Shadow of rotating Hořava-Lifshitz black hole

The shadow of rotating Ho?ava-Lifshitz black hole has been studied and it was shown that in addition to the specific angular momentum a, parameters of Ho?ava-Lifshitz spacetime essentially deform the shape of the black hole shadow. For a given value of the black hole spin parameter a, the presence of a parameter Λ _W and KS parameter ω enlarges the shadow and reduces its deformation with respect to the one in the Kerr spacetime. We have found a dependence of radius of the shadow R _s and distortion parameter δ _s from parameter Λ _W and KS parameter ω both. Optical features of the rotating Ho?ava-Lifshitz black hole solutions are treated as emphasizing the rotation of the polarization vector along null congruences. A comparison of the obtained theoretical results on polarization angle with the observational data on Faraday rotation measurements provides the upper limit for the δ parameter as δ≤2.1?10^?3.     

What is the closest black hole to the Sun?

We examine the distance of the two galactic microquasars GRO J1655–40 and A 0620–00 which are potentially the two closest black holes to the Sun. We aim to provide a picture as wide and complete as possible of the problem of measuring the distance of microquasars in our Galaxy. The purpose of this work is to fairly and critically review in great detail every distance method used for these two microquasars in order to show that the distances of probably all microquasars in our Galaxy are much more uncertain than currently admitted. Moreover, we show that many confirmations of quantitative results are often entangled and rely on very uncertain measurements. We also present a new determination of the maximum distance of GRO J1655–40 using red clump giant stars, and show that it confirms our earlier result of a distance less than 2 kpc instead of 3.2 kpc. Because, it then becomes more likely that GRO J1655–40 could originate from the stellar cluster NGC 6242, located at 1.0 kpc, we review the distance estimations of A 0620–00, which is so far the closest black hole with an average distance of about 1.0 kpc. We show that the distance methods used for A 0620–00 are also problematic. Finally, we present a new analysis of spectroscopic and astrometric archival data on this microquasar, and apply the maximum distance method of Foellmi et al. [Foellmi, C., Depagne, E., Dall, T.H., Mirabel, I.F., 2006b. A&A 457, 249]. It appears that A 0620–00 could indeed be even closer to the Sun than currently estimated, and consequently would be the closest known black hole to the Sun.     

Is there an upper limit to black hole masses?

We make a case for the existence for ultra-massive black holes (UMBHs) in the Universe, but argue that there exists a likely upper limit to black hole (BH) masses of the order of   M ∼ 10¹⁰ M_⊙  . We show that there are three strong lines of argument that predicate the existence of UMBHs: (i) expected as a natural extension of the observed BH mass bulge luminosity relation, when extrapolated to the bulge luminosities of bright central galaxies in clusters; (ii) new predictions for the mass function of seed BHs at high redshifts predict that growth via accretion or merger-induced accretion inevitably leads to the existence of rare UMBHs at late times; (iii) the local mass function of BHs computed from the observed X-ray luminosity functions of active galactic nuclei predict the existence of a high-mass tail in the BH mass function at   z = 0  . Consistency between the optical and X-ray census of the local BH mass function requires an upper limit to BH masses. This consistent picture also predicts that the slope of the   M _bh–σ  relation will evolve with redshift at the high-mass end. Models of self-regulation that explain the co-evolution of the stellar component and nuclear BHs naturally provide such an upper limit. The combination of multiwavelength constraints predicts the existence of UMBHs and simultaneously provides an upper limit to their masses. The typical hosts for these local UMBHs are likely the bright, central cluster galaxies in the nearby Universe.     

Phase transition in the Reissner–Nordström black hole

The thermodynamics of the Reissner–Nordström black hole at the charge-to-mass ratio of \(\sqrt{3}/2\) is studied. We show that there exists infinite discontinuity not only in the heat capacity but also in the electromagnetic potential and hence in the Gibbs free energy. Despite the existence of an infinite discontinuity in the heat capacity, it is shown that there exists no phase transition in the Reissner–Nordström black hole. The discontinuity may be merely an artefact of the change in the slope of the |Q| vs. M curve when the charge-to-mass ratio crosses \(\sqrt{3}/2\). This may signify that the horizon temperature is not a well-behaved thermodynamic parameter in the black hole thermodynamics.     

