Testing alternative theories of gravity by fitting the hot-spot data of Sgr A*

Abstract

AbstractWe are fitting dynamics of electrically neutral hot-spot orbiting around Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) source in Galactic center, represented by various modifications of the standard Kerr black hole (BH), to the three flares observed by the GRAVITY instrument on May 27, July 22, July 28, 2018. We consider stationary, axisymmetric, and asymptotically flat spacetimes describing charged BHs in general relativity (GR) combined with nonlinear electrodynamics, or reflecting the influence of dark matter (DM), or in so called parameterized dirty Kerr spacetimes, and test them using the hot-spot data. We show that the orbital frequencies as well as positions of the hot-spots orbiting the considered BHs fit the observed positions and periods of the flare orbits, and give relevant constraints on the parameters of the considered BH spacetimes and the gravity or other theories behind such modified spacetimes.