arXiv subjects

Alexandre Le Tiec

Publications and source records attributed to Alexandre Le Tiec.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Gravitational self-torque and spin precession in compact binaries

We calculate the effect of self-interaction on the "geodetic" spin precession of a compact body in a strong-field orbit around a black hole. Specifically, we consider the spin precession angle $ψ$ per radian of orbital revolution for a particle carrying mass $μ$ and spin $s \ll (G/c) μ^2$ in a circular orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole of mass $M \gg μ$. We compute $ψ$ through $O(μ/M)$ in perturbation theory, i.e, including the correction $δψ$ (obtained numerically) due to the torque exerted by the conservative piece of the gravitational self-field. Comparison with a post-Newtonian (PN) expression for $δψ$, derived here through 3PN order, shows good agreement but also reveals strong-field features which are not captured by the latter approximation. Our results can inform semi-analytical models of the strong-field dynamics in astrophysical binaries, important for ongoing and future gravitational-wave searches.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Dipolar Dark Matter and Cosmology

The phenomenology of the modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) can be recovered from a mechanism of "gravitational polarization" of some dipolar medium playing the role of dark matter. We review a relativistic model of dipolar dark matter (DDM) within standard general relativity to describe, at some effective level, a fluid polarizable in a gravitational field. At first order in cosmological perturbation theory, this model is equivalent to the concordance cosmological scenario, or Lambda-cold dark matter (CDM) model. At second order, however, the internal energy of DDM modifies the curvature perturbation generated by CDM. This correction, which depends quadratically on the dipole, induces a new type of non-Gaussianity in the bispectrum of the curvature perturbation with respect to standard CDM. Recent observations by the Planck satellite impose stringent constraints on the primordial value of the dipole field.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Periastron Advance in Spinning Black Hole Binaries: Gravitational Self-Force from Numerical Relativity

We study the general relativistic periastron advance in spinning black hole binaries on quasi-circular orbits, with spins aligned or anti-aligned with the orbital angular momentum, using numerical-relativity simulations, the post-Newtonian approximation, and black hole perturbation theory. By imposing a symmetry by exchange of the bodies' labels, we devise an improved version of the perturbative result, and use it as the leading term of a new type of expansion in powers of the symmetric mass ratio. This allows us to measure, for the first time, the gravitational self-force effect on the periastron advance of a non-spinning particle orbiting a Kerr black hole of mass M and spin S = -0.5 M^2, down to separations of order 9M. Comparing the predictions of our improved perturbative expansion with the exact results from numerical simulations of equal-mass and equal-spin binaries, we find a remarkable agreement over a wide range of spins and orbital separations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Thermodynamics of a Black Hole with Moon

For a Kerr black hole perturbed by a particle on the "corotating" circular orbit (angular velocity equal to that of the unperturbed event horizon), the black hole remains in equilibrium in the sense that the perturbed event horizon is a Killing horizon of the helical Killing field. The associated surface gravity is constant over the horizon and should correspond to the physical Hawking temperature. We calculate the perturbation in surface gravity/temperature, finding it negative: the moon has a cooling effect on the black hole. We also compute the change in horizon angular frequency, which is positive, and the change in surface area/entropy, which vanishes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Non-Gaussianity in the Cosmic Microwave Background Induced by Dipolar Dark Matter

In previous work [L. Blanchet and A. Le Tiec, Phys. Rev. D 80, 023524 (2009)], motivated by the phenomenology of dark matter at galactic scales, a model of dipolar dark matter (DDM) was introduced. At linear order in cosmological perturbations, the dynamics of the DDM was shown to be identical to that of standard cold dark matter (CDM). In this paper, the DDM model is investigated at second order in cosmological perturbation theory. We find that the internal energy of the DDM fluid modifies the curvature perturbation generated by CDM with a term quadratic in the dipole field. This correction induces a new type of non-Gaussianity in the bispectrum of the curvature perturbation with respect to standard CDM. Leaving unspecified the primordial amplitude of the dipole field, which could in principle be determined by a more fundamental description of DDM, we find that, in contrast with usual models of primordial non-Gaussianities, the non-Gaussianity induced by DDM increases with time after the radiation-matter equality on super-Hubble scales. This distinctive feature of the DDM model, as compared with standard CDM, could thus provide a specific signature in the CMB and large-scale structure probes of non-Gaussianity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