Entanglement entropy of acoustic black hole in Bose–Einstein condensate

We study the entanglement entropy associated to the phonons generated via the Hawking mechanism of acoustic black holes in a Bose–Einsten condensate. The lowest energy allowed for the radiated phonons is found to be a function of space coordinate. Based this, we calculate the entanglement entropy, which contains three parts: a leading term, which is a constant of value 1/6, a logarithmic correction term and some series terms. We discuss the convergence of the series terms.     

Are Q-stars a serious threat for stellar-mass black hole candidates?

We examine the status of the threat posed to stellar-mass black hole candidates by the possible existence of Q-stars (compact objects with an exotic equation of state that might have masses well above the normally accepted maximum for standard neutron stars). We point out that Q-stars could be extremely compact (with radii less than 1.5 times the corresponding Schwarzschild radius) making it difficult to determine observationally that a given object is a black hole rather than a Q-star, unless there is direct evidence for the absence of a material surface. On the other hand, in order for a Q-star to have a mass as high as that inferred for the widely favoured black hole candidate V404 Cygni, it would be necessary for the Q-matter equation of state to apply already at densities an order of magnitude below that of nuclear matter and this might well be considered implausible on physical grounds. We also describe how rotation affects the situation and discuss the prospects for determining observationally that black hole candidates are not Q-stars.     

Dirac quasinormal modes of the deformed Hořava-Lifshitz black hole spacetime

Using the third-order WKB approximation, we evaluate the quasinormal frequencies of massless Dirac field perturbation around a deformed black hole in the Hořava-Lifshitz gravity with coupling constant λ=1. Our result shows that the Hořava-Lifshitz parameter α plays an important role for the quasinormal frequencies and we discuss the variation of quasinormal frequencies with α. Moreover, we find that the massless Dirac field perturbations decay more slowly in the deformed Hořava-Lifshitz gravity.     

Nernst theorem and Hawking radiation from a Reissner-Nordstrom black hole

The thermal character of inner horizon in a Reissner-Nordstrom black hole is studied via Hamilton-Jacobi method. There is “Hawking absorption” as a quantum effect near the inner horizon, and a negative temperature of the inner horizon was attained by choosing an observer outside the black hole. Using a redefined entropy of the black hole, we give a new expression of Bekenstein-Smarr formula. The redefined entropy satisfies Nernst Theorem, so it can be regarded as Planck absolute entropy of the Reissner-Nordstrom black hole.     

Hot plasma waves in Veselago medium around Reissner-Nordström black hole

We investigate the general relativistic magnetohydronadynamic (GRMHD) equations for hot plasmas in a Veselago medium around the Reissner-Nordström (RN) black hole. Using the 3+1 formalisms of spacetime, we write the GRMHD equations and perturb them linearly. These are then Fourier analyzed for the magnetized and nonmagnetized plasmas in rotating and nonrotating backgrounds. We derive dispersion relations and analyze the wave properties by the graphs of wave vector, refractive index and change in refractive. The results confirm the presence of Veselago medium for rotating magnetized/nonmagnetized and nonrotating nonmagnetized plasmas.     

Vaidya black hole in non-stationary de Sitter space: Hawking’s temperature

In this paper we present a class of non-stationary solutions of Einstein’s field equations describing embedded Vaidya-de Sitter black holes with a cosmological variable function Λ(u). The Vaidya-de Sitter black hole is interpreted as the radiating Vaidya black hole is embedded into the non-stationary de Sitter space with variable Λ(u). The energy-momentum tensor of the Vaidya-de Sitter black hole is expressed as the sum of the energy-momentum tensors of the Vaidya null fluid and that of the non-stationary de Sitter field, and satisfies the energy conservation law. We study the energy conditions (like weak, strong and dominant conditions) for the energy-momentum tensor. We find the violation of the strong energy condition due to the negative pressure and leading to a repulsive gravitational force of the matter field associated with Λ(u) in the space-time. We also find that the time-like vector field for an observer in the Vaidya-de Sitter space is expanding, accelerating, shearing and non-rotating. It is also found that the space-time geometry of non-stationary Vaidya-de Sitter solution with variable Λ(u) is Petrov type D in the classification of space-times. We also find the Vaidya-de Sitter black hole radiating with a thermal temperature proportional to the surface gravity and entropy also proportional to the area of the cosmological black hole horizon.     

