The Galactic Supermassive Black Hole

by Fulvio Melia

Overview

Here, one of the world's leading astrophysicists provides the first comprehensive and logically structured overview of the many ideas and discoveries pertaining to the supermassive black hole at the galactic center known as Sagittarius A*. By far the closest galactic nucleus in the universe, Sagittarius A* alone can provide us with a realistic expectation of learning about the physics of strong gravitational fields, and the impact of such fields on the behavior of matter and radiation under severe physical conditions. Its proximity may even provide the opportunity to directly test one of general relativity's most enigmatic predictions--the existence of closed pockets of space-time hidden behind an event horizon.


The plethora of research on Sagittarius A* since its discovery in 1974 has long seemed an interwoven pattern of loose threads. No one has successfully synthesized this growing body of work into a manageable, coherent book both for professional researchers and for students taking courses focusing on black holes and galactic nuclei--until now. With Fulvio Melia's The Galactic Supermassive Black Hole, readers finally have at their disposal a one-volume crucible of essential ideas, logically streamlined but with thorough references for those wishing to explore the various topics in greater depth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691222547
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	12/08/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	344
File size:	63 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Fulvio Melia is Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Arizona and Associate Editor of the Astrophysical Journal Letters. His books include The Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy (Princeton), The Edge of Infinity: Supermassive Black Holes in the Universe, and Electrodynamics.

Table of Contents

Foreword     vii
Preface     xiii
The Galactic Center     1
Discovery of Sagittarius A*     2
Radio Morphology of the Central Region     5
X-ray Morphology of the Central Region     10
Sagittarius A East     17
The Radio Source Sagittarius A*     25
Position of Sagittarius A*     27
Proper Motion     32
Structure as a Function of Frequency     37
Sagittarius A*'s Spectrum     42
The Radio Spectrum     42
Linear and Circular Polarization     46
Infrared Observations     55
X-ray Observations     58
Observed High-Energy Characteristics     65
Variability     71
Short-Term Variability in the IR and X-rays     71
Long-Term Variability in the Radio     81
The Central Star Cluster     86
The Stellar Cusp Surrounding the Black Hole     87
Stellar Constituents and Dynamics     101
Stellar Orbits and the Enclosed Mass     109
The Four-Dimensional Spacetime     114
The Flat Spacetime Metric     114
Relativistic Transformation of Physical Laws     126
Accelerated Frames     132
General Relativity     137
Particle Orbits and Trajectories     140
The Kerr Metric     149
Mass Accretion and Expulsion     156
Sagittarius A*'s Gaseous Environment     158
Bondi-Hoyle Capture from Distributed Sources     162
Accretion Close to Sagittarius A*     165
Magnetic Field Dissipation     167
A Compact Magnetized Disk     176
Expulsion of Matter     204
Flares     226
Flare Physics     226
Periodicity     234
General Relativistic Flux Modulations     240
Strong Field Physics     245
Spin-Induced Disk Precession     246
Microlensing     251
Imaging the Shadow of the Black Hole     259
References     265
Index     287

What People are Saying About This

David Merritt

This is a timely, comprehensive, and readable account of the current state of knowledge about the Milky Way's supermassive black hole and its stellar and gaseous environment. There is definitely a need for a book like this.
— David Merritt, Rochester Institute of Technology

Niel Brandt

A gripping high-level account of the best-studied supermassive black hole in the universe, truly a central object of modern astrophysics. Professionals, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates will all benefit from this physics-rich and authoritative tour through the heart of our galaxy. I can't wait to use it in my courses.
— Niel Brandt, Pennsylvania State University

From the Publisher

"A gripping high-level account of the best-studied supermassive black hole in the universe, truly a central object of modern astrophysics. Professionals, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates will all benefit from this physics-rich and authoritative tour through the heart of our galaxy. I can't wait to use it in my courses."—Niel Brandt, Pennsylvania State University

"This is a timely, comprehensive, and readable account of the current state of knowledge about the Milky Way's supermassive black hole and its stellar and gaseous environment. There is definitely a need for a book like this."—David Merritt, Rochester Institute of Technology

"Fulvio Melia's new book sets a high standard that will not be displaced soon. A culmination of the author's own extensive work over the past twenty years, it is an ideal resource for researchers who wish to become familiar with the state of the art on the galactic black hole. It will also be a valuable reference for experts who want the key ideas assembled coherently in one place. And it can be used as a text in graduate courses employing the galactic black hole as a vehicle to convey a range of important astrophysical topics."—Mark Morris, University of California, Los Angeles

Mark Morris

Fulvio Melia's new book sets a high standard that will not be displaced soon. A culmination of the author's own extensive work over the past twenty years, it is an ideal resource for researchers who wish to become familiar with the state of the art on the galactic black hole. It will also be a valuable reference for experts who want the key ideas assembled coherently in one place. And it can be used as a text in graduate courses employing the galactic black hole as a vehicle to convey a range of important astrophysical topics.
— Mark Morris, University of California, Los Angeles

Editorial Reviews

"Combining large scale astronomical observations with the careful reasoning of physics leads to the widely encompassing field of astrophysics. Apparently, the physical laws that rule interactions on Earth also rule the actions across our university. Fulvio Melia takes this consideration to task in his book The Galactic Supermassive Black Hole. Within the book, the equations bring reason to some very murky observations and sharpen our view of the heavens."

Universe Today

"Melia has prepared his book as a logically arranged and comprehensive compilation of our current knowledge...For those who wish to become familiar with the current thinking, this is the book to read; it is the only complete overview of the subject."—-A. Spero, Choice

From the Publisher

Melia has prepared his book as a logically arranged and comprehensive compilation of our current knowledge...For those who wish to become familiar with the current thinking, this is the book to read; it is the only complete overview of the subject.

Choice - A. Spero

Melia has prepared his book as a logically arranged and comprehensive compilation of our current knowledge...For those who wish to become familiar with the current thinking, this is the book to read; it is the only complete overview of the subject.
— A. Spero

Choice