arXiv subjects

Sam R. Dolan

Publications and source records attributed to Sam R. Dolan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Instability of the Proca field on Kerr spacetime

A massive vector boson field in the vicinity of a rotating black hole is known to suffer an instability, due to the exponential amplification of (co-rotating, low-frequency) bound states by black hole superradiance. Here we calculate the bound state spectrum by exploiting the separation of variables recently achieved by Frolov, Krtous, Kubiznak and Santos (FKKS) for the Proca field on Kerr-(A)dS-NUT spacetimes of arbitrary dimension. Restricting to the 4D Kerr case, we first establish the relationship between the FKKS and Teukolsky variables in the massless case; obtain exact results for the angular eigenvalues in the marginally-bound case; and present a spectral method for solving the angular equation in the general case. We demonstrate that all three physical polarizations can be recovered from the FKKS ansatz, resolving an open question. We present numerical results for the instability growth rate for a selection of modes of all three polarizations, and discuss physical implications.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Addendum to "Absorption of a massive scalar field by a charged black hole"

In Phys.Rev.D89, 104053 (2014) we studied the absorption cross section of a scalar field of mass $m$ impinging on a static black hole of mass $M$ and charge $Q$. We presented numerical results using the partial-wave method, and analytical results in the high- and low-frequency limit. Our low-frequency approximation was only valid if the (dimensionless) field velocity $v$ exceeds $v_c = 2 πM m$. In this Addendum we give the complementary result for $v \lesssim v_c$, and we consider the possible physical relevance of this regime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Stability of gravitating charged-scalar solitons in a cavity

We present new regular solutions of Einstein-charged scalar field theory in a cavity. The system is enclosed inside a reflecting mirror-like boundary, on which the scalar field vanishes. The mirror is placed at the zero of the scalar field closest to the origin, and inside this boundary our solutions are regular. We study the stability of these solitons under linear, spherically symmetric perturbations of the metric, scalar and electromagnetic fields. If the radius of the mirror is sufficiently large, we present numerical evidence for the stability of the solitons. For small mirror radius, some of the solitons are unstable. We discuss the physical interpretation of this instability.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Scattering from charged black holes and supergravity

The scattering cross sections of the unpolarized electromagnetic and gravitational waves are shown to be equal for the extreme Reissner-Nordström black hole using $N=2$ supergravity. The conversion cross sections between the unpolarized electromagnetic and gravitational waves are also shown to coincide. The gravitational and electromagnetic scattering cross sections are computed numerically for Reissner-Nordström black holes for several charge-to-mass ratios and the coincidence between the two scattering cross sections for the extremal case is confirmed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Tidal invariants for compact binaries on quasi-circular orbits

We extend the gravitational self-force approach to encompass `self-interaction' tidal effects for a compact body of mass $μ$ on a quasi-circular orbit around a black hole of mass $M \gg μ$. Specifically, we define and calculate at $O(μ)$ (conservative) shifts in the eigenvalues of the electric- and magnetic-type tidal tensors, and a (dissipative) shift in a scalar product between their eigenbases. This approach yields four gauge-invariant functions, from which one may construct other tidal quantities such as the curvature scalars and the speciality index. First, we analyze the general case of a geodesic in a regular perturbed vacuum spacetime admitting a helical Killing vector and a reflection symmetry. Next, we specialize to focus on circular orbits in the equatorial plane of Kerr spacetime at $O(μ)$. We present accurate numerical results for the Schwarzschild case for orbital radii up to the light-ring, calculated via independent implementations in Lorenz and Regge-Wheeler gauges. We show that our results are consistent with leading-order post-Newtonian expansions, and demonstrate the existence of additional structure in the strong-field regime. We anticipate that our strong-field results will inform (e.g.) effective one-body models for the gravitational two-body problem that are invaluable in the ongoing search for gravitational waves.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Gravitational Self-Force Correction to the Innermost Stable Circular Equatorial Orbit of a Kerr Black Hole

For a self-gravitating particle of mass μin orbit around a Kerr black hole of mass M >> μ, we compute the O(μ/M) shift in the frequency of the innermost stable circular equatorial orbit (ISCEO) due to the conservative piece of the gravitational self-force acting on the particle. Our treatment is based on a Hamiltonian formulation of the dynamics in terms of geodesic motion in a certain locally-defined effective smooth spacetime. We recover the same result using the so-called first law of binary black-hole mechanics. We give numerical results for the ISCEO frequency shift as a function of the black hole's spin amplitude, and compare with predictions based on the post-Newtonian approximation and the effective one-body model. Our results provide an accurate strong-field benchmark for spin effects in the general relativistic two-body problem.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Inferring black hole charge from backscattered electromagnetic radiation

