On the Universality of Energy Extraction from Black Hole Spacetimes

The launching of astrophysical jets provides the most compelling observational evidence for direct extraction of black hole (BH) spin energy via the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) mechanism. Whilst it is know that spinning Kerr BHs within general relativity (GR) follow the BZ jet power relation, the nature of BH energy extraction in general theories of gravity has not been adequately addressed. This study performs the first comprehensive investigation of the BZ jet power relation by utilising a generalised BH spacetime geometry which describes parametric deviations from the Kerr metric of GR, yet recovers the Kerr metric in the limit that all deviation parameters vanish. Through performing and analysing an extensive suite of three-dimensional covariant magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of magnetised gas accretion onto these generalised BH spacetimes we find that the BZ jet power relation still holds, in some instances yielding jet powers far in excess of what can be produced by even extremal Kerr BHs. It is shown that the variation of the quadrupole moment of the BH can enhance or suppress the effects of BH spin, and by extension of frame-dragging. This variation greatly enhances or suppresses the observed jet power and underlying photon ring image asymmetry, introducing a previously unexplored yet important degeneracy in BH parameter inference.
Comment: To be submitted to journal. Comments are welcome