Daniel Kapec (Center of Mathematical Sciences and Applications, Harvard University)

Title: The Black Hole Photon Ring, Old and New
Abstract: The black hole photon ring is a prime target for upcoming space-based VLBI missions seeking to image the fine structure of astrophysical black holes. It controls a surprising number of observational signatures relevant to both current and future gravitational experiments, but semiclassical analysis also suggests an important role for the photon ring in the (still mysterious) quantum mechanical description of the Kerr black hole. I will review classical aspects of the photon ring and discuss its role in the quantum mechanical description of Kerr.

#blackholes #generalrelativity #photonring #kerr