February 2024 | Ivo Sengo†1, Pedro V.P. Cunha†1, Carlos A. R. Herdeiro†1, and Eugen Radu§1
This paper explores the lensing images of dynamically robust rotating (mini-)Proca stars (PSs) surrounded by thin accretion disks. The authors demonstrate that these images exhibit striking similarities with those of black holes (BHs) when a GRMHD-motivated emission cutoff is imposed, even for equatorial observations. Unlike non-rotating PSs, the rotating PSs, which are dynamically stable and free of light rings, can mimic detailed features of black hole imaging. The study focuses on four specific PS solutions (A, B, C, D) with different structures of timelike circular orbits (TCOs), and investigates the placement of the accretion disk in these regions. The results show that the lensing images of these PSs can closely resemble those of BHs, particularly when the disk emission profile is cutoff at the maximum angular velocity. The paper also discusses the inclusion of gravitational redshift effects, further enhancing the resemblance to BH images. The findings provide compelling evidence that PSs can effectively mimic the visual appearance of BHs under certain conditions, offering a new perspective on the nature of compact objects and their potential astrophysical implications.This paper explores the lensing images of dynamically robust rotating (mini-)Proca stars (PSs) surrounded by thin accretion disks. The authors demonstrate that these images exhibit striking similarities with those of black holes (BHs) when a GRMHD-motivated emission cutoff is imposed, even for equatorial observations. Unlike non-rotating PSs, the rotating PSs, which are dynamically stable and free of light rings, can mimic detailed features of black hole imaging. The study focuses on four specific PS solutions (A, B, C, D) with different structures of timelike circular orbits (TCOs), and investigates the placement of the accretion disk in these regions. The results show that the lensing images of these PSs can closely resemble those of BHs, particularly when the disk emission profile is cutoff at the maximum angular velocity. The paper also discusses the inclusion of gravitational redshift effects, further enhancing the resemblance to BH images. The findings provide compelling evidence that PSs can effectively mimic the visual appearance of BHs under certain conditions, offering a new perspective on the nature of compact objects and their potential astrophysical implications.