is general relativity correct theory of gravitation?

Is General Relativity correct theory of gravitation?

• Numerous tests of GR exist in weak fields• Precession of orbit of Mercury• Bending of star light at solar eclipse• Gravitational lenses• Binary Pulsar• Frame dragging (LAGEOS, Gravity Probe B)• New Test: Precession of orbit & emission of

gravitational waves in OJ287• Strong field -> Black holes

OJ 287

A Binary Black Hole SystemSillanpää et al. 1988, Lehto & Valtonen1996,

Sundelius et al. 1997

.

Unique solution of the timing problem

• Six well timed outburts• Iterative code• Astrophysical effects: disk bending, delay

of radiation burst

2005 outburst

Predictions for 2007 Sept no gravitational radiation: Oct 4

• OJ 287 timing models• eccentricity• 0.668 0.668 0.6667 0.655• precession• 37.0 36.9 37.0 39.2• delay• 0.75 0.70 0.75 1.0• 1913.01• 1956.27 1956.18 1956.24 1956.97• 1963.74 1963.81 1963.69 1964.02• 1972.97 1972.97 1972.97 1972.97• 1984.15 1984.15 1984.15 1984.14• 1994.66 1994.66 1994.65 1994.60• 1995.85 1995.85 1995.85 1995.88• 2005.78 2005.78 2005.77 2005.76• 2007.68 2007.68 2007.69 2007.70• Sept 5 Sept 5 Sept 9 Sept 13

Harvard plates: Basta & Hudec

1963-1964: new data

OJ287 in September 2007

Future optical light curve

OJ 287 optical variations

1. Jet wobble, 60 yr cycle + 12 yr steps

2. Tidal variations in jet flow, 12 yr cycle

3. Disk impacts, advance relative to the 12 year cycle due to precession

Complete solution of the problem: timing of 6 outbursts

Jet wobble

From jet wobble to magnitude variations

Tidal variations in jet flow: 1972

Tidal variations in jet flow: 1996

In radio: two processes

Three processes vs. optical light curve

.No outburst in hard X-rays; outburst in soft X-rays

At outburst

Pre-outburst

Predictions: rotation of radio jet

• .

.

Radio jet P.A.

RADIO JET ORIENTATION AND THE PRECESSING BINARY BLACK HOLE MODEL OF OJ287

M.J. VALTONEN, K.WIIK AND T.SAVOLAINENDepartment of Physics and Tuorla Observatory, University of Turku, Finland

Under preparation

The structure of the November 2005 outburst in OJ287 and the precessing binary black hole modelMauri Valtonen1, Mark Kidger2,3, Harry Lehto4 & Gary Poyner5

Binary model

1983, 1994 & 2005 outbursts

• Time scales:0.06 yr, 0.08 yr, 0.12 yr

Predictions: historical light curve outburst in 1956

2005 outburst twice as long as 1983 outburst

1983, 1994 & 2005 outbursts

• Time scales:22 d, 29 d, 45 dRelative timing:1982.991994.722005.77

After outburst light curve

• 1 time unit = 0.06 yr

Structure the same in 2005 as in 1983, but a factor of two slower

• 3 peak structure

The structure of the November 2005 outburst in OJ287 and the precessing binary black hole model [1]

Mauri Valtonen1,2, Mark Kidger3,4, Harry Lehto1,5 & Gary Poyner6

[1] Prepared in part with observations from the Bradford Robotic Telescope at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias’s Teide Observatory.

2005 & 1983: same total energy

2005: 4 months; 1983: 2 months, 2x brighter

32 2

1

1

n

p GM GMz

z z RR z

H M R

ns

vM

c Mach number

These accretion disks are thin.

Overall properties of steady accretion rate disks

Vertical structure

Radio data: no outburst