Testing the space-time geometry around black hole candidates with the available radio and X-ray data

Abstract

Astrophysical black hole candidates are thought to be the Kerr black holes predicted by General Relativity, but the actual nature of these objects has still to be proven. The Kerr black hole hypothesis can be tested by observing strong gravity features and check if they are in agreement with the predictions of General Relativity. In particular, the study of the properties of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the gas of the accretion disk can provide information on the geometry of the space-time around these objects and constrain possible deviations from the Kerr background.