arXiv subjects

Charles R. Evans

Publications and source records attributed to Charles R. Evans.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Encounter between an extended hyperelastic body and a Schwarzschild black hole with quadrupole-order effects

We model the general relativistic interaction of a small hyperelastic sphere with a Schwarzschild black hole as it follows an initially marginally-bound orbit through a close encounter. While the interaction reveals effects that are encoded by the Mathisson-Papapetrou-Dixon (MPD) multipolar equations through quadrupole order, the calculation is made using an independent general relativistic finite element scheme that we described earlier (Phys.~Rev.~D 108(8):084020, October 2023). The finite element calculation is done in Schwarzschild coordinates, following a large and scalable number of mass elements in interaction with each other through elastic forces derived from a potential energy function and with the spacetime geometry. After the fact, we analyze the dynamics using a local Fermi coordinate system, computing (1) the deviation of the center of mass of the body relative to the initial marginally-bound orbit, (2) changes in orbital and spin angular momenta, and (3) the decrease in orbital energy and accompanying deposition of energy into internal elastic dynamics. The interaction leads to the capture of the small body into a highly eccentric orbit ($e \simeq 0.99998$ in a sample calculation).

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arXiv2025

Post-Newtonian expansion of fluxes from a scalar charge on an inclined-spherical orbit about a Kerr black hole

Efforts are underway to accurately model extreme-mass-ratio inspirals for binaries with a spinning (Kerr) primary. At lowest order the adiabatic evolution depends on the radiation fluxes. Fluxes and other self-force quantities can be expanded analytically in post-Newtionian (PN) series allowing the early evolutionary phase to be understood. When it comes to more complicated background geodesic orbits, it proves useful to use the scalar field model problem to guide development and testing of techniques. In this paper, we present analytical expressions for the scalar fluxes from a scalar point-charge in inclined-spherical orbit about a Kerr black hole up to 12PN relative order, with expressions that are exact in terms of the inclination parameter $x$ and black hole spin $a$. The expressions are constructed using the Mano, Suzuki, and Takasugi method of solving the scalar wave equation in a Kerr background. We compare the numerical evaluation of these flux expressions to full numerical ($s=0$) Teukolsky code results, examining their degree of utility as the strong-field region is approached.

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arXiv2025

Post-Newtonian expansion of gravitational energy and angular momentum fluxes: inclined spherical orbits about a Kerr black hole

We present analytical expressions for the fluxes of energy and angular momentum from a point mass on an inclined spherical orbit about a Kerr black hole. The expressions are obtained using the method of Mano, Suzuki and Takasugi to construct analytical solutions of the Teukolsky equation, and are given as post-Newtonian expansions valid through 12PN, with arbitrary values for the inclination parameter $x$ and black hole spin $a$. We characterize the structure of the PN expansions in terms of their dependence on $x$ and $a$, and we validate our results against numerical calculations.

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arXiv2023

Extended body dynamics in general relativity: hyperelastic models

We present a numerical framework for modeling extended hyperelastic bodies based on a Lagrangian formulation of general relativistic elasticity theory. We use finite element methods to discretize the body, then use the semi--discrete action to derive ordinary differential equations of motion for the discrete nodes. The nodes are evolved in time using fourth--order Runge--Kutta. We validate our code against the normal modes of oscillation of a hyperelastic sphere, which are known analytically in the limit of small (linear), slow (Newtonian) oscillations. The algorithm displays second order convergence. This numerical framework can be used to obtain the orbital motion and internal dynamics of a hyperelastic body of any shape, for any spacetime metric, and for varying hyperelastic energy models.

