How different are shadows of compact objects with and without horizons?
Jan 12, 2023Citations per year
Abstract: (IOP)
In this work, we theoretically assume that a compact object (CO) has a dark surface suchthat this simplified CO has no emissions and no reflections. Considering that the radius of thesurface can be located inside or outside the photon region, which is closely related to the shadowcurve, we investigate whether a CO without an event horizon can produce shadow structures similarto those of black holes and compare the shadows of COs with and without horizons. In particular,by introducing the (possible) observational photon region, we analytically construct an exactcorrespondence between the shadow curves and the impact parameters of photons; we find that thereare indeed several differences between the shadows of COs without horizons and those of blackholes. More precisely, we find that the shadow curve is still determined by the photon regionwhen the radius of the surface is small enough to retain a whole photon region outside theshell. When only part of the photon region remains, the shadow curve is partially determined bythe photon region, and the remaining portion of the shadow curve is partly controlled by theimpact parameters of photons that have a turning point on the surface. When there is no photonregion outside the surface, the shadow curve is totally controlled by the impact parameters ofphotons, which have a turning point on the surface.Note:
- 19 pages,5 figures
- GR black holes
- gravity
- photon: impact parameter
- surface
- horizon
- black hole
- reflection
- structure
- shadowing
- star: compact
References(68)
Figures(4)
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