Capturing Dark Matter with Black Holes

  • Released Tuesday, June 23, 2015
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In this visualization, we plot the trajectories of random-distribution of hypothesized dark matter particles around a maximally-rotating black hole. The particles captured by the hole are seen collecting around the event horizon in the center, the particles experiencing stronger and stronger redshift, respresented by the stronger red coloration of the particle trail.

The ergosphere is represented by the bluish oblate spheroid shape around the spherical event horizon. Inside the ergosphere, the distortion of space is so strong that particles must be deflected and carried with the rotation of the black hole. Hence, while the particles are traveling all different directions far from the black hole, we see them carried in the same direction close to the event horizon.

Camera push-in view of dark matter particles collecting around the black hole. Camera zooms in and slowly moves towards equatorial plane.

Camera push-in without dark matter particles.

Oblique view of dark matter particles collecting around the black hole. This provides a better view of some of the more complex trajectories near the spin axis.

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole.

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole.

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Print resolution still from the visualization of dark matter particles collecting around a black hole, at later time...

Color bar for time-dilation value at the particle, including effects of gravity and speed. 'Ticks' means ticks of a clock, or seconds of time.

Color bar for time-dilation value at the particle, including effects of gravity and speed. 'Ticks' means ticks of a clock, or seconds of time.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

This page was originally published on Tuesday, June 23, 2015.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:49 PM EDT.

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