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arXiv2023

Tidal heating and torquing of the primary black hole in eccentric-orbit, non-spinning extreme-mass-ratio inspirals to 22PN order

We calculate the high-order post-Newtonian (PN) expansion of the energy and angular momentum fluxes onto the horizon of a nonspinning black hole primary in eccentric-orbit extreme-mass-ratio inspirals. The first-order black hole perturbation theory calculation uses \textsc{Mathematica} and makes an analytic expansion of the Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli functions using the Mano-Suzuki-Takasugi formalism. The horizon absorption, or tidal heating and torquing, is calculated to 18PN relative to the leading horizon flux (i.e., 22PN order relative to the leading quadrupole flux at infinity). Each PN term is a function of eccentricity $e$ and is calculated as a series to $e^{10}$. A second expansion, to 10PN horizon-relative order (or 14PN relative to the flux at infinity), is computed deeper in eccentricity to $e^{20}$. A number of resummed closed-form functions are found for the low PN terms in the series. Using a separate Teukolsky perturbation code, numerical comparisons are made to test how accurate the PN expansion is when extended to a close $p=10$ orbit. We find that the horizon absorption expansion is not as convergent as a previously computed infinity-side flux expansion. However, given that the horizon absorption is suppressed by 4PN, useful results can be obtained even with an orbit as tight as this for $e \le 1/2$. Combining the present results with our earlier expansion of the fluxes to infinity makes the knowledge of the total dissipation known to 19PN for eccentric-orbit nonspinning EMRIs.

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arXiv2022

Post-Newtonian expansion of the spin-precession invariant for eccentric-orbit non-spinning extreme-mass-ratio inspirals to 9PN and $e^{16}$

We calculate the eccentricity dependence of the high-order post-Newtonian (PN) expansion of the spin-precession invariant $ψ$ for eccentric-orbit extreme-mass-ratio inspirals with a Schwarzschild primary. The series is calculated in first-order black hole perturbation theory through direct analytic expansion of solutions in the Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli formalism, using a code written in \textsc{Mathematica}. Modes with small values of $l$ are found via the Mano-Suzuki-Takasugi (MST) analytic function expansion formalism for solutions to the Regge-Wheeler equation. Large-$l$ solutions are found by applying a PN expansion ansatz to the Regge-Wheeler equation. Previous work has given $ψ$ to 9.5PN order and to order $e^2$ (i.e., the near circular orbit limit). We calculate the expansion to 9PN but to $e^{16}$ in eccentricity. It proves possible to find a few terms that have closed-form expressions, all of which are associated with logarithmic terms in the PN expansion. We also compare the numerical evaluation of our PN expansion to prior numerical calculations of $ψ$ in close orbits to assess its radius of convergence. We find that the series is not as rapidly convergent as the one for the redshift invariant at $r \simeq 10M$ but still yielding $\sim 1\%$ accuracy for eccentricities $e \lesssim 0.25$.

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arXiv2022

High-order post-Newtonian expansion of the redshift invariant for eccentric-orbit non-spinning extreme-mass-ratio inspirals

We calculate the eccentricity dependence of the high-order post-Newtonian (PN) series for the generalized redshift invariant $\langle u^t \rangle_τ$ for eccentric-orbit extreme-mass-ratio inspirals on a Schwarzschild background. These results are calculated within first-order black hole perturbation theory (BHPT) using Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli (RWZ) gauge. Our \textsc{Mathematica} code is based on a familiar procedure, using PN expansion of the Mano-Suzuki-Takasugi (MST) analytic function formalism for $l$ modes up to a certain maximum and then using a direct general-$l$ PN expansion of the RWZ equation for arbitrarily high $l$. We calculate dual expansions in PN order and in powers of eccentricity, reaching 10PN relative order and $e^{20}$. Detailed knowledge of the eccentricity expansion at each PN order allows us to find within the eccentricity dependence numerous closed-form expressions and multiple infinite series with known coefficients. We find leading logarithm sequences in the PN expansion of the redshift invariant that reflect a similar behavior in the PN expansion of the energy flux to infinity. A set of flux terms and special functions that appear in the energy flux, like the Peters-Mathews flux itself, are shown to reappear in the redshift PN expansion.

