Spherical photon orbits around Kerr-MOG black hole

Abstract: This study investigates photon orbits around Kerr-MOG black holes. The equation of photon of motion around the Kerr-MOG black hole is derived by solving the Hamilton-Jacobi equation, expressed as a sixth-order polynomial involving the inclination angle $v$, the rotation parameter $u$, and the deformation parameter $\alpha$ that characterizes modified gravity. We find that $\alpha$ constrains the rotation of the black hole, modifying its gravitational field and leading to distinct photon orbital characteristics. Numerical analysis reveals that the polar plane ($v=1$) has two effective orbits: one outside and one inside the event horizon, while the equatorial plane ($v=0$) has four effective orbits: two outside and two inside the event horizon. Moreover, we derive the exact formula for general photon orbits between the polar and equatorial planes ($0<v<1$). In the extremal case, the rotation speed significantly impacts general photon orbits. A slowly rotating extremal black hole has two general photon orbits outside the event horizon, whereas a rapidly rotating extremal black hole has only one such orbit. In the non-extremal case, a critical inclination angle $v_{cr}$ exists in the parameter space $\left(v, u, \alpha \right)$. Below $v_{cr}$, there are four general photon orbits, while above $v_{cr}$, there are two orbits. At the critical inclination angle, three solutions are found: two photon orbits outside and one inside the event horizon. Additionally, the results indicate that all orbits are radially unstable. Furthermore, by analyzing photon impact parameter, we argue that $\alpha$ influences observational properties of the black hole.