We compute the scattering cross section of Reissner-Nordström black holes for the case of an incident electromagnetic wave. We describe how scattering is affected by both the conversion of electromagnetic to gravitational radiation, and the parity-dependence of phase shifts induced by the black hole charge. The latter effect creates a helicity-reversed scattering amplitude that is non-zero in the backward direction. We show that from the character of the electromagnetic wave scattered in the backward direction it is possible, in principle, to infer if a static black hole is charged.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Quasinormal modes and Regge poles of the canonical acoustic hole

We compute the quasinormal mode frequencies and Regge poles of the canonical acoustic hole (a black hole analogue), using three methods. First, we show how damped oscillations arise by evolving generic perturbations in the time domain using a simple finite-difference scheme. We use our results to estimate the fundamental QN frequencies of the low multipolar modes $l=1, 2, \ldots$. Next, we apply an asymptotic method to obtain an expansion for the frequency in inverse powers of $l+1/2$ for low overtones. We test the expansion by comparing against our time-domain results, and (existing) WKB results. The expansion method is then extended to locate the Regge poles. Finally, to check the expansion of Regge poles we compute the spectrum numerically by direct integration in the frequency domain. We give a geometric interpretation of our results and comment on experimental verification.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Absorption of a massive scalar field by a charged black hole

We calculate the absorption cross section of a massive neutral scalar field impinging upon a Reissner-Nordström black hole. First, we derive key approximations in the high- and low-frequency regimes. Next, we develop a numerical method to compute the cross section at intermediate frequencies, and present a selection of results. Finally, we draw together our complementary approaches to give a quantitative full-spectrum description of absorption.

gr-qc↗

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↗

arXiv2014

Self-force via Green functions and worldline integration

A compact object moving in curved spacetime interacts with its own gravitational field. This leads to both dissipative and conservative corrections to the motion, which can be interpreted as a self-force acting on the object. The original formalism describing this self-force relied heavily on the Green function of the linear differential operator that governs gravitational perturbations. However, because the global calculation of Green functions in non-trivial black hole spacetimes has been an open problem until recently, alternative methods were established to calculate self-force effects using sophisticated regularization techniques that avoid the computation of the global Green function. We present a method for calculating the self-force that employs the global Green function and is therefore closely modeled after the original self-force expressions. Our quantitative method involves two stages: (i) numerical approximation of the retarded Green function in the background spacetime; (ii) evaluation of convolution integrals along the worldline of the object. This novel approach can be used along arbitrary worldlines, including those currently inaccessible to more established computational techniques. Furthermore, it yields geometrical insight into the contributions to self-interaction from curved geometry (back-scattering) and trapping of null geodesics. We demonstrate the method on the motion of a scalar charge in Schwarzschild spacetime. This toy model retains the physical history-dependence of the self-force but avoids gauge issues and allows us to focus on basic principles. We compute the self-field and self-force for many worldlines including accelerated circular orbits, eccentric orbits at the separatrix, and radial infall. This method, closely modeled after the original formalism, provides a promising complementary approach to the self-force problem.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Absorption of planar massless scalar waves by Kerr black holes

We consider planar massless scalar waves impinging upon a Kerr black hole, for general angles of incidence. We compute the absorption cross section via the partial wave approach, and present a gallery of results. In the low-frequency regime, we show that the cross section approaches the horizon area; in the high-frequency regime, we show that the cross section approaches the geodesic capture cross section. In the aligned case, we extend the complex angular momentum method to obtain a `sinc' approximation, which relates the regular high-frequency oscillations in the cross section to the properties of the polar null orbit. In the non-aligned case, we show, via a semi-analytic approximation, that the reduction in symmetry generates a richer, less regular absorption cross section. We separate the absorption cross section into corotating and counterrotating contributions, showing that the absorption is larger for counterrotating waves, as expected.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Superradiant instabilities of rotating black holes in the time domain

Bosonic fields on rotating black hole spacetimes are subject to amplification by superradiance, which induces exponentially-growing instabilities (the `black hole bomb') in two scenarios: if the black hole is enclosed by a mirror, or if the bosonic field has rest mass. Here we present a time-domain study of the scalar field on Kerr spacetime which probes ultra-long timescales up to $t \lesssim 5 \times 10^6 M$, to reveal the growth of the instability. We describe an highly-efficient method for evolving the field, based on a spectral decomposition into a coupled set of 1+1D equations, and an absorbing boundary condition inspired by the `perfectly-matched layers' paradigm. First, we examine the mirror case to study how the instability timescale and mode structure depend on mirror radius. Next, we examine the massive-field, whose rich spectrum (revealed through Fourier analysis) generates `beating' effects which disguise the instability. We show that the instability is clearly revealed by tracking the stress-energy of the field in the exterior spacetime. We calculate the growth rate for a range of mass couplings, by applying a frequency-filer to isolate individual modal contributions to the time-domain signal. Our results are in accord with previous frequency-domain studies which put the maximum growth rate at $τ^{-1} \approx 1.72 \times 10^{-7} (GM/c^3)^{-1}$ for the massive scalar field on Kerr spacetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Scattering by a draining bathtub vortex