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arXiv2021

Resonant self-force effects in extreme-mass-ratio binaries: A scalar model

Extreme-mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs), compact binaries with small mass ratios $ε\ll 1$, will be important sources for low-frequency gravitational wave detectors. Almost all EMRIs will evolve through important transient orbital $rθ$ resonances, which will enhance or diminish their gravitational wave flux, thereby affecting the phase evolution of the waveforms at $O(ε^{1/2})$ relative to leading order. While modeling the local gravitational self-force (GSF) during resonances is essential for generating accurate EMRI waveforms, so far the full GSF has not been calculated for an $rθ$-resonant orbit owing to computational demands of the problem. As a first step we employ a simpler model, calculating the scalar self-force (SSF) along $rθ$-resonant geodesics in Kerr spacetime. We demonstrate two ways of calculating the $rθ$-resonant SSF (and likely GSF), with one method leaving the radial and polar motions initially independent as if the geodesic is nonresonant. We illustrate results by calculating the SSF along geodesics defined by three $rθ$-resonant ratios (1:3, 1:2, 2:3). We show how the SSF and averaged evolution of the orbital constants vary with the initial phase at which an EMRI enters resonance. We then use our SSF data to test a previously proposed integrability conjecture, which argues that conservative effects vanish at adiabatic order during resonances. We find prominent contributions from the conservative SSF to the secular evolution of the Carter constant, $\langle \dot{\mathcal{Q}}\rangle$, but these nonvanishing contributions are on the order of, or less than, the estimated uncertainties of our self-force results. The uncertainties come from residual, incomplete removal of the singular field in the regularization process. Higher order regularization parameters, once available, will allow definitive tests of the integrability conjecture.

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arXiv2020

Eccentric-orbit extreme-mass-ratio-inspiral radiation II: 1PN correction to leading-logarithm and subleading-logarithm flux sequences and the entire perturbative 4PN flux

In a recent paper we showed that for eccentric-orbit extreme-mass-ratio inspirals the analytic forms of the leading-logarithm energy and angular momentum post-Newtonian (PN) flux terms (radiated to infinity) can, to arbitrary PN order, be determined by sums over the Fourier spectrum of the Newtonian quadrupole moment. We further showed that an essential part of the eccentricity dependence of the related subleading-logarithm PN sequences, at lowest order in the symmetric mass ratio $ν$, stems as well from the Newtonian quadrupole moment. Once that part is factored out, the remaining eccentricity dependence is more easily determined by black hole perturbation theory. In this paper we show how the sequences that are the 1PN corrections to the entire leading-logarithm series, namely terms that appear at PN orders $x^{3k+1} \log^k(x)$ and $x^{3k+5/2} \log^k(x)$ (for PN compactness parameter $x$ and integers $k\ge 0$), at lowest order in $ν$, are determined by the Fourier spectra of the Newtonian mass octupole, Newtonian current quadrupole, and 1PN part of the mass quadrupole moments. We also develop a conjectured (but plausible) form for 1PN correction to the leading logs at second order in $ν$. Further, in analogy to the first paper, we show that these same source multipole moments also yield nontrivial parts of the 1PN correction to the subleading-logarithm series, and that the remaining eccentricity dependence (at lowest order in $ν$) can then more easily be determined using black hole perturbation theory. We use this method to determine the entire analytic eccentricity dependence of the perturbative (i.e., lowest order in $ν$) 4PN non-log terms, $\mathcal{R}_4(e_t)$ and $\mathcal{Z}_4(e_t)$, for energy and angular momentum respectively.

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arXiv2020

Determination of new coefficients in the angular momentum and energy fluxes at infinity to 9PN for eccentric Schwarzschild extreme-mass-ratio inspirals using mode-by-mode fitting

We present an extension of work in an earlier paper showing high precision comparisons between black hole perturbation theory and post-Newtonian (PN) theory in their region of overlapping validity for bound, eccentric-orbit, Schwarzschild extreme-mass-ratio inspirals. As before we apply a numerical fitting scheme to extract eccentricity coefficients in the PN expansion of the gravitational wave fluxes, which are then converted to exact analytic form using an integer-relation algorithm. In this work, however, we fit to individual $lmn$ modes to exploit simplifying factorizations that lie therein. Since the previous paper focused solely on the energy flux, here we concentrate initially on analyzing the angular momentum flux to infinity. A first step involves finding convenient forms for hereditary contributions to the flux at low-PN order, analogous to similar terms worked out previously for the energy flux. We then apply the upgraded techniques to find new PN terms through 9PN order and (at many PN orders) to $e^{30}$ in the power series in eccentricity. With the new approach applied to angular momentum fluxes, we return to the energy fluxes at infinity to extend those previous results. Like before, the underlying method uses a \textsc{Mathematica} code based on use of the Mano-Suzuki-Takasugi (MST) function expansion formalism to represent gravitational perturbations and spectral source integration (SSI) to find numerical results at arbitrarily high precision.

