Objective Gravity is successfully described by Einstein’s theory of general relativity (GR), governing the structure of our entire universe. Yet it remains the least understood of all forces in nature, resisting unification with quantum physics. One of the most fundamental predictions of GR are black holes (BHs). Their defining feature is the event horizon, the surface that light cannot escape and where time and space exchange their nature. However, while there are many convincing BH candidates in the universe, there is no experimental proof for the existence of an event horizon yet. So, does GR really hold in its most extreme limit? Do BHs exist or are alternatives needed? Here we propose to build a Black Hole Camera that for the first time will take an actual picture of a BH and image the shadow of its event horizon. We will do this by providing the equipment and software needed to turn a network of existing mm-wave radio telescopes into a global interferometer. This virtual telescope, when supplemented with the new Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA), has the power to finally resolve the supermassive BH in the centre of our Milky Way – the best-measured BH candidate we know of. In order to compare the image with the theoretical predictions we will need to perform numerical modelling and ray tracing in GR and alternative theories. In addition, we will need to determine accurately the two basic parameters of the BH: its mass and spin. This will become possible by precisely measuring orbits of stars with optical interferometry on ESO’s VLTI. Moreover, our equipment at ALMA will allow for the first detection of pulsars around the BH. Already a single pulsar will independently determine the BH’s mass to one part in a million and its spin to a few per cent. This unique combination will not only produce the first-ever image of a BH, but also turn our Galactic Centre into a fundamental-physics laboratory to measure the fabric of space and time with unprecedented precision. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwarenatural sciencesphysical sciencesrelativistic mechanicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyobservational astronomyradio astronomynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysicsblack holes Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-2013-SyG - ERC Synergy Grant Call for proposal ERC-2013-SyG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SyG - Synergy grant Coordinator STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEIT EU contribution € 5 957 754,00 Address Houtlaan 4 6525 XZ Nijmegen Netherlands See on map Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Susanna Bicknell (Ms.) Principal investigator Michael Kramer (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (10) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEIT Netherlands EU contribution € 5 957 754,00 Address Houtlaan 4 6525 XZ Nijmegen See on map Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Susanna Bicknell (Ms.) Principal investigator Michael Kramer (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data JOINT INSTITUTE FOR V.L.B.I. IN EUROPE (J.I.V.E.) Participation ended Netherlands EU contribution No data Address Oude hoogeveensedijk 4 7991 PD Dwingeloo See on map Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Aukelien Van Den Poll (Mrs.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data JOINT INSTITUTE FOR VERY LONG BASELINE INTERFEROMETRY AS A EUROPEAN RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE CONSORTIUM (JIV-ERIC) Netherlands EU contribution € 366 400,00 Address Oude hoogeveensedijk 4 7991 PD Dwingeloo See on map Region Noord-Nederland Drenthe Zuidwest-Drenthe Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Aukelien Van Den Poll (Mrs.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Germany EU contribution € 3 559 095,55 Address Hofgartenstrasse 8 80539 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Karl-Heinz Böckelmann (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY - ESO EUROPEAN ORGANISATION FOR ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Germany EU contribution € 35 179,25 Address Karl-schwarzschild-strasse 2 85748 Garching See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Landkreis Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Eniko Patkos (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE-UNIVERSITAET FRANKFURT AM MAIN Germany EU contribution € 2 807 915,20 Address Theodor w adorno platz 1 60323 Frankfurt am main See on map Region Hessen Darmstadt Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Kristina Wege (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data INSTITUT DE RADIO ASTRONOMIE MILLIMETRIQUE SOCIETE CIVILE France EU contribution € 920 000,00 Address Rue de la piscine 300 domaine universitaire 38400 Saint martin d'heres See on map Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Isère Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Laurent Palaric (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SKA ORGANISATION United Kingdom EU contribution € 12 000,00 Address Jodrell bank observatory lower withington SK11 9DL Macclesfield See on map Region North West (England) Cheshire Cheshire East Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Colin Greenwood (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA Italy EU contribution € 146 400,00 Address Viale del parco mellini 84 00136 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Tiziana Venturi (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data OBSERVATOIRE DE PARIS France EU contribution € 171 000,00 Address Avenue de l observatoire 61 75014 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Hélène Veillard (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data