arXiv subjects

Sam R Dolan

Publications and source records attributed to Sam R Dolan.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Adiabatic inspirals under electromagnetic radiation reaction on Kerr spacetime

A compact body in orbit about a black hole loses orbital energy and angular momentum through radiation-reaction processes, inspiralling towards the black hole until a final plunge. Here we consider a scenario with a charged compact body in which fluxes of electromagnetic radiation drive this inspiral. We calculate trajectories in the $(p,e)$ plane for inspirals in the equatorial plane of a rotating black hole within the adiabatic (orbital-averaged-dissipative) approximation. We make comparisons with a non-relativistic Keplerian approximation based on the Abraham-Lorentz force law, and with standard gravitational-wave driven scenarios. We find that EM-driven inspirals are less efficiently circularized (i.e. orbits remain more eccentric at the point of plunge) than their gravitational counterparts, and we quantify the effect of black hole spin.

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arXiv2023

Metric perturbations of Kerr spacetime in Lorenz gauge: Circular equatorial orbits

We construct the metric perturbation in Lorenz gauge for a compact body on a circular equatorial orbit of a rotating black hole (Kerr) spacetime, using a newly-developed method of separation of variables. The metric perturbation is formed from a linear sum of differential operators acting on Teukolsky mode functions, and certain auxiliary scalars, which are solutions to ordinary differential equations in the frequency domain. For radiative modes, the solution is uniquely determined by the $s=\pm2$ Weyl scalars, the $s=0$ trace, and $s=0,1$ gauge scalars whose amplitudes are determined by imposing continuity conditions on the metric perturbation at the orbital radius. The static (zero-frequency) part of the metric perturbation, which is handled separately, also includes mass and angular momentum completion pieces. The metric perturbation is validated against the independent results of a 2+1D time domain code, and we demonstrate agreement at the expected level in all components, and the absence of gauge discontinuities. In principle, the new method can be used to determine the Lorenz-gauge metric perturbation at a sufficiently high precision to enable accurate second-order self-force calculations on Kerr spacetime in future. We conclude with a discussion of extensions of the method to eccentric and non-equatorial orbits.

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arXiv2020

Quasinormal modes of massive vector fields on the Kerr spacetime

We study the spectrum of quasinormal mode frequencies for a Proca field on a rotating black hole spacetime. First, we review how the introduction of field mass modifies the spectrum in the scalar-field case, leading to evanescent modes and to quasiresonance. Next, we examine the three physical polarizations of the Proca field and their relation to the electromagnetic field modes in the massless limit. Exploiting a separation of variables, we obtain a five-term recurrence relation from an appropriate ansatz for the radial function. Gaussian elimination and the modified Lentz algorithm are applied, and the quasinormal frequencies are computed from the roots of a continued fraction. We validate our method by calculating quasibound state frequencies, which are complementary to quasinormal modes, and which can be calculated using the same method. We present a selection of results for the low-lying overtones of all three polarizations, across a range of black hole spins and field masses.

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arXiv2019

Electromagnetic fields on Kerr spacetime, Hertz potentials and Lorenz gauge

We review two procedures for constructing the vector potential of the electromagnetic field on Kerr spacetime, namely, the classic method of Cohen & Kegeles, yielding $A^\mu$ in a radiation gauge, and the newer method of Frolov et al., yielding $A^\mu$ in Lorenz gauge. We demonstrate that the vector potentials are related by straightforward gauge transformations, which we give in closed form. We obtain a new result for a separable Hertz potential $H^{\mu \nu}$ such that $A_{\text{lor}}^\mu = \nabla_\nu H^{\mu \nu}$.

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arXiv2018

Higher-order geometrical optics for electromagnetic waves on a curved spacetime

We study the geometrical-optics expansion for circularly-polarized electromagnetic waves propagating on a curved spacetime in general relativity. We show that higher-order corrections to the Faraday and stress-energy tensors may be found via a system of transport equations, in principle. At sub-leading order, the stress-energy tensor possesses terms proportional to the wavelength whose sign depends on the handedness of the circular polarization. Due to such terms, the direction of energy flow is not aligned with the gradient of the eikonal phase, in general, and the wave may carry a transverse stress.

