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Main Authors: Tan, Yuan, Lu, Youjun, Song, Kunyu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.04210
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author Tan, Yuan
Lu, Youjun
Song, Kunyu
author_facet Tan, Yuan
Lu, Youjun
Song, Kunyu
contents Recently, the \textit{EHT} collaboration unveiled the shadow images of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) M87* and Sgr A*, with angular radii of $42\pm3$\,$μ$as and $48.7\pm7.0$\,$μ$as, respectively. These observations are consistent with the shadow of a Kerr black hole in general relativity (GR). Observations of the shadow of SMBHs can be used to test modified gravity theories, including Yukawa gravity, in extremely strong fields. In this paper, we illustrate the shadows of Yukawa black holes, showing that their sizes are significantly influenced by the Yukawa parameters $λ$ and $κ$. Using the EHT observations of M87* and Sgr A*, we obtain constraints on the Yukawa parameters. For Sgr A*, Keck and VLTI provide different priors on its gravitational radius. The Sgr A* shadow yields $κ=-0.04^{+0.09}_{-0.10}$ for $λ>1$\,AU with the Keck prior, while $κ=-0.08^{+0.09}_{-0.06}$ with the VLTI prior. As $λ$ decreases, the constraints weaken, reaching $-0.37<κ<0.17$ (Keck prior) and $-0.47<κ<0.04$ (VLTI prior) at $λ=0.1$\,AU. For M87*, with a mass significantly larger than Sgr A*, this system can only put constraints on $κ$ at larger $λ$. For $λ>1.5\times10^4$\,AU, the \textit{EHT} observation of M87* yields $κ=-0.01^{+0.17}_{-0.17}$. No significant deviation from GR is detected in our analysis. Additionally, we explore potential constraints using the next-generation VLBI, like \textit{ngEHT} and the Black Hole Explorer (BHEX), which promise the detection of the second ring of photons. The improved angular resolution and the measurements of the second ring could substantially refine constraints on the Yukawa parameters, enhancing our ability to test deviations from GR in the strong-field regime.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_04210
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Limiting the Yukawa Gravity through the Black Hole Shadows of Sgr A* and M87*
Tan, Yuan
Lu, Youjun
Song, Kunyu
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Recently, the \textit{EHT} collaboration unveiled the shadow images of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) M87* and Sgr A*, with angular radii of $42\pm3$\,$μ$as and $48.7\pm7.0$\,$μ$as, respectively. These observations are consistent with the shadow of a Kerr black hole in general relativity (GR). Observations of the shadow of SMBHs can be used to test modified gravity theories, including Yukawa gravity, in extremely strong fields. In this paper, we illustrate the shadows of Yukawa black holes, showing that their sizes are significantly influenced by the Yukawa parameters $λ$ and $κ$. Using the EHT observations of M87* and Sgr A*, we obtain constraints on the Yukawa parameters. For Sgr A*, Keck and VLTI provide different priors on its gravitational radius. The Sgr A* shadow yields $κ=-0.04^{+0.09}_{-0.10}$ for $λ>1$\,AU with the Keck prior, while $κ=-0.08^{+0.09}_{-0.06}$ with the VLTI prior. As $λ$ decreases, the constraints weaken, reaching $-0.37<κ<0.17$ (Keck prior) and $-0.47<κ<0.04$ (VLTI prior) at $λ=0.1$\,AU. For M87*, with a mass significantly larger than Sgr A*, this system can only put constraints on $κ$ at larger $λ$. For $λ>1.5\times10^4$\,AU, the \textit{EHT} observation of M87* yields $κ=-0.01^{+0.17}_{-0.17}$. No significant deviation from GR is detected in our analysis. Additionally, we explore potential constraints using the next-generation VLBI, like \textit{ngEHT} and the Black Hole Explorer (BHEX), which promise the detection of the second ring of photons. The improved angular resolution and the measurements of the second ring could substantially refine constraints on the Yukawa parameters, enhancing our ability to test deviations from GR in the strong-field regime.
title Limiting the Yukawa Gravity through the Black Hole Shadows of Sgr A* and M87*
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.04210