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arXiv2019

Repeated faint quasinormal bursts in extreme-mass-ratio inspiral waveforms: Evidence from frequency-domain scalar self-force calculations on generic Kerr orbits

We report development of a code to calculate the scalar self-force on a scalar-charged particle moving on generic bound orbits in the Kerr spacetime. The scalar self-force model allows rapid development of computational techniques relevant to generic gravitational extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs). Our frequency-domain calculations are made with arbitrary numerical precision code written in \textsc{Mathematica}. We extend spectral source integration techniques to the Kerr spacetime, increasing computational efficiency. We model orbits with nearly arbitrary inclinations $0\leqι<π/2$ and eccentricities up to $e \lesssim 0.8$. This effort extends earlier work by Warburton and Barack where motion was restricted to the equatorial plane or to inclined spherical orbits. Consistent with a recent discovery by Thornburg and Wardell \cite{ThorWard17} in time-domain calculations, we observe self-force oscillations during the radially-outbound portion of highly eccentric orbits around a rapidly rotating black hole. As noted previously, these oscillations reflect coupling into the self-force by quasinormal modes excited during pericenter passage. Our results confirm the effect with a frequency-domain code. \emph{More importantly, we find that quasinormal bursts (QNBs) appear directly in the waveform following each periastron passage.} These faint bursts are shown to be a superposition of the least-damped overtone (i.e., fundamental) of at least four ($l=m \le 4$) quasinormal modes. Our results suggest that QNBs should appear in gravitational waveforms, and thus provide a gauge-invariant signal. Potentially observable in high signal-to-noise ratio EMRIs, QNBs would provide high-frequency components to the parameter estimation problem that would complement low-frequency elements of the waveform.

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arXiv2019

Eccentric-orbit EMRI radiation: Analytic forms of leading-logarithm and subleading-logarithm flux terms at high PN orders

We present new results on the analytic eccentricity dependence of several sequences of gravitational wave flux terms at high post-Newtonian (PN) order for extreme-mass-ratio inspirals. These sequences are the leading logarithms, which appear at PN orders $x^{3k} \log^k(x)$ and $x^{3k+3/2} \log^k(x)$ for integers $k\ge 0$ ($x$ a PN compactness parameter), and the subleading logarithms, which appear at orders $x^{3k} \log^{k-1}(x)$ and $x^{3k+3/2} \log^{k-1}(x)$ ($k\ge 1$), in both the energy and angular momentum radiated to infinity. For the energy flux leading logarithms, we show that to arbitrarily high PN order their eccentricity dependence is determined by particular sums over the function $g(n,e_t)$, derived from the Newtonian mass quadrupole moment, that normally gives the spectral content of the Peters-Mathews flux as a function of radial harmonic $n$. An analogous power spectrum $\tilde{g}(n,e_t)$ determines the leading logarithms of the angular momentum flux. For subleading logs, the quadrupole power spectra are again shown to play a role, providing a distinguishable part of the eccentricity dependence of these flux terms to high PN order. With the quadrupole contribution understood, the remaining analytic eccentricity dependence of the subleading logs can in principle be determined more easily using black hole perturbation theory. We show this procedure in action, deriving the complete analytic structure of the $x^6 \log(x)$ subleading-log term and an analytic expansion of the $x^{9/2}$ subleading log to high order in a power series in eccentricity. We discuss how these methods might be extended to other sequences of terms in the PN expansion involving logarithms.

