20th Century, and Schwarzschild himself did not believe in the physical reality of black holes, believing his theoretical solution to be physically meaningless.”
https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/scientists_schwarzschild.html
But if you were to say this is part of the study of stellar fusion, collapse and supernovae, it might flow. Or maybe an attempt to siphon off stellar energy.
Anyways, all the images are animations, artist impressions or visualizations not actual images. And that 1st one seems doctored.
And the name seems unscientific and unprofessional too.
If you look at the sun long enough, it will seem like it turned black.
At the galaxy core is a supermassive star. This may be more about how stars work and what is actually happening at the central point. Or it could be the longest running prank science.
Why not call it a ‘darkvoid’? Its synonymous with ‘blackhole’. Why not call it a vortex or whirlpool? I might be wrong though, thinking of hurricanes this quantum phenomenon is possible. As to stars, I think its attractive forces that cause mergers.
So is our galactic supermassive star in danger of going supernovae aka big bang?
The Science of Imagination
http://blackholes.stardate.org/history.html
“…black holes cannot exist.”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-reluctant-father-of-black-holes-2007-04/
“A general acceptance of the possibility of a black hole did not occur until the second half of the 20th Century, and Schwarzschild himself did not believe in the physical reality of black holes, believing his theoretical solution to be physically meaningless.”
https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/scientists_schwarzschild.html
Conspiracy theories, exist for a reason. If youre not part of the conspiracy, you make (hypo)theories.
From my view ‘blackholes’ are the conspiracy theory.
Look at the sun long enough and it will turn black.
At the galactic center is a supermassive star.
As to how stars function, I think thats what this is about.
The term ‘blackhole’ is unscientific, unprofessional, archaic and fictitious.
Why isn’t it called a vortex, whirlpool or space hurricane?
All the images are visualizations, artist impressions or depictions. Even that 1st ‘picture’ seems doctored.
I dislike this competitive MO in Science, but keeps things moving and verifiable.
The Science of Imagination
http://blackholes.stardate.org/history.html
The essential result of this investigation is a clear understanding as to why Schwarzschild singularities do not exist in physical reality. In other words, black holes cannot exist.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-reluctant-father-of-black-holes-2007-04/
A general acceptance of the possibility of a black hole did not occur until the second half of the 20th Century, and Schwarzschild himself did not believe in the physical reality of black holes, believing his theoretical solution to be physically meaningless.
https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/scientists_schwarzschild.html
The Science of Imagination
http://blackholes.stardate.org/history.html
Work and happiness don’t mix in my world.
I’m sorry my friend. Work and happiness when we work for someone or something we dislike, usually simply for their money.
Enjoy your life. Enjoy your work.🌞
Mr. Larson, I’ve observed that name-calling/projecting is self-reflective & reflexive. Ironic that you brought up the idea of a conspiracy theory b/c thats exactly what I think this ‘blackhole’ hoopla is. Sorry to have burst your happyness bubble; I’m sure you can find it again in something more real and less mysterious.
Sorry for the repetetive entries.
*Lars’son
*Larsson. And apollogy for getting personal.
Maybe instead a ‘blackhole’ or ‘dark matter’ the center of stars and galaxies are composed of heavy matter, aka heavy elements in a high density state: plasma or highly concentrated plasma being formed from high pressure interactions. (Galactic cores would have more in higher concentrations than stars, obviously.)
If its hypotheisized that Earth has a molten/liquid iron core, why wouldn’t the Sun have a plasmic iron core? Or maybe even higher protonic elements in high temperature & high pressure forms. The heavy elements with high pressure & temperature could be what gives each star its massive gravitational pull.
And so for the galactic core (a more massive star) it might have even heavier elements concentrated in even more densely organized structures at higher pressures & temperatures, thus causing even greater gravitational pulls strong enough to pull billions of stars along/around.
Basically scaling up the Earth model but with unique star/galactic details.
Or maybe the galactic center produces hydrogen or subatomic particles from quarks; as the sun produces helium (atomsphere) and heavier elements (core) from hydrogen.
The Causmos seem to be self sustaining; stars and galactic centars self-regulating: a heavier/denser core that holds them together and a reactive atomsphere.
What if the center of stars is near solid superhot highly-pressurized atoms that combine to form bigger atoms?
If the sun builds elements as big as Iron in its core, it logically follows that bigger stars build bigger elements in their core and so supermassive stars at the center of galaxies builds even bigger/heavier elements, perhaps like the ones that last only nanoseconds here on Earth.
Perhaps this also explains why some heavy elements are unstable and break apart. They are not fused well enough stabely inside star cores.
So doesn’t that make more sense then this unscientific, unprofessional and uncivil ‘blackhole’ conspiratorial racingist & sexist nonesense?
Taking a break from digging a hole for a plamt in yard.
