The universe through the lens of black holes

In an article published in the journal Scientific Reports, Albert Sneppen, a student at the Niels Bohr Institute in Denmark, explains something like this: A set of equations as a way to accurately calculate reflections of the Universe visible in distorted light around a black hole.

According to the study, light, together with the gravitational force of these yet little-known cosmic entities, can function as a repeater and magnifier of the images of the universe.

Black holes are still a big mystery to science. Although various astronomical data indicate the existence of several of them in the universe, the first photographic record was made only in 2019 by a team led by Katie Bouman.

His work and the events taking place around him attract the attention of researchers; because nothing, including light, can escape from it due to its gravitational intensity. It can bend space-time around itself in such a unique way thatTraditional mathematical models cannot always explain what is happening at these points in the cosmos.

But at least one of the mysteries may have found an explanation. Albert Sneppen, a physics student at the Niels Bohr Institute, worked on the equations that describe the behavior of light around this celestial god.

The study, published in 2021, raises several relevant questions about the behavior of light around black holes and the escape limit before photons reach the event horizon.

Based on second-order differential equations, Sneppen was able to describe quite satisfactorily that light, together with gravity, forms a kind of mirror and reflects images of the universe behind the black hole.

According to equation models, These images can be repeated an infinite number of times as they fade into the orbital disks around the black hole..

Thanks to this behavior, black holes can act as gravitational lenses, making it possible to visualize objects and the universe hidden behind the phenomenon. The size, shape and sharpness of the image will depend on the distance and viewing angle of the observer.

Although there is currently no technology that can contribute to verifying Sneppen’s equations, this is another important step towards a better understanding of the mysteries surrounding black holes. Instead of being hungry eaters, they could be a new tool for looking at the universe..

Do you love astronomy and want to learn more about what’s around our little blue planet? So learn more about the black holes closest to Earth. Stay tuned to TecMundo to stay informed about what’s happening in the world of astronomy.