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arXiv2018

Trumpet Initial Data for Boosted Black Holes

We describe a procedure for constructing initial data for boosted black holes in the moving-punctures approach to numerical relativity that endows the initial time slice from the outset with trumpet geometry within the black hole interiors. We then demonstrate the procedure in numerical simulations using an evolution code from the Einstein Toolkit that employs 1+log slicing. The Lorentz boost of a single black hole can be precisely specified and multiple, widely separated black holes can be treated approximately by superposition of single hole data. There is room within the scheme for later improvement to re-solve (iterate) the constraint equations in the multiple black hole case. The approach is shown to yield an initial trumpet slice for one black hole that is close to, and rapidly settles to, a stationary trumpet geometry. Initial data in this new approach is shown to contain initial transient (or "junk") radiation that is suppressed by as much as two orders of magnitude relative to that in comparable Bowen-York initial data.

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arXiv2017

Evolution of small-mass-ratio binaries with a spinning secondary

We calculate the evolution and gravitational-wave emission of a spinning compact object inspiraling into a substantially more massive (non-rotating) black hole. We extend our previous model for a non-spinning binary [Phys. Rev. D 93, 064024] to include the Mathisson-Papapetrou-Dixon spin-curvature force. For spin-aligned binaries we calculate the dephasing of the inspiral and associated waveforms relative to models that do not include spin-curvature effects. We find this dephasing can be either positive or negative depending on the initial separation of the binary. For binaries in which the spin and orbital angular momentum are not parallel, the orbital plane precesses and we use a more general osculating element prescription to compute inspirals.

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arXiv2016

Mirror Reflections of a Black Hole

An exact correspondence between a black hole and an accelerating mirror is demonstrated. It is shown that for a massless minimally coupled scalar field the same Bogolubov coefficients connecting the "in" and "out" states occur for a (1+1)D flat spacetime with a particular perfectly reflecting accelerating boundary trajectory and a (1+1)D curved spacetime in which a null shell collapses to form a black hole. Generalization of the latter to the (3+1)D case is discussed. The spectral dynamics is computed in both (1+1)-dimensional spacetimes along with the energy flux in the spacetime with a mirror. It is shown that the approach to equilibrium is monotonic, asymmetric in terms of the rate, and there is a specific time which characterizes the system when it is the most out-of-equilibrium.

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arXiv2016

Eccentric-orbit EMRI gravitational wave energy fluxes to 7PN order

We present new results through 7PN order on the energy flux from eccentric extreme-mass-ratio binaries. The black hole perturbation calculations are made at very high accuracy (200 decimal places) using a Mathematica code based on the Mano-Suzuki-Takasugi (MST) analytic function expansion formalism. All published coefficients in the expansion through 3PN order are confirmed and new analytic and numeric terms are found to high order in $e^2$ at orders between 3.5PN and 7PN. We also show original work in finding (nearly) arbitrarily accurate expansions for hereditary terms at 1.5PN, 2.5PN, and 3PN orders. We fit to a model where at each PN order an eccentricity singular function is factored out, improving substantially the fit even as $e \to 1$.

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arXiv2016

Highly eccentric inspirals into a black hole

We model the inspiral of a compact stellar-mass object into a massive nonrotating black hole including all dissipative and conservative first-order-in-the-mass-ratio effects on the orbital motion. The techniques we develop allow inspirals with initial eccentricities as high as $e\sim0.8$ and initial separations as large as $p\sim 50$ to be evolved through many thousands of orbits up to the onset of the plunge into the black hole. The inspiral is computed using an osculating elements scheme driven by a hybridized self-force model, which combines Lorenz-gauge self-force results with highly accurate flux data from a Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli code. The high accuracy of our hybrid self-force model allows the orbital phase of the inspirals to be tracked to within $\sim0.1$ radians or better. The difference between self-force models and inspirals computed in the radiative approximation is quantified.

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arXiv2016

Black Hole - Moving Mirror II: Particle Creation

There is an exact correspondence between the simplest solution to Einstein's equations describing the formation of a black hole and a particular moving mirror trajectory. In both cases the Bogolubov coefficients in 1+1 dimensions are identical and can be computed analytically. Particle creation is investigated by using wave packets. The entire particle creation history is computed, incorporating the early-time non-thermal emission due to the formation of the black hole (or the early-time acceleration of the moving mirror) and the evolution to a Planckian spectrum.

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