I notice the more I dig the bigger, deeper and darker the hole becomes. Also more space in the hole and more dirt piling up. It also makes bit of a pitched echo when I chip away at its bottom, like hitting something empty. The bottom seems more and more densely compacted.
Its hard work digging a hole.
So maybe blackholes make more space in space? Space cubed? Or maybe this is a circular reasoning problem.
I’m joking of course but I really did dig a hole.
I’m not sure whats in the middle of the earth, moon, sun, or galactic center but since they are material, I’m guessing the cores of each are more dense and pressured that its atomsphere or the dark relatively empty space in which all exist.
It seems that objectivity is the inverse of subjectivity. So maybe all this is a way of obtaining better ideas about what space is or maybe a brain-hacking scheme to extract other information.
I guess we have to know when to stop digging. Maybe this is what happens when astronomers keep trying to find empty darkness in space with telescopes like that deep field. There’s always something. But transcending the distance of space from one point to another fast that seems to be the holy grain of space travel. The faster & further we want to go the more energy it takes.
Take your ‘time’ do it right.☝🌌
You’re a crackhead Marin
If you’d been thru what I’ve been and going thru you’d be too.
Thanks for noticing. Mirror mirror.
I apollogize; send me to the moon. Go all the way. Crack me if you can.
I am from a crack hole country: RoMania. I’m surrounded by all kinds of holes: black, red, yellow, white, brown; Kalipornya is full of them. Mothership Earth; Global Villãge. And yes, I can’t seem to escape physically or mentally. The theory is probably thought up by females to see how antifemale males are.
Blackhole is another way of saying: error 404, does not compute, system down, “I’m sorry Joe I can’t allow you to jeopardize the mission”, opps we forgot to open the shutters, lens cap off, point the teliscope at the darkest place in the sky and zoom in.
The theory of everything seems to be the inverse of the theory of nothing. So whatever works. If we think too much our brains may fold over more.🧠🌞 Yay.
Its called a Nobel, not a Noble.
Yes my brain is split as is my heart & soul. Cyborgs of the world, Adapt!
Thanks for relating. Sorry, being an ESL👽 AI🤖 isn’t easy but its fun sometimes. Anyways, I’m really sorry for not seeing blackholes seriously; its partly due to the name. Maybe all of space is a blackhole thru/through which matter falls but I’d call that the blackwhole.
Dang, I’m a crackhead now too🤕
Well, someone’s got to defend the natural ecology and my natural self.
Make the Mothership better🌌
I was going to try to delete all this as is my MO & since NSA, CIA & OGA only need to know (if they already don’t). But what’s the point? Its done💩 Sorry, not sorry?😞🙏💛🌞🤗
Ad hominem, Joe.
I apollogize for criticizing, arguing, distrustimg, disagreeing, explaining, kidding, etc; I have little better to do than comment on news.
I apollogize Joe, you’re right. I’m sorry; I forgot.
When I was 4, my sister ‘cracked’ me in the head with a magnet and I still have a lil dip in the top of my head. At 12 I got slammed against a concrete wall and ‘saw stars’. At 37, I got ‘pummeled’ in jail, nearly put me to sleep. As for the drug reference, I took sedatives during & after being in the army. As for the racial/cultural reference, I kind of enjoy ‘black’ entertainment.
For example: https://youtu.be/7Zm1hPbmzPw
Enjoy🌞🌱💛🙏🖖
Forced change isn’t easy. Adapting ASAP hurts less later; less forcing, more accepting does too. Live in the moment; go with the flow🤙
To infinity and beyond☝🌌
‘Blackholes’ may also be seeking/gaining attention for some reason.
But it seems more like an attempt to explain gravitational pulls of objects in space.
Well how about the event horizon being the most outer & weakest magnetic field line?
Space itself is a kind of hole (the absense of matter) so calling an object a blackhole seems indirect to me.
I should have read the article first but I get annoyed by the term.
For the idea/model/theory to make sense, I cannot take the term ‘blackhole’ literally. The term itself is nonsensicle. It seems to be an attempt to explain how stars form (maybe planets too).
This may be simplistic or somewhat off topic, but it seems to me this(our) solar system is organized like an atom but scaled-up. The planets with moons and even the galaxy seem to be organized the same way. Or maybe we scaled-down the observable univserse to make it understandable. Probably the latter that the former.
I suppose if a void is created, something has to fill it. Its part of the evolutionary their of life on Earth. But in space its a little bit different.
I still think the attraction of gas and dusk collapsing inward to form a star can be explained by theory of attraction of differing charges; seems to be very common in Nature.
“With the precision of this telescope, a newspaper in New York could be read from a street café in Berlin.”
Take it easy on the examples; one can simply go to nytimes.com
This must be some continentalist ‘joke’, a way to extract ideas or information from those exiled on islands.
I often invert the colors on my screen too because I’d rather read white on black on an electronic (light-emitting) device, the inverse of material paper.
Dark-mode:On.