Complete classification of photon escape in the Kerr black hole spacetime

Abstract

We consider necessary and sufficient conditions for photons emitted from the vicinity of a Kerr black hole horizon to escape to infinity. The radial equation of motion determines necessary conditions for photons to reach infinity, and the polar angle equation of motion further restricts the allowed region of photon motion. Unlike emission from the equatorial plane, the latter restrictions are crucial for photon escape when the initial polar angle of the emission point is arbitrary. We provide a visualization tool to analyze these two conditions and demonstrate a procedure for revealing photon escape. Finally, we completely identify the two-dimensional impact parameter space in which photons can escape.

arXiv comment16 pages, 15 figures

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Photon emission from inside the innermost stable circular orbit
• Electromagnetic signatures of strong-field gravity from accreting black holes
• A generalization of photon sphere based on escape/capture cone
• Photon escape in the extremal Kerr black hole spacetime
• Non-Radial Neutrino Emission upon Black Hole Formation in Core Collapse Supernovae