Kerr black holes are not unique to general relativity

Dimitrios Psaltis, Delphine Perrodin, Keith R. Dienes, Irina Mocioiu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

123 Scopus citations

Abstract

Considerable attention has recently focused on gravity theories obtained by extending general relativity with additional scalar, vector, or tensor degrees of freedom. In this Letter, we show that the black-hole solutions of these theories are essentially indistinguishable from those of general relativity. Thus, we conclude that a potential observational verification of the Kerr metric around an astrophysical black hole cannot, in and of itself, be used to distinguish between these theories. On the other hand, it remains true that detection of deviations from the Kerr metric will signify the need for a major change in our understanding of gravitational physics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number091101
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume100
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 3 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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