First Law of Mechanics for Black Hole Binaries with Spins

We use the canonical Hamiltonian formalism to generalize to spinning point particles the first law of mechanics established for binary systems of non-spinning point masses moving on circular orbits [Le Tiec, Blanchet, and Whiting, Phys. Rev. D 85, 064039 (2012)]. We find that the redshift observable of each particle is related in a very simple manner to the canonical Hamiltonian and, more generally, to a class of Fokker-type Hamiltonians. Our results are valid through linear order in the spin of each particle, but hold also for quadratic couplings between the spins of different particles. The knowledge of spin effects in the Hamiltonian allows us to compute spin-orbit terms in the redshift variable through 2.5PN order, for circular orbits and spins aligned or anti-aligned with the orbital angular momentum. To describe extended bodies such as black holes, we supplement the first law for spinning point-particle binaries with some "constitutive relations" that can be used for diagnosis of spin measurements in quasi-equilibrium initial data.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Spacetime Symmetries and Kepler's Third Law

The curved spacetime geometry of a system of two point masses moving on a circular orbit has a helical symmetry. We show how Kepler's third law for circular motion, and its generalization in post-Newtonian theory, can be recovered from a simple, covariant condition on the norm of the associated helical Killing vector field. This unusual derivation can be used to illustrate some concepts of prime importance in a general relativity course, including those of Killing field, covariance, coordinate dependence, and gravitational redshift.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Gravitational Self-Force Correction to the Binding Energy of Compact Binary Systems

Using the first law of binary black-hole mechanics, we compute the binding energy E and total angular momentum J of two non-spinning compact objects moving on circular orbits with frequency Omega, at leading order beyond the test-particle approximation. By minimizing E(Omega) we recover the exact frequency shift of the Schwarzschild innermost stable circular orbit induced by the conservative piece of the gravitational self-force. Comparing our results for the coordinate invariant relation E(J) to those recently obtained from numerical simulations of comparable-mass non-spinning black-hole binaries, we find a remarkably good agreement, even in the strong-field regime. Our findings confirm that the domain of validity of perturbative calculations may extend well beyond the extreme mass-ratio limit.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

The First Law of Binary Black Hole Mechanics in General Relativity and Post-Newtonian Theory

First laws of black hole mechanics, or thermodynamics, come in a variety of different forms. In this paper, from a purely post-Newtonian (PN) analysis, we obtain a first law for binary systems of point masses moving along an exactly circular orbit. Our calculation is valid through 3PN order and includes, in addition, the contributions of logarithmic terms at 4PN and 5PN orders. This first law of binary point-particle mechanics is then derived from first principles in general relativity, and analogies are drawn with the single and binary black hole cases. Some consequences of the first law are explored for PN spacetimes. As one such consequence, a simple relation between the PN binding energy of the binary system and Detweiler's redshift observable is established. Through it, we are able to determine with high precision the numerical values of some previously unknown high order PN coefficients in the circular-orbit binding energy. Finally, we propose new gauge invariant notions for the energy and angular momentum of a particle in a binary system.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

The complete non-spinning effective-one-body metric at linear order in the mass ratio

