An Interactive Black Hole Visualisation in OpenSpace

Sammanfattning

Black holes are among the most bewildering and complex phenomena in our universe. Consequently, most people have a limited understanding of the physics or even the visual characteristics of black holes. This thesis explores developing and implementing a real-time, interactive black hole visualisation within OpenSpace, an open-source platform for astronomical data representation. The project aims to bridge the gap between scientific accuracy and user engagement by integrating GPU-accelerated techniques and custom interpolation methods to simulate the visual and gravitational effects of both Schwarzschild (non-rotating) and Kerr (rotating) black holes. The research investigates how these black hole models affect rendering fidelity and system responsiveness. Results show that the Schwarzschild model offers smoother interactivity due to its lower computational complexity. In contrast, the Kerr model captures more intricate relativistic effects, such as frame-dragging and asymmetrical lensing, albeit at the cost of performance. This trade-off between physical realism and real-time usability highlights a core challenge in scientific visualisation: faithfully representing extreme physical phenomena without overwhelming computational resources or compromising user experience. Additionally, a 2D layered star map was implemented to enhance immersion by introducing parallax effects that improve depth perception and scale illusion. This technique effectively situates the viewer within a vast and dynamic cosmos, reinforcing the sense of spatial presence and enhancing cognitive immersion. While current limitations include the lack of dynamic interactions between black holes and 3D scene elements, the system’s modular design allows for future expansion. Proposed improvements include adaptive resolution techniques for handling high-complexity metrics and better integrating astrophysical datasets.