An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics · Problem 17.16

Close Binary Star Systems — Carroll & Ostlie

Physics — Astrophysics · black-holes-photon-sphere

Problem

(a) Find an expression for the coordinate speed of light in the ϕ\phi-direction. (b) Consider Eq. (17.26) in the limit that the particle's mass goes to zero and its speed approaches that of light. Use your result for part (a) to show that r=1.5RSr = 1.5R_S for the circular orbit of a photon around a black hole. (c) Find the orbital period (in coordinate time tt) for this orbit around a 10 M⊙10\,M_\odot black hole. (d) If a flashlight were beamed in the ϕ\phi-direction at r=1.5RSr = 1.5R_S, what would happen? (The surface at r=1.5RSr = 1.5R_S is called the photon sphere.)

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