Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-07-29
Astron.Astrophys.409:809-812,2003
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
4 pages, 2 Postscript figures, accepted for pubblications on Astronomy and Astrophysics
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361:20031137
Holz & Wheeler (\cite{hw}) have recently proposed that a Schwarzschild black hole may act as a retro-lens which, if illuminated by a powerful light source, deflects light ray paths to large bending angles and a series of luminous arcs (or rings in the case of aligned objects) centered on the black hole may form. Obviously, the most convenient geometry to get retro-lensing images would be that of a very bright star close to a massive black hole, say the putative $\sim 4\times 10^6$ M$_{\odot}$ black hole at the galactic center. Recent observations of the galactic center region in the $K$-band have revealed the presence of a very bright main sequence star (labelled S2) with mass $\sim 15$ M$_{\odot}$ orbiting at close distance (130-1900 AU) from Sgr A$^*$. The relatively vicinity of S2 to the central massive black hole may offer a unique laboratory to test the formation of retro-lensing images. The next generation of space-based telescopes in the $K$-band (like NGST) may have high enough limiting magnitude necessary to observe such retro-lensing images.
de Paolis Francesco
Geralico Andrea
Ingrosso Gabriele
Nucita Achille A.
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