Photons that orbit at the event horizon.

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of photons in the vicinity of black holes, particularly focusing on their potential to orbit at the event horizon and the implications of relativistic effects on their motion as perceived by external observers. Participants explore concepts related to the photon sphere, escape velocity, and the nature of electromagnetic waves in relation to black holes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the notion that photons can orbit at the event horizon, suggesting instead that they orbit at the photon sphere, which is located outside the event horizon.
  • There is a discussion about whether protons located between the photon sphere and the event horizon can escape the black hole, with some arguing that certain conditions allow for escape depending on the direction of emitted light.
  • One participant raises the idea that the velocity of electromagnetic waves remains constant in vacuum for all observers, while the relativistic energy of these waves can vary based on the observer's frame of reference.
  • Another participant inquires about the foundational premises of the Schwarzschild equation, specifically whether it is based on the escape velocity of photons or the relativistic energy content of photons reaching null geodesics.
  • There are references to the interaction of black holes with charged particles, noting that black holes can possess electrical charge and thus exhibit electromagnetic interactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the behavior of photons near black holes, particularly regarding their ability to orbit at the event horizon versus the photon sphere. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on the nature of escape velocity and the implications of relativistic effects.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexities of relativistic dynamics and the conditions under which photons may or may not escape a black hole. There are references to mathematical formulations and theoretical concepts that remain open to interpretation and further exploration.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying general relativity, black hole physics, and the behavior of light in strong gravitational fields, as well as individuals curious about the theoretical implications of electromagnetic wave propagation in relation to black holes.

Primordial
Messages
41
Reaction score
0
My question is: Photons that orbit at the event horizon, require relativistic time to circumvent the circumference of the black hole relative to an observer external to the black hole, keeping Mr. Einsteins second postulate in mind, that being the velocity of light is constant through vacuum ( or free space), and keeping in mind, dilated space-time is considered free space or in vacuum. What is the relativistic time required for the photon to complete one revolution at the event horizon, relative to an external observer of the black hole, would it be the same as the time required light to travel an equivalent distance as observed in free space external to the black hole, or would it take a much longer relativistic time?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Primordial said:
My question is: Photons that orbit at the event horizon, require relativistic time to circumvent the circumference of the black hole relative to an observer external to the black hole, keeping Mr. Einsteins second postulate in mind, that being the velocity of light is constant through vacuum ( or free space), and keeping in mind, dilated space-time is considered free space or in vacuum. What is the relativistic time required for the photon to complete one revolution at the event horizon, relative to an external observer of the black hole, would it be the same as the time required light to travel an equivalent distance as observed in free space external to the black hole, or would it take a much longer relativistic time?

Photons don't orbit at the event horizon, they orbit on the photon sphere at a (coordinate) distance of 1.5 that of the event horizon.
 
George Jones: Would the existence of the photon sphere, being outside the event horizon, prevent protons between the photon sphere and the event horizon, escaping the black hole?
 
Primordial said:
George Jones: Would the existence of the photon sphere, being outside the event horizon, prevent protons between the photon sphere and the event horizon, escaping the black hole?

No. If a hovering laser located between the event horizon and the photon is fired within a certain range of directions, its light will escape the black hole. For lasers located closer and closer to the event horizon, the range of directions becomes more and more restricted.
 
Thank you for your answers, they fit very well.
 
George Jones said:
No. If a hovering laser located between the event horizon and the photon is fired within a certain range of directions, its light will escape the black hole. For lasers located closer and closer to the event horizon, the range of directions becomes more and more restricted.
As the laser's direction varies, some photons escape, some do not. So what happens at the borderline between those two possibilities? Naively I might expect photons to orbit at that borderline angle, but I have heard this is not possible.
 
DrGreg said:
As the laser's direction varies, some photons escape, some do not. So what happens at the borderline between those two possibilities? Naively I might expect photons to orbit at that borderline angle, but I have heard this is not possible.

The border is orbit on the photon sphere!

When c=G=1, the event horizon is at r=2M and the photon sphere is at r=3M. Suppose the laser hovers at any r>2M, and let \phi be the firing angle with respect to vertically up, in the laser's frame. When

<br /> \sin\phi = \sqrt{3} \frac{3M}{r} \sqrt{1 - \frac{2M}{r}},<br />

the light will asymptotically approach orbit on the photon sphere as t \rightarrow \infty.

Note that as r \rightarrow 2M, \phi \rightarrow 0, and that as r \rightarrow 3M, \phi \rightarrow 90 degrees.

If you want, you can try

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=1091901#post1091901

For example, I was just playing with r=38, v=1.0, which results in a border angle (with respect to horizontal) of

<br /> \cos^{-1} \left( \sqrt{3} \frac{45}{38} \sqrt{1 - \frac{30}{38}} \right) = 19.760326661 \mathrm{ degrees}.<br />
 
George Jones: I appreciate your help and suggestions, however my original thought was not very well composed, so I will try again, I have noticed that the velocity of propagation of electromagnetic energy has been postulated to remain constant in vacuum or free space, per Mr. Einstein, to all observers, but only the relativistic energy of the electromagnetic wave depends on the relativistic dynamics of the frame of reference of the observer, and can in theory range from zero to infinity (without any limiting laws ) and not the velocity of the electromagnetic wave. I use this concept to explain to myself the reason the photon can not escape the black hole and allows the gravitational boson to have the ability to mediate its interaction with space-time outside the black hole, from within the black hole. I would like to know if there is, a better explanation in the world of physics? Hope you can help.
 
George Jones : One of the most basic questions about the Schwarzschild radius on my mind is, was the premise of Mr. Schwarzschild equation based on the escape velocity of the interaction of photon boson, or on the premise of the relativistic energy content of the photon boson reaching null geodesics.
 
  • #10
Black holes can have electrical charge as well as mass. Consequently, a black hole can interact electromagnetically (attraction or repulsion) with a charged particle outside the black hole's event horizon. Read D.08 and D.08 of the FAQ

http://sciastro.astronomy.net/sci.astro.4.FAQ
 
Last edited:
  • #11
George Jones : Thank you for your reference, this problem first came to me while I was in college in Texas, I managed to speak to several Professors, each of which indicated another that was more knowledgeable than the previous, until I was introduced to a Dr. Remler from the University of Texas dept. of Relativity, whom at the time was presenting a theory of his pertaining to the visible edge of the Universe, he referred to his concept as Horizons. He told me, I had a great imaginative mind. He liked some of my concept.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • · Replies 51 ·
2
Replies
51
Views
6K
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
9K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
5K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 57 ·
2
Replies
57
Views
4K
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K