Juergen Ehlers - and the Fate of the Black-Hole Spacetimes

TL;DR

This paper reflects on Juergen Ehlers' scientific influence and traces the historical development of astrophysical black holes over the past five decades, highlighting personal exchanges and the evolution of black hole research.

Contribution

It provides a personal account of Juergen Ehlers' scientific legacy and offers a historical overview of black hole research from 1969 to the present.

Findings

Personal insights into Juergen Ehlers' scientific contributions

Historical overview of black hole research development

Continued evolution of astrophysical black hole studies

Abstract

This article -- written in honour of Juergen Ehlers -- consists of two different, though interlocking parts: Section 1 describes my 54 years of perpetual experiences and exchanges with him, both science and episodes, whilst section 2 describes the history of astrophysical black holes, which evolved during the same epoque though largely independently, with its activity centers in other places of the globe, and has by no means terminated.