Observational strategy
The central question is not whether an object is “very compact” — both frameworks allow that — but whether measurable features discriminate between a horizon interpretation and a gravitationally frozen material configuration.
Main observational channels
1. Horizon-scale imaging
Very-long-baseline interferometry of supermassive compact objects provides direct information about the size and morphology of the central dark region and surrounding emission. The portal will compare ray-tracing predictions for frozar configurations with black-hole metrics and with observational uncertainties.
2. Accretion and high-energy emission
X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei and transient accretion events constrain how matter behaves near an ultra-compact object. Particular attention will be given to the energetic and timing consequences of a highly redshifted surface.
3. Gravitational waves
Compact-object mergers probe the strong-field two-body problem. The Frozar program will examine inspiral phasing, the final approach, ringdown and possible signatures of non-standard near-surface boundary conditions.
4. Stellar dynamics
Orbits of stars and gas around galactic nuclei constrain mass, compactness and multipole structure, providing an independent test of the external gravitational field.
Current status
Existing observations establish the presence of extremely compact massive objects and are broadly consistent with relativistic compact-object models. They do not, by themselves, settle every question about the physical interpretation of the deepest strong-field region. The Frozar project therefore focuses on identifying observables for which competing models make quantitatively different predictions.
Planned observation files
- M87*: image morphology, shadow size and time variability.
- Sgr A*: imaging, flares and stellar-orbit constraints.
- Stellar-mass compact objects: accretion, bursts and surface-emission limits.
- Gravitational-wave events: inspiral, ringdown and post-merger searches.