arXiv subjects

Eric Poisson

Publications and source records attributed to Eric Poisson.

95 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv1995

Head-on collision of compact objects in general relativity: Comparison of post-Newtonian and perturbation approaches

The gravitational-wave energy flux produced during the head-on infall and collision of two compact objects is calculated using two approaches: (i) a post-Newtonian method, carried to second post-Newtonian order beyond the quadrupole formula, valid for systems of arbitrary masses; and (ii) a black-hole perturbation method, valid for a test-body falling radially toward a black hole. In the test-body case, the methods are compared. The post-Newtonian method is shown to converge to the ``exact'' perturbation result more slowly than expected {\it a priori\/}. A surprisingly good approximation to the energy radiated during the infall phase, as calculated by perturbation theory, is found to be given by a Newtonian, or quadrupole, approximation combined with the exact test-body equations of motion in the Schwarzschild spacetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1995

Gravitational waves from inspiralling compact binaries: Parameter estimation using second-post-Newtonian waveforms

The parameters of inspiralling compact binaries can be estimated using matched filtering of gravitational-waveform templates against the output of laser-interferometric gravitational-wave detectors. Using a recently calculated formula, accurate to second post-Newtonian (2PN) order [order $(v/c)^4$, where $v$ is the orbital velocity], for the frequency sweep ($dF/dt$) induced by gravitational radiation damping, we study the statistical errors in the determination of such source parameters as the ``chirp mass'' $\cal M$, reduced mass $μ$, and spin parameters $β$ and $σ$ (related to spin-orbit and spin-spin effects, respectively). We find that previous results using template phasing accurate to 1.5PN order actually underestimated the errors in $\cal M$, $μ$, and $β$. For two inspiralling neutron stars, the measurement errors increase by less than 16 percent.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1994

Gravitational radiation from a particle in circular orbit around a black hole. V. Black-hole absorption and tail corrections

A particle of mass $μ$ moves on a circular orbit of a nonrotating black hole of mass $M$. Under the restrictions $μ/M \ll 1$ and $v \ll 1$, where $v$ is the orbital velocity, we consider the gravitational waves emitted by such a binary system. We calculate $\dot{E}$, the rate at which the gravitational waves remove energy from the system. The total energy loss is given by $\dot{E} = \dot{E}^\infty + \dot{E}^H$, where $\dot{E}^\infty$ denotes that part of the gravitational-wave energy which is carried off to infinity, while $\dot{E}^H$ denotes the part which is absorbed by the black hole. We show that the black-hole absorption is a small effect: $\dot{E}^H/\dot{E} \simeq v^8$. We also compare the wave generation formalism which derives from perturbation theory to the post-Newtonian formalism of Blanchet and Damour. Among other things we consider the corrections to the asymptotic gravitational-wave field which are due to wave-propagation (tail) effects.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1994

Classical stability and quantum instability of black-hole Cauchy horizons

For a certain region of the parameter space $\{M,e,Λ\}$, the Cauchy horizon of a (charged) black hole residing in de Sitter space is classically stable to gravitational perturbations. This implies that, when left to its own devices, classical theory is unable to retain full predictive power: the evolution of physical fields beyond the Cauchy horizon is not uniquely determined by the initial conditions. In this paper we argue that the Cauchy horizon of a Reissner-Nordström-de Sitter black hole must always be unstable quantum mechanically.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1992

The Last Three Minutes: Issues in Gravitational Wave Measurements of Coalescing Compact Binaries

Gravitational-wave interferometers are expected to monitor the last three minutes of inspiral and final coalescence of neutron star and black hole binaries at distances approaching cosmological, where the event rate may be many per year. Because the binary's accumulated orbital phase can be measured to a fractional accuracy $\ll 10^{-3}$ and relativistic effects are large, the waveforms will be far more complex, carry more information, and be far harder to model theoretically than has been expected. Theorists must begin now to lay a foundation for extracting the waves' information.

astro-ph↗