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arXiv2018

Geometrical optics for scalar, electromagnetic and gravitational waves in curved spacetime

The geometrical-optics expansion reduces the problem of solving wave equations to one of solving transport equations along rays. Here we consider scalar, electromagnetic and gravitational waves propagating on a curved spacetime in general relativity. We show that each is governed by a wave equation with the same principal part. It follows that: each wave propagates at the speed of light along rays (null generators of hypersurfaces of constant phase); the square of the wave amplitude varies in inverse proportion to the cross section of the beam; and the polarization is parallel-propagated along the ray (the Skrotskii/Rytov effect). We show that the optical scalars for a beam, and various Newman-Penrose scalars describing a parallel-propagated null tetrad, can be found by solving transport equations in a second-order formulation. Unlike the Sachs equations, this formulation makes it straightforward to find such scalars beyond the first conjugate point of a congruence, where neighbouring rays cross, and the scalars diverge. We discuss differential precession across the beam which leads to a modified phase in the geometrical-optics expansion.

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arXiv2017

Absorption of electromagnetic and gravitational waves by Kerr black holes: Shadows, superradiance and the spin-helicity effect

We study the absorption of plane waves by Kerr black holes. We calculate the absorption cross section: the area of the black hole shadow at a finite wavelength. We present a unified picture of the absorption of all massless bosonic fields, focussing on the on-axis incidence case. We investigate the spin-helicity effect, arising from a coupling between dragging of frames and the helicity of a polarized wave. We introduce and calibrate an extended sinc approximation which provides new quantitative data on the spin-helicity effect in strong-field gravity.

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arXiv2017

Rainbow scattering in the gravitational field of a compact object

We study the elastic scattering of a planar wave in the curved spacetime of a compact object such as a neutron star, via a heuristic model: a scalar field impinging upon a spherically-symmetric uniform density star of radius $R$ and mass $M$. For $R < r_c$, there is a divergence in the deflection function at the light-ring radius $r_c = 3GM/c^2$, which leads to spiral scattering (orbiting) and a backward glory; whereas for $R > r_c$ there instead arises a stationary point in the deflection function which creates a caustic and rainbow scattering. As in nuclear rainbow scattering, there is an Airy-type oscillation on a Rutherford-like cross section, followed by a shadow zone. We show that, for $R \sim 3.5 GM/c^2$, the rainbow angle lies close to $180^\circ$, and thus there arises enhanced back-scattering and glory. We explore possible implications for gravitational wave astronomy, and dark matter models.

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arXiv2016

Stable photon orbits in stationary axisymmetric electrovacuum spacetimes

We investigate the existence and phenomenology of stable photon orbits (SPOs) in stationary axisymmetric electrovacuum spacetimes in four dimensions. First, we review the classification of equatorial circular photon orbits on Kerr-Newman spacetimes in the charge-spin plane. Second, using a Hamiltonian formulation, we show that Reissner-Nordström di-holes (a family encompassing the Majumdar-Papapetrou and Weyl-Bach special cases) admit SPOs, in a certain parameter regime that we investigate. Third, we explore the transition from order to chaos for typical SPOs bounded within a toroidal region around a di-hole, via a selection of Poincaré sections. Finally, for general axisymmetric stationary spacetimes, we show that the Einstein-Maxwell field equations allow for the existence of SPOs in electrovacuum; but not in pure vacuum.

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arXiv2016

Binary black hole shadows, chaotic scattering and the Cantor set

We investigate the qualitative features of binary black hole shadows using the model of two extremally charged black holes in static equilibrium (a Majumdar--Papapetrou solution). Our perspective is that binary spacetimes are natural exemplars of chaotic scattering, because they admit more than one fundamental null orbit, and thus an uncountably-infinite set of perpetual null orbits which generate scattering singularities in initial data. Inspired by the three-disc model, we develop an appropriate symbolic dynamics to describe planar null geodesics on the double black hole spacetime. We show that a one-dimensional (1D) black hole shadow may constructed through an iterative procedure akin to the construction of the Cantor set; thus the 1D shadow is self-similar. Next, we study non-planar rays, to understand how angular momentum affects the existence and properties of the fundamental null orbits. Taking slices through 2D shadows, we observe three types of 1D shadow: regular, Cantor-like, and highly chaotic. The switch from Cantor-like to regular occurs where outer fundamental orbits are forbidden by angular momentum. The highly chaotic part is associated with an unexpected feature: stable and bounded null orbits, which exist around two black holes of equal mass $M$ separated by $a_1 < a < \sqrt{2} a_1$, where $a_1 = 4M/\sqrt{27}$. To show how this possibility arises, we define a certain potential function and classify its stationary points. We conjecture that the highly chaotic parts of the 2D shadow possess the Wada property. Finally, we consider the possibility of following null geodesics through event horizons, and chaos in the maximally-extended spacetime.