Tunneling of massive and charged particles from noncommutative Reissner-Nordström black hole

Massive charged and uncharged particles tunneling from commutative Reissner-Nordström black hole horizon has been studied with details in literature. Here, by adopting the coherent state picture of spacetime noncommutativity, we study tunneling of massive and charged particles from a noncommutative inspired Reissner-Nordström black hole horizon. We show that Hawking radiation in this case is not purely thermal and there are correlations between emitted modes. These correlations may provide a solution to the information loss problem. We also study thermodynamics of noncommutative horizon in this setup.     

Thermodynamics of phantom energy in the presence of a Reissner-Nordström black hole

In this paper, we study the validity of the generalized second law (GSL) in phantom dominated universe in the presence of a Reissner-Nordström (RN) black hole. Our study is independent of the origin of the phantom like behavior of the considered universe. We also discuss the GSL in the neighborhood of transition from quintessence to phantom regime. We show that for a constant equation of state parameter, the GSL may be satisfied provided that the temperature is proportional to de Sitter temperature. It is shown that in models with (only) a transition from quintessence to phantom regime the generalized second law does not hold in the transition epoch. Next we show that if the phantom energy has a chemical potential, then the GSL will hold if the mass of black hole is above from a critical value.     

An analysis of wave properties of isothermal plasma around Reissner-Nordström black hole

The 3+1 spacetime split is used in a preliminary investigation of waves propagating in a medium of isothermal plasma in the vicinity of event horizon of Reissner-Nordström planar analogue. The general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic equations for isothermal have been investigated there. The dispersion relations are obtained by using linear perturbation and Fourier analyze techniques for non-rotating and rotating, non-magnetized and magnetized environment. The wave number, phase velocity, group velocity etc. are shown to discuss the nature of the waves.     

Does black hole spin play a key role in the FSRQ/BL Lac dichotomy?

Blazars are characterized by large intensity and spectral variations across the electromagnetic spectrum It is believed that jets emerging from them are almost aligned with the line-of-sight. The majority of identified extragalactic sources in γ-ray catalogs of EGRET and Fermi are blazars. Observationally,blazars can be divided into two classes: flat spectrum radio quasars(FSRQs) and BL Lacs. BL Lacs usually exhibit lower γ-ray luminosity and harder power law spectra at γ-ray energies than FSRQs. We attempt to explain the high energy properties of FSRQs and BL Lacs from Fermi γ-ray space telescope observations. It was argued previously that the difference in accretion rates is mainly responsible for the large mismatch in observed luminosity in γ-ray. However, when intrinsic luminosities are derived by correcting for beaming effects, this difference in γ-ray luminosity between the two classes is significantly reduced. In order to explain this difference in intrinsic luminosities, we propose that spin plays an important role in the luminosity distribution dichotomy of BL Lacs and FSRQs. As the outflow power of a blazar increases with increasing spin of a central black hole, we suggest that the spin plays a crucial role in making BL Lac sources low luminous and slow rotators compared to FSRQ sources.     

Generalized uncertainty principle and quantum gravitational effects on tunneling rate of Reissner-Nordström black hole

It is shown that the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of black holes can accept a correction that effects on the radiation tunneling probability. By assumption of a spatially flat universe accompanied with expansion of metric, we could obtain an expression for entropy of black hole that is changing with respect to time and Bekenstein-Hawking temperature.     

Enigmatic aspects of entropy inside the black hole: what do falling comoving observers see?

In a recent paper it was suggested that inclusion of mutual gravitational interactions can give a possible scenario for reversing gravitation collapse and averting a singular phase. We extend this idea to the still unsolved problem of matter collapsing beyond black hole event horizons. For a comoving observer there is no change in entropy as he goes through the horizon. Matter collapses to a minimum radius, and then can re-expand with the same entropy. It is shown that phase space inside a collapsing black hole is also invariant.     

Apparent horizon and event horizon thermodynamics of?a?Vaidya?black hole using Damour-Ruffini method

Using Damour-Ruffini method, Hawking radiation from the apparent horizon of a Vaidya black hole is calculated. The thermodynamics can be built successfully on the apparent horizon. In the meantime, when a time-dependent perturbation is given to the apparent horizon, the first law of thermodynamics can also be constructed successfully at a new supersurface near the apparent horizon. The expressions of the characteristic position and temperature are consistent with the previous results. It is concluded that the thermodynamics should be constructed on the apparent horizon exactly while the event horizon thermodynamics is just one of the perturbations near the apparent horizon. These conclusions can be regarded as providing some new evidences for our previous viewpoint.