Using the main result of a companion paper, in which the binding energy of a circular-orbit non-spinning compact binary system is computed at leading-order beyond the test-particle approximation, the exact expression of the effective-one-body (EOB) metric component g^eff_tt is obtained through first order in the mass ratio. Combining these results with the recent gravitational self-force calculation of the periastron advance for circular orbits in the Schwarzschild geometry, the EOB metric component g^eff_rr is also determined at linear order in the mass ratio. These results assume that the mapping between the real and effective Hamiltonians at the second and third post-Newtonian (PN) orders holds at all PN orders. Our findings also confirm the advantage of resumming the PN dynamics around the test-particle limit if the goal is to obtain a flexible model that can smoothly connect the test-mass and equal-mass limits.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Perturbative, Post-Newtonian, and General Relativistic Dynamics of Black Hole Binaries

The orbital motion of inspiralling and coalescing black hole binaries can be investigated using a variety of approximation schemes and numerical methods within general relativity: post-Newtonian expansions, black hole perturbation theory, numerical relativity, and the effective-one-body formalism. We review two recent comparisons of the predictions from these various techniques. Both comparisons rely on the calculation of a coordinate invariant relation, in the case of non-spinning binary black holes on quasi-circular orbits. All methods are shown to agree very well in their common domain of validity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Periastron Advance in Black-Hole Binaries

The general relativistic (Mercury-type) periastron advance is calculated here for the first time with exquisite precision in full general relativity. We use accurate numerical relativity simulations of spinless black hole binaries with mass ratios 1/8 < m1/m2 < 1 and compare with the predictions of several analytic approximation schemes. We find the effective-one-body model to be remarkably accurate, and, surprisingly, so also the predictions of self-force theory [replacing m1/m2 --> m1m2/(m1+m2)^2]. Our results can inform a universal analytic model of the two-body dynamics, crucial for ongoing and future gravitational-wave searches.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

High-Accuracy Comparison between the Post-Newtonian and Self-Force Dynamics of Black-Hole Binaries

The relativistic motion of a compact binary system moving in circular orbit is investigated using the post-Newtonian (PN) approximation and the perturbative self-force (SF) formalism. A particular gauge-invariant observable quantity is computed as a function of the binary's orbital frequency. The conservative effect induced by the gravitational SF is obtained numerically with high precision, and compared to the PN prediction developed to high order. The PN calculation involves the computation of the 3PN regularized metric at the location of the particle. Its divergent self-field is regularized by means of dimensional regularization. The poles proportional to 1/(d-3) which occur within dimensional regularization at the 3PN order disappear from the final gauge-invariant result. The leading 4PN and next-to-leading 5PN conservative logarithmic contributions originating from gravitational-wave tails are also obtained. Making use of these exact PN results, some previously unknown PN coefficients are measured up to the very high 7PN order by fitting to the numerical self-force data. Using just the 2PN and new logarithmic terms, the value of the 3PN coefficient is also confirmed numerically with very high precision. The consistency of this cross-cultural comparison provides a crucial test of the very different regularization methods used in both SF and PN formalisms, and illustrates the complementarity of these approximation schemes when modelling compact binary systems.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

High-Order Post-Newtonian Fit of the Gravitational Self-Force for Circular Orbits in the Schwarzschild Geometry

We continue a previous work on the comparison between the post-Newtonian (PN) approximation and the gravitational self-force (SF) analysis of circular orbits in a Schwarzschild background. We show that the numerical SF data contain physical information corresponding to extremely high PN approximations. We find that knowing analytically determined appropriate PN parameters helps tremendously in allowing the numerical data to be used to obtain higher order PN coefficients. Using standard PN theory we compute analytically the leading 4PN and the next-to-leading 5PN logarithmic terms in the conservative part of the dynamics of a compact binary system. The numerical perturbative SF results support well the analytic PN calculations through first order in the mass ratio, and are used to accurately measure the 4PN and 5PN non-logarithmic coefficients in a particular gauge invariant observable. Furthermore we are able to give estimates of higher order contributions up to the 7PN level. We also confirm with high precision the value of the 3PN coefficient. This interplay between PN and SF efforts is important for the synthesis of template waveforms of extreme mass ratio inspirals to be analysed by the space-based gravitational wave instrument LISA. Our work will also have an impact on efforts that combine numerical results in a quantitative analytical framework so as to generate complete inspiral waveforms for the ground-based detection of gravitational waves by instruments such as LIGO and Virgo.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

