Exact Wave-Optical Imaging of Black Hole Spacetimes

Explore wave-optical imaging of black hole spacetimes in this 38-minute physics lecture from the Workshop on "Lensing and Wave Optics in Strong Gravity" at the Erwin Schrödinger International Institute. Delve into the theoretical foundations of black hole observations, moving beyond traditional approaches based on geodesics, gravitational lensing, and quasinormal modes. Learn how wave scattering is analytically treated using the Green's function method, combining solutions to radial and angular Teukolsky equations with partial wave techniques for scalar and monochromatic perturbations. Examine the analytical description of wave-optical imaging through Kirchhoff-Fresnel diffraction, particularly in forming observable black hole shadows in Kerr-de Sitter spacetime. Compare ray-optical and wave-optical approaches, gaining new insights into wave-optical effects and properties in strong gravity environments. Conclude with an exploration of the method's application to Taub-NUT spacetime and current limitations in the field.