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arXiv2016

Waves and null congruences in a draining bathtub

We study wave propagation in a draining bathtub: a fluid-mechanical black hole analogue in which perturbations are governed by a Klein-Gordon equation on an effective Lorentzian geometry. Like the Kerr spacetime, the draining bathtub geometry possesses an (effective) horizon, an ergosphere and null circular orbits. We propose that a `pulse' disturbance may be used to map out the light-cone of the effective geometry. First, we apply the eikonal approximation to elucidate the link between wavefronts, null geodesic congruences and the Raychaudhuri equation. Next, we solve the wave equation numerically in the time domain using the method of lines. Starting with Gaussian initial data, we demonstrate that a pulse will propagate along a null congruence and thus trace out the light-cone of the effective geometry. Our numerical results reveal features, such as wavefront intersections, frame-dragging, winding and interference effects, that are closely associated with the presence of null circular orbits and the ergosphere.

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arXiv2016

Stability of black holes in Einstein-charged scalar field theory in a cavity

Can a black hole that suffers a superradiant instability evolve towards a 'hairy' configuration which is stable? We address this question in the context of Einstein-charged scalar field theory. First, we describe a family of static black hole solutions which possess charged scalar-field hair confined within a mirror-like boundary. Next, we derive a set of equations which govern the linear, spherically symmetric perturbations of these hairy solutions. We present numerical evidence which suggests that, unlike the vacuum solutions, the (single-node) hairy solutions are stable under linear perturbations. Thus, it is plausible that stable hairy black holes represent the end-point of the superradiant instability of electrically-charged Reissner-Nordstrom black holes in a cavity; we outline ways to explore this hypothesis.

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arXiv2015

Bound states of the Dirac equation on Kerr spacetime

We formulate the Dirac equation for a massive neutral spin-half particle on a rotating black hole spacetime, and we consider its (quasi)bound states: gravitationally-trapped modes which are regular across the future event horizon. These bound states decay with time, due to the absence of superradiance in the (single-particle) Dirac field. We introduce a practical method for computing the spectrum of energy levels and decay rates, and we compare our numerical results with known asymptotic results in the small-$M μ$ and large-$M μ$ regimes. By applying perturbation theory in a horizon-penetrating coordinate system, we compute the `fine structure' of the energy spectrum, and show good agreement with numerical results. We obtain data for a hyperfine splitting due to black hole rotation. We evolve generic initial data in the time domain, and show how Dirac bound states appear as spectral lines in the power spectra. In the rapidly-rotating regime, we find that the decay of low-frequency co-rotating modes is suppressed in the (bosonic) superradiant regime. We conclude with a discussion of physical implications and avenues for further work.

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arXiv2015

Octupolar invariants for compact binaries on quasi-circular orbits

We extend the gravitational self-force methodology to identify and compute new $O(μ)$ tidal invariants for a compact body of mass $μ$ on a quasi-circular orbit about a black hole of mass $M \gg μ$. In the octupolar sector we find seven new degrees of freedom, made up of 3+3 conservative/dissipative `electric' invariants and 3+1 `magnetic' invariants, satisfying 1+1 and 1+0 trace conditions. After formulating for equatorial circular orbits on Kerr spacetime, we calculate explicitly for Schwarzschild spacetime. We employ both Lorenz gauge and Regge-Wheeler gauge numerical codes, and the functional series method of Mano, Suzuki and Takasugi. We present (i) highly-accurate numerical data and (ii) high-order analytical post-Newtonian expansions. We demonstrate consistency between numerical and analytic results, and prior work. We explore the application of these invariants in effective one-body models, and binary black hole initial-data formulations, and conclude with a discussion of future work.

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