Visualisation of counter-rotating dust disks using ray tracing methods

Abstract

A detailed study of ray tracing in the space-time generated by a disk of counter-rotating dust is presented. The space-time is given in explicit form in terms of hyperelliptic theta functions. The numerical approach to ray tracing is set up for general stationary axisymmetric space-times and tested at the well-studied example of the Kerr solution. Similar features as in the case of a rotating black hole, are explored in the case of a dust disk. The effect of the central redshift varying between a Newtonian disk and the ultrarelativistic disk, where the exterior of the disk can be interpreted as the extreme Kerr solution, and the transition from a single component disk to a static disk is explored. Frame dragging, as well as photon spheres, are discussed.