We present an analysis of scattering by a fluid-mechanical `black hole analogue', known as the draining bathtub vortex: a two-dimensional flow which possesses both a sonic horizon and an ergoregion. We consider the scattering of a plane wave of fixed frequency impinging upon the vortex. At low frequency, we encounter a modified Aharonov-Bohm effect. At high frequencies, we observe regular `orbiting' oscillations in the scattering length, due to interference between contra-orbiting rays. We present approximate formulae for both effects, and a selection of numerical results obtained by summing partial-wave series. Finally, we examine interference patterns in the vicinity of the vortex, and highlight the prospects for experimental investigation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Kermions: quantization of fermions on Kerr space-time

We study a quantum fermion field on a background non-extremal Kerr black hole. We discuss the definition of the standard black hole quantum states (Boulware, Unruh and Hartle-Hawking), focussing particularly on the differences between fermionic and bosonic quantum field theory. Since all fermion modes (both particle and anti-particle) have positive norm, there is much greater flexibility in how quantum states are defined compared with the bosonic case. In particular, we are able to define a candidate `Boulware'-like state, empty at both past and future null infinity; and a candidate `Hartle-Hawking'-like equilibrium state, representing a thermal bath of fermions surrounding the black hole. Neither of these states have analogues for bosons on a non-extremal Kerr black hole and both have physically attractive regularity properties. We also define a number of other quantum states, numerically compute differences in expectation values of the fermion current and stress-energy tensor between two states, and discuss their physical properties.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Self-force via $m$-mode regularization and 2+1D evolution: III. Gravitational field on Schwarzschild spacetime

This is the third in a series of papers aimed at developing a practical time-domain method for self-force calculations in Kerr spacetime. The key elements of the method are (i) removal of a singular part of the perturbation field with a suitable analytic "puncture", (ii) decomposition of the perturbation equations in azimuthal ($m$-)modes, taking advantage of the axial symmetry of the Kerr background, (iii) numerical evolution of the individual $m$-modes in 2+1-dimensions with a finite difference scheme, and (iv) reconstruction of the local self-force from the mode sum. Here we report a first implementation of the method to compute the gravitational self-force. We work in the Lorenz gauge, solving directly for the metric perturbation in 2+1-dimensions. The modes $m=0,1$ contain nonradiative pieces, whose time-domain evolution is hampered by certain gauge instabilities. We study this problem in detail and propose ways around it. In the current work we use the Schwarzschild geometry as a platform for development; in a forthcoming paper---the fourth in the series---we apply our method to the gravitational self-force in Kerr geometry.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Massive vector fields on the Schwarzschild spacetime: quasinormal modes and bound states

We study the propagation of a massive vector or Proca field on the Schwarzschild spacetime. The field equations are reduced to a one-dimensional wave equation for the odd-parity part of the field and two coupled equations for the even-parity part of the field. We use numerical techniques based on solving (scalar or matrix-valued) three-term recurrence relations to compute the spectra of both quasi-normal modes and quasi-bound states, which have no massless analogue, complemented in the latter case by a forward-integration method. We study the radial equations analytically in both the near-horizon and far-field regions and use a matching procedure to compute the associated spectra in the small-mass limit. Finally, we comment on extending our results to the Kerr geometry and its phenomenological relevance for hidden photons arising e.g. in string theory compactifications.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Resonances of a rotating black hole analogue

Under certain conditions, sound waves in a fluid may be governed by a Klein-Gordon equation on an `effective spacetime' determined by the background flow properties. Here we consider the draining bathtub: a circulating, draining flow whose effective spacetime shares key features with the rotating black hole (Kerr) spacetime. We present a complete investigation of the role of quasinormal (QN) mode and Regge pole (RP) resonances of this system. First, we simulate a perturbation in the time domain by applying a finite-difference method, to demonstrate the ubiquity of `QN ringing'. Next, we solve the wave equation in the frequency domain with the continued-fraction method, to compute QN and RP spectra numerically. We then explore the geometric link between (prograde and retrograde) null geodesic orbits on the spacetime, and the properties of the QN/RP spectra. We develop a `geodesic expansion' method which leads to asymptotic expressions (in inverse powers of mode number $m$) for the spectra, the radial functions and the residues. Next, the role of the Regge poles in scattering and absorption processes is revealed through application of the complex angular momentum method. We elucidate the link between the Regge poles and oscillations in the absorption cross section. Finally, we show that Regge poles provide a neat explanation for `orbiting' oscillations seen in the scattering cross section.

gr-qc↗