Shadows, Quasinormal Modes, and Optical Appearances of Black Holes in Horndeski Theory

In this study, we investigate the dynamics of photons in black hole (BH) spacetimes within the framework of Horndeski theory, focusing on quasinormal modes (QNMs) and the optical appearances of BHs surrounded by thin accretion disks. We analyze photon motion, derive the effective potential and photon sphere radius, and calculate QNMs using the WKB method and the eikonal limit. Using Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations of M 87^* and Sgr A^*, we constrain the parameter -0.46 γ 0.31 within a 1σ confidence interval, providing limits on Horndeski gravity. Additionally, we establish the frequency ranges of the fundamental mode for M 87^* and Sgr A^* as 2.4 × 10⁻⁶ Hz f 2.7 × 10⁻⁶ Hz and 3.6 × 10⁻³ Hz f 4.1 × 10⁻³ Hz, respectively. We further explore the optical appearances of these BHs, highlighting the dependence on emission characteristics and demonstrating that the current EHT resolution primarily captures direct emission. This work advances our understanding of BH shadows and constrains Horndeski gravity.