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First Sagittarius A* Event Horizon Telescope Results. VI. Testing the Black Hole Metric

Journal Article · · Astrophys.J.Lett.
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  1. MIT; Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Harvard U. (main); Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.
  2. Granada U., Theor. Phys. Astrophys.
  3. Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  4. Malaya U.
  5. Harvard U. (main); Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Texas U., San Antonio
  6. Academia Sinica, Taiwan
  7. Valencia U., Astro. Astrophys.; Valencia U., IFIC; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  8. Arizona U., Astron. Dept. - Steward Observ.
  9. Yale Ctr. Astron. Astrophys.
  10. MIT
  11. Illinois U., Urbana
  12. Fermilab; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.
  13. Subaru Telescope
  14. Harvard U. (main); Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.
  15. Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.
  16. Caltech
  17. Gemini Observ., Hilo; Hawaii U.
  18. McGill U.
  19. IRAM, St. Martin d'Heres
  20. Nijmegen U., IMAPP
  21. Perimeter Inst. Theor. Phys.; Waterloo U.; Waterloo U., IQC
  22. Massachusetts U., Amherst
  23. KASI, DaeJeon; KAIST, Taejon
  24. Chicago U., KICP; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.; Chicago U.; Chicago U., EFI
  25. Chalmers U. Tech.
  26. Princeton U., PCTS; Baltimore, Space Telescope Sci.
  27. Arizona U., Astron. Dept. - Steward Observ.; Arizona U.
  28. Cornell U., Radio. Space Res. Ctr.
  29. Gemini Observ., Hilo
  30. Shanghai, Astron. Observ.; Nanjing U. Sci. Tech.
  31. KASI, DaeJeon
  32. Fairfield U.
  33. Illinois U., Urbana, Astron. Dept.; Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.
  34. Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.; Chicago U., KICP
  35. Frankfurt U.
  36. Tsung-Dao Lee Inst., Shanghai; Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Tokyo, Grad. U. Adv. Stud.
  37. Columbia U., Astron. Astrophys.; Flatiron Inst., New York; Nijmegen U., IMAPP
  38. Naples U.; Frankfurt U.; INFN, Naples
  39. U. Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Sch. Phys.; Pretoria U.; Rhodes U.
  40. Subaru Telescope; ASTRON, Dwingeloo
  41. Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.; LESIA, Meudon
  42. Colorado U.
  43. IRAM, St. Martin d'Heres; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  44. NAOC, Beijing; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  45. Las Cumbres Observ.; UC, Santa Barbara
  46. NRAO, Charlottesville
  47. MIT; Unlisted, US, MA
  48. U. Wurzburg (main); Frankfurt U.; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  49. Harvard U. (main); Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Harvard U.; Harvard U., Phys. Dept.
  50. Illinois U., Urbana; Illinois U., Urbana, Astron. Dept.
  51. Waterloo U.; Waterloo U., IQC; Perimeter Inst. Theor. Phys.
  52. Cagliari U.; Cagliari Observ.
  53. Southern Denmark U., CP3-Origins; Frankfurt U.
  54. INAOE, Puebla; Conacyt, Mexico
  55. Shanghai, Astron. Observ.
  56. Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Tokyo, Grad. U. Adv. Stud.
  57. Groningen U.
  58. Peking U.; Peking U., Beijing, KIAA
  59. Academia Sinica, Taiwan; Subaru Telescope
  60. Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Tokyo, Grad. U. Adv. Stud.; Tokyo U.
  61. INAOE, Puebla
  62. Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Tokyo, Inst. Statistical Math.; Tokyo U., IPMU
  63. Leiden Observ.; NRAO, Charlottesville
  64. Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Baltimore, Space Telescope Sci.
  65. XIA LLC
  66. Boston U.
  67. Perimeter Inst. Theor. Phys.; Waterloo U.
  68. Tokyo U., ICRR
  69. ASTRON, Dwingeloo
  70. Kyungpook Natl. U.; KASI, DaeJeon; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  71. Arizona U., Astron. Dept. - Steward Observ.; Caltech
  72. Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Kogakuin U.
  73. Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Tokyo U.
