Critical Behavior of Photon Rings in Kerr-Bertotti-Robinson Spacetime

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Wan, Xi, Zhang, Zhenyu, Wei, Fang-Stars, Hou, Yehui, Chen, Bin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Wan, Xi
Zhang, Zhenyu
Wei, Fang-Stars
Hou, Yehui
Chen, Bin
author_facet Wan, Xi
Zhang, Zhenyu
Wei, Fang-Stars
Hou, Yehui
Chen, Bin
contents In this work, we investigate the critical behavior of photon rings in the Kerr-Bertotti-Robinson spacetime, describing a rotating black hole immersed in a background magnetic field. We analyze the radial and angular motions of photons under the small magnetic field approximation. Focusing on unstable spherical orbits, we determine three key parameters, $γ$, $δ$, and $τ$, which characterize radial compression, azimuthal advancement, and time delay. We then examine how these parameters depend on the black hole spin, magnetic field strength, and observer inclination for both on-axis and off-axis observers, and we further analyze the properties of higher-order images through near-critical lens equations. The results show that the magnetic field modifies the geodesic structure, and leads to observable changes in the fine structure of photon rings, providing a useful framework for probing magnetized black hole environments.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_25049
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Critical Behavior of Photon Rings in Kerr-Bertotti-Robinson Spacetime
Wan, Xi
Zhang, Zhenyu
Wei, Fang-Stars
Hou, Yehui
Chen, Bin
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
In this work, we investigate the critical behavior of photon rings in the Kerr-Bertotti-Robinson spacetime, describing a rotating black hole immersed in a background magnetic field. We analyze the radial and angular motions of photons under the small magnetic field approximation. Focusing on unstable spherical orbits, we determine three key parameters, $γ$, $δ$, and $τ$, which characterize radial compression, azimuthal advancement, and time delay. We then examine how these parameters depend on the black hole spin, magnetic field strength, and observer inclination for both on-axis and off-axis observers, and we further analyze the properties of higher-order images through near-critical lens equations. The results show that the magnetic field modifies the geodesic structure, and leads to observable changes in the fine structure of photon rings, providing a useful framework for probing magnetized black hole environments.
title Critical Behavior of Photon Rings in Kerr-Bertotti-Robinson Spacetime
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.25049