Testing general relativity using millimeter wavelength radio interferometry of Sgr A*
Name
1028752046-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
6.3 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
490bdf237751bfbd22200edad8230581
Author(s)
Ruprecht, Jessica Dawn
Advisor(s)
Richard P. Binzel
Date Issued
2012
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
General relativity, though widely accepted in the weak-field limit, is difficult to test in the strong-field regime. Millimeter wavelength VLBI offers a unique opportunity to resolve the black hole structure on event-horizon scales. The ability of millimeter wavelength VLBI observations of Sgr A* to constrain black hole parameters such as mass, spin, and deviation from general relativity was considered. Realistic simulations of Sgr A* were performed using the MAPS software. Image reconstructions were made using MACIM and image-based parameter extraction using the Hough transform was considered. Non-imaging techniques using least-squares fitting of a simple ring and gaussian model to VLBI amplitudes and closure phases were considered. The Hough transform is not able to place strong constraints on black hole parameters. Least-squares fitting techniques indicate possible sensitivity to deviations from general relativity and prove able to extract the photon ring radius to within 5-7% of the expected value. It is concluded that VLBI observations of Sgr A* represent a promising opportunity for testing general relativity in the strong-field regime.
Description
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 77-78).
Subjects
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Terms of Use
MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.
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