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arXiv · 1512.01556

Analytic self-force calculations in the post-Newtonian regime: eccentric orbits on a Schwarzschild background

Seth Hopper·Chris Kavanagh·Adrian C. Ottewill
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Abstract

We present a method for solving the first-order field equations in a post-Newtonian (PN) expansion. Our calculations generalize work of Bini and Damour and subsequently Kavanagh et al., to consider eccentric orbits on a Schwarzschild background. We derive expressions for the retarded metric perturbation at the location of the particle for all $\ell$-modes. We find that, despite first appearances, the Regge-Wheeler gauge metric perturbation is $C^0$ at the particle for all $\ell$. As a first use of our solutions, we compute the gauge-invariant quantity $\langle U \rangle$ through 4PN while simultaneously expanding in eccentricity through $e^{10}$. By anticipating the $e\to 1$ singular behavior at each PN order, we greatly improve the accuracy of our results for large $e$. We use $\langle U \rangle$ to find 4PN contributions to the effective one body potential $\hat Q$ through $e^{10}$ and at linear order in the mass-ratio.

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Seth Hopper, Chris Kavanagh, Adrian C. Ottewill. 2015-12-16. Analytic self-force calculations in the post-Newtonian regime: eccentric orbits on a Schwarzschild background. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.93.044010

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