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Abstract

To reproduce the observed spectra and light curves originated in the
neighborhood of compact objects requires accurate relativistic ray-tracing
codes. In this work, we present Skylight, a new numerical code for
general-relativistic ray tracing and radiative transfer in arbitrary space-time
geometries and coordinate systems. The code is capable of producing images,
spectra, and light curves from astrophysical models of compact objects as seen
by distant observers. We incorporate two different schemes, namely Monte Carlo
radiative transfer, integrating geodesics from the astrophysical region to
distant observers, and camera techniques with backwards integration from the
observer to the emission region. The code is validated by successfully passing
several test cases, among them: thin accretion disks and neutron star hot spot
emission.