  74. Niigata U.; Academia Sinica, Taiwan
  75. Taiwan, Natl. Normal U.; Taiwan, Natl. Taiwan U.; Academia Sinica, Taiwan
  76. Hong Kong, Chinese U.
  77. Nanjing U., Dept. Astron.; Nanjing U.
  78. Granada U., Theor. Phys. Astrophys.; Bologna, Ist. Radioastronomia
  79. Bologna Observ.
  80. Academia Sinica, Taiwan; Taiwan, Natl. Taiwan U.
  81. UNAM, Morelia, Inst. Radioastron. Astrophys.; UNAM, Inst. Astron.
  82. Shanghai, Astron. Observ.; Nanjing U. Sci. Tech.; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  83. Yunnan Observ.; NAOC, Beijing
  84. Bologna Observ.; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  85. U. Amsterdam, GRAPPA
  86. Valencia U., Astro. Astrophys.; Valencia U., IFIC
  87. Naval Research Lab, Wash., D.C.; Cornell U., Radio. Space Res. Ctr.; Princeton, Inst. Advanced Study; Arizona U., Astron. Dept. - Steward Observ.
  88. ESTEC, Noordwijk; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.
  89. Tsung-Dao Lee Inst., Shanghai; Shanghai Jiaotong U.; Frankfurt U.
  90. Frankfurt U.; MIT; Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan
  91. Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.; Nijmegen U., IMAPP
  92. U. Amsterdam, GRAPPA; Nijmegen U., IMAPP
  93. IRAM, Granada
  94. Illinois U., Urbana, Astron. Dept.
  95. Concepcion U.
  96. Hachinohe Inst. Tech.; Academia Sinica, Taiwan
  97. U. Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Sch. Phys.; South African Astron. Observ.
  98. Frankfurt U.; Athens U.
  99. Villanova U.
  100. Washington U., St. Louis
  101. Sejong U.
  102. UNAM, Inst. Astron.; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  103. Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan
  104. Academia Sinica, Taiwan; Baltimore, Space Telescope Sci.
  105. Academia Sinica, Taiwan; Perimeter Inst. Theor. Phys.; Canadian Inst. Theor. Astrophys.; Toronto U., Astron. Dept.; Canadian Inst. Advanced Res.
  106. Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Harvard U. (main)
  107. UC, Berkeley
  108. U. Amsterdam, GRAPPA; Frankfurt U.
  109. University Coll., Cork; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  110. Perimeter Inst. Theor. Phys.
  111. Taiwan, Natl. Normal U.; Academia Sinica, Taiwan
  112. Concepcion U.; Turku U.; Aalto U.
  113. Gemini Observ., Hilo; Subaru Telescope
  114. Frankfurt U.; Frankfurt U., FIAS; Trinity Coll., Dublin
  115. Princeton U., Astrophys. Sci. Dept.; Flatiron Inst., New York
  116. Harvard U. (main); Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Nijmegen U., IMAPP
  117. Tokyo Inst. Tech.; Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Hiroshima U.
  118. Aalto U.; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  119. Peking U., Beijing, KIAA; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  120. Subaru Telescope; KASI, DaeJeon; KAIST, Taejon; Yonsei U.
  121. Texas Tech.; Baltimore, Space Telescope Sci.
  122. Arizona U., Astron. Dept. - Steward Observ.; Nijmegen U., IMAPP; Leiden Observ.; NWO, The Hague
  123. IRAM, Granada; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  124. Granada U., Theor. Phys. Astrophys.; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.
  125. Seoul Natl. U.
  126. ASTRON, Dwingeloo; Leiden Observ.; New Mexico U.
  127. Central Lancashire U.
  128. Brandeis U.
  129. Tuorla Observ.
  130. Princeton, Inst. Advanced Study; Princeton U.
  131. Hua-Zhong U. Sci. Tech.
  132. Mullard Space Sci. Lab.; Frankfurt U.
  133. Shanghai, Astron. Observ.; Beijing, GUCAS
  134. Subaru Telescope; Hefei, CUST
  135. Bard Coll.
+ Show Author Affiliations
Astrophysical black holes are expected to be described by the Kerr metric. This is the only stationary, vacuum, axisymmetric metric, without electromagnetic charge, that satisfies Einstein’s equations and does not have pathologies outside of the event horizon. We present new constraints on potential deviations from the Kerr prediction based on 2017 EHT observations of Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). We calibrate the relationship between the geometrically defined black hole shadow and the observed size of the ring-like images using a library that includes both Kerr and non-Kerr simulations. We use the exquisite prior constraints on the mass-to-distance ratio for Sgr A* to show that the observed image size is within ∼10% of the Kerr predictions. We use these bounds to constrain metrics that are parametrically different from Kerr, as well as the charges of several known spacetimes. To consider alternatives to the presence of an event horizon, we explore the possibility that Sgr A* is a compact object with a surface that either absorbs and thermally reemits incident radiation or partially reflects it. Using the observed image size and the broadband spectrum of Sgr A*, we conclude that a thermal surface can be ruled out and a fully reflective one is unlikely. We compare our results to the broader landscape of gravitational tests. Together with the bounds found for stellar-mass black holes and the M87 black hole, our observations provide further support that the external spacetimes of all black holes are described by the Kerr metric, independent of their mass.