Post-Newtonian and Numerical Calculations of the Gravitational Self-Force for Circular Orbits in the Schwarzschild Geometry

The problem of a compact binary system whose components move on circular orbits is addressed using two different approximation techniques in general relativity. The post-Newtonian (PN) approximation involves an expansion in powers of v/c<<1, and is most appropriate for small orbital velocities v. The perturbative self-force (SF) analysis requires an extreme mass ratio m1/m2<<1 for the components of the binary. A particular coordinate-invariant observable is determined as a function of the orbital frequency of the system using these two different approximations. The post-Newtonian calculation is pushed up to the third post-Newtonian (3PN) order. It involves the metric generated by two point particles and evaluated at the location of one of the particles. We regularize the divergent self-field of the particle by means of dimensional regularization. We show that the poles proportional to 1/(d-3) appearing in dimensional regularization at the 3PN order cancel out from the final gauge invariant observable. The 3PN analytical result, through first order in the mass ratio, and the numerical SF calculation are found to agree well. The consistency of this cross cultural comparison confirms the soundness of both approximations in describing compact binary systems. In particular, it provides an independent test of the very different regularization procedures invoked in the two approximation schemes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

The Close-Limit Approximation for Black Hole Binaries with Post-Newtonian Initial Conditions

The ringdown phase of a black hole formed from the merger of two orbiting black holes is described by means of the close-limit (CL) approximation starting from second-post-Newtonian (2PN) initial conditions. The 2PN metric of point-particle binaries is formally expanded in CL form and identified with that of a perturbed Schwarzschild black hole. The multipolar coefficients describing the even-parity (polar) and odd-parity (axial) components of the linear perturbation consistently satisfy the 2PN-accurate perturbative field equations. We use these coefficients to build initial conditions for the Regge-Wheeler and Zerilli wave equations, which we then evolve numerically. The ringdown waveform is obtained in two cases: head-on collision with zero-angular momentum, composed only of even modes, and circular orbits, for which both even and odd modes contribute. In a separate work, this formalism is applied to the study of the gravitational recoil produced during the ringdown phase of coalescing binary black holes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

Gravitational-Wave Recoil from the Ringdown Phase of Coalescing Black Hole Binaries

The gravitational recoil or "kick" of a black hole formed from the merger of two orbiting black holes, and caused by the anisotropic emission of gravitational radiation, is an astrophysically important phenomenon. We combine (i) an earlier calculation, using post-Newtonian theory, of the kick velocity accumulated up to the merger of two non-spinning black holes, (ii) a "close-limit approximation" calculation of the radiation emitted during the ringdown phase, and based on a solution of the Regge-Wheeler and Zerilli equations using initial data accurate to second post-Newtonian order. We prove that ringdown radiation produces a significant "anti-kick". Adding the contributions due to inspiral, merger and ringdown phases, our results for the net kick velocity agree with those from numerical relativity to 10-15 percent over a wide range of mass ratios, with a maximum velocity of 180 km/s at a mass ratio of 0.38.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

Dipolar Dark Matter and Dark Energy

In previous work [L. Blanchet and A. Le Tiec, Phys. Rev. D 78, 024031 (2008)], a model of dark matter and dark energy based on the concept of gravitational polarization was investigated. This model was shown to recover the concordance cosmological scenario (Lambda-CDM) at cosmological scales, and the phenomenology of the modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) at galactic scales. In this article we prove that the model can be formulated with a simple and physically meaningful matter action in general relativity. We also provide alternative derivations of the main results of the model, and some details on the variation of the action.

astro-ph.CO↗