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Vadim Bernshteyn

Publications and source records attributed to Vadim Bernshteyn.

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Ring Position Angles and Spin in M87* and Sgr A*

Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) images of black holes appear as rings with a brightness asymmetry. Here, we expand on our previous study of the asymmetry magnitude $a_1$ to study the position angle of the peak brightness asymmetry $\mathrm{PA}_1$ in general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) models. For larger spin magnitudes ($a_{*}>0$ and $a_{*}\lesssim-0.5$), the mean $\mathrm{PA}_1$ falls within $1σ$ of the approaching limb of the black hole, regardless of viewing inclination, disk magnetization, or source. By comparing the $(a_1, \mathrm{PA}_1)$ distribution in M87* observations with models, we demonstrate that we can mildly disfavor low-magnitude spins and strongly disfavor all spin vectors that point toward Earth. The alignment of $\mathrm{PA}_1$ relative to the large-scale jet axis may suggest that M87*'s disk does not have a large tilt. By combining $\mathrm{PA}_1$ with the pattern speed measured in optimistic 2026 M87* video conditions, the EHT can constrain whether M87* is prograde or retrograde with $\sim 84\%$ accuracy. In Sgr A*, we show that a detection of $(a_1, \mathrm{PA}_1)$ could constrain the magnitude and direction of the galactic center spin vector. Finally, if future EHT expansions increase the sample of horizon-scale sources, a simple set of observables (ring diameter, asymmetry magnitude, and asymmetry angle) could enable robust constraints on black hole mass, spin, and inclination.

astro-ph.HE

Ring Asymmetry and Spin in M87*

Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) images of the supermassive black hole M87* depict an asymmetric ring of emission. General relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) models of M87* and its accretion disk predict that the amplitude and location of the ring's peak brightness asymmetry should fluctuate due to turbulence in the source plasma. We compare the observed distribution of brightness asymmetry amplitudes to the simulated distribution in GRMHD models, across varying black hole spin $a_{*}$. We show that, for strongly magnetized (MAD) models, three epochs of EHT data marginally disfavor $|a_{*}| \lesssim 0.2$. This is consistent with the Blandford-Znajek model for M87's jet, which predicts that M87* should have nonzero spin. We show quantitatively how future observations could improve spin constraints, and discuss how improved spin constraints could distinguish between differing jet-launching mechanisms and black hole growth scenarios.

astro-ph.HE