Primary Proca hair and the double-peak optics of black holes

We study the optical properties of black holes endowed with primary Proca hair, focusing on the distinctive double-peak structure generated in the effective potential by the massive vector field. This novel feature drastically modifies the geodesic motion of both photons and massive particles, leading to qualitatively new dynamical and observational signatures. We derive and analyze the effective potentials, classify time-like and null geodesics, and identify the conditions for multiple circular orbits. Particular attention is devoted to the photon sphere structure, the associated shadows, and lensing phenomena. Our analysis reveals that, for a broad range of parameters, the black-hole shadow can acquire a two-boundary structure and exhibit additional inner rings, unlike the standard Schwarzschild case. These modifications provide potentially observable imprints of Proca hair in electromagnetic spectra, highlighting the relevance of double-barrier optical phenomena for current and future observations of strong-gravity environments.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2026-01-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/7xy2-ymw9
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Dermatological and Skeletal Disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
30.93

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article

Primary Proca hair and the double-peak optics of black holes

Jan Schee, R. A. Konoplya, Dmitriy Ovchinnikov
1 citations
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Dermatological and Skeletal Disorders
30.93
article

Primary Proca hair and the double-peak optics of black holes

Jan Schee, R. A. Konoplya, Dmitriy Ovchinnikov
article en
1 citations

Abstract

We study the optical properties of black holes endowed with primary Proca hair, focusing on the distinctive double-peak structure generated in the effective potential by the massive vector field. This novel feature drastically modifies the geodesic motion of both photons and massive particles, leading to qualitatively new dynamical and observational signatures. We derive and analyze the effective potentials, classify time-like and null geodesics, and identify the conditions for multiple circular orbits. Particular attention is devoted to the photon sphere structure, the associated shadows, and lensing phenomena. Our analysis reveals that, for a broad range of parameters, the black-hole shadow can acquire a two-boundary structure and exhibit additional inner rings, unlike the standard Schwarzschild case. These modifications provide potentially observable imprints of Proca hair in electromagnetic spectra, highlighting the relevance of double-barrier optical phenomena for current and future observations of strong-gravity environments.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Vol. 113(2)
Silesian University in Opava (CZ)
Strong, Slezská Univerzita v Opavě
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Dermatological and Skeletal Disorders
30.93
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