Research Organization:
ASTRON, Dwingeloo; Aalto U.; Academia Sinica, Taiwan; Arizona U.; Arizona U., Astron. Dept. - Steward Observ.; Athens U.; Baltimore, Space Telescope Sci.; Bard Coll.; Beijing, GUCAS; Bologna Observ.; Bologna, Ist. Radioastronomia; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.; Boston U.; Brandeis U.; Cagliari Observ.; Cagliari U.; Caltech; Canadian Inst. Advanced Res.; Canadian Inst. Theor. Astrophys.; Central Lancashire U.; Chalmers U. Tech.; Chicago U.; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.; Chicago U., EFI; Chicago U., KICP; Colorado U.; Columbia U., Astron. Astrophys.; Conacyt, Mexico; Concepcion U.; Cornell U., Radio. Space Res. Ctr.; ESTEC, Noordwijk; Fairfield U.; Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Flatiron Inst., New York; Frankfurt U.; Frankfurt U., FIAS; Gemini Observ., Hilo; Granada U., Theor. Phys. Astrophys.; Groningen U.; Hachinohe Inst. Tech.; Harvard U.; Harvard U. (main); Harvard U., Phys. Dept.; Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Hawaii U.; Hefei, CUST; Hiroshima U.; Hong Kong, Chinese U.; Hua-Zhong U. Sci. Tech.; INAOE, Puebla; INFN, Naples; IRAM, Granada; IRAM, St. Martin d'Heres; Illinois U., Urbana; Illinois U., Urbana, Astron. Dept.; KAIST, Taejon; KASI, DaeJeon; Kogakuin U.; Kyungpook Natl. U.; LESIA, Meudon; Las Cumbres Observ.; Leiden Observ.; MIT; Malaya U.; Massachusetts U., Amherst; McGill U.; Mullard Space Sci. Lab.; NAOC, Beijing; NRAO, Charlottesville; NWO, The Hague; Nanjing U.; Nanjing U. Sci. Tech.; Nanjing U., Dept. Astron.; Naples U.; Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; Naval Research Lab, Wash., D.C.; New Mexico U.; Niigata U.; Nijmegen U., IMAPP; Peking U.; Peking U., Beijing, KIAA; Perimeter Inst. Theor. Phys.; Pretoria U.; Princeton U.; Princeton U., Astrophys. Sci. Dept.; Princeton U., PCTS; Princeton, Inst. Advanced Study; Rhodes U.; Sejong U.; Seoul Natl. U.; Shanghai Jiaotong U.; Shanghai, Astron. Observ.; South African Astron. Observ.; Southern Denmark U., CP3-Origins; Subaru Telescope; Taiwan, Natl. Normal U.; Taiwan, Natl. Taiwan U.; Texas Tech.; Texas U., San Antonio; Tokyo Inst. Tech.; Tokyo U.; Tokyo U., ICRR; Tokyo U., IPMU; Tokyo, Grad. U. Adv. Stud.; Tokyo, Inst. Statistical Math.; Toronto U., Astron. Dept.; Trinity Coll., Dublin; Tsung-Dao Lee Inst., Shanghai; Tuorla Observ.; Turku U.; U. Amsterdam, GRAPPA; U. Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Sch. Phys.; U. Wurzburg (main); UC, Berkeley; UC, Santa Barbara; UNAM, Inst. Astron.; UNAM, Morelia, Inst. Radioastron. Astrophys.; University Coll., Cork; Unlisted, US, MA; Valencia U., Astro. Astrophys.; Valencia U., IFIC; Villanova U.; Washington U., St. Louis; Waterloo U.; Waterloo U., IQC; XIA LLC; Yale Ctr. Astron. Astrophys.; Yonsei U.; Yunnan Observ.
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
1868459
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-22-422-PPD; oai:inspirehep.net:2080902; arXiv:2311.09484
Journal Information:
Astrophys.J.Lett., Journal Name: Astrophys.J.Lett. Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 930
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS