Probes and Tests of Strong-Field Gravity with Observations in the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Neutron stars and black holes are the astrophysical systems with the strongest gravitational fields in the universe. In this article, I review the prospect of using observations of such compact objects to probe some of the most intriguing general relativistic predictions in the strong-field regime:...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2008-11-01
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| Series: | Living Reviews in Relativity |
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| Online Access: | http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2008-9 |
| _version_ | 1830511617947729920 |
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| author | Psaltis Dimitrios |
| author_facet | Psaltis Dimitrios |
| author_sort | Psaltis Dimitrios |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neutron stars and black holes are the astrophysical systems with the strongest gravitational fields in the universe. In this article, I review the prospect of using observations of such compact objects to probe some of the most intriguing general relativistic predictions in the strong-field regime: the absence of stable circular orbits near a compact object and the presence of event horizons around black-hole singularities. I discuss the need for a theoretical framework, within which future experiments will provide detailed, quantitative tests of gravity theories. Finally, I summarize the constraints imposed by current observations of neutron stars on potential deviations from general relativity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:15:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c38bfacb2f794e96b4c6f664fcd3e7d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1433-8351 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:15:08Z |
| publishDate | 2008-11-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Living Reviews in Relativity |
| spelling | doaj.art-c38bfacb2f794e96b4c6f664fcd3e7d02022-12-21T18:42:18ZengSpringerOpenLiving Reviews in Relativity1433-83512008-11-01119Probes and Tests of Strong-Field Gravity with Observations in the Electromagnetic SpectrumPsaltis DimitriosNeutron stars and black holes are the astrophysical systems with the strongest gravitational fields in the universe. In this article, I review the prospect of using observations of such compact objects to probe some of the most intriguing general relativistic predictions in the strong-field regime: the absence of stable circular orbits near a compact object and the presence of event horizons around black-hole singularities. I discuss the need for a theoretical framework, within which future experiments will provide detailed, quantitative tests of gravity theories. Finally, I summarize the constraints imposed by current observations of neutron stars on potential deviations from general relativity.http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2008-9Neutron starsBlack holesTests of relativistic gravity |
| spellingShingle | Psaltis Dimitrios Probes and Tests of Strong-Field Gravity with Observations in the Electromagnetic Spectrum Living Reviews in Relativity Neutron stars Black holes Tests of relativistic gravity |
| title | Probes and Tests of Strong-Field Gravity with Observations in the Electromagnetic Spectrum |
| title_full | Probes and Tests of Strong-Field Gravity with Observations in the Electromagnetic Spectrum |
| title_fullStr | Probes and Tests of Strong-Field Gravity with Observations in the Electromagnetic Spectrum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probes and Tests of Strong-Field Gravity with Observations in the Electromagnetic Spectrum |
| title_short | Probes and Tests of Strong-Field Gravity with Observations in the Electromagnetic Spectrum |
| title_sort | probes and tests of strong field gravity with observations in the electromagnetic spectrum |
| topic | Neutron stars Black holes Tests of relativistic gravity |
| url | http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2008-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT psaltisdimitrios probesandtestsofstrongfieldgravitywithobservationsintheelectromagneticspectrum |