Critical Behavior of Photon Rings in Kerr-Bertotti-Robinson Spacetime

Abstract: In this work, we investigate the critical behavior of photon rings in the Kerr-Bertotti-Robinson spacetime, describing a rotating black hole immersed in a background magnetic field. We analyze the radial and angular motions of photons under the small magnetic field approximation. Focusing on unstable spherical orbits, we determine three key parameters, $γ$, $δ$, and $τ$, which characterize radial compression, azimuthal advancement, and time delay. We then examine how these parameters depend on the black hole spin, magnetic field strength, and observer inclination for both on-axis and off-axis observers, and we further analyze the properties of higher-order images through near-critical lens equations. The results show that the magnetic field modifies the geodesic structure, and leads to observable changes in the fine structure of photon rings, providing a useful framework for probing magnetized black hole environments.