Phys. Rev. D 72, 084009 (2005) [20 pages]

Semirelativistic approximation to gravitational radiation from encounters with nonspinning black holes

Abstract

References

Citing Articles (8)

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Jonathan R. Gair^*
Theoretical Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA

Daniel J. Kennefick^†
Theoretical Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA, and Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA

Shane L. Larson^‡
Center for Gravitational Wave Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA

See Also: Erratum

Received 11 August 2005; published 13 October 2005

The capture of compact bodies by black holes in galactic nuclei is an important prospective source for low frequency gravitational wave detectors, such as the planned Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. This paper calculates, using a semirelativistic approximation, the total energy and angular momentum lost to gravitational radiation by compact bodies on very high eccentricity orbits passing close to a supermassive, nonspinning black hole; these quantities determine the characteristics of the orbital evolution necessary to estimate the capture rate. The semirelativistic approximation improves upon treatments which use orbits at Newtonian order and quadrupolar radiation emission, and matches well onto accurate Teukolsky simulations for low eccentricity orbits. Formulas are presented for the semirelativistic energy and angular momentum fluxes as a function of general orbital parameters.

URL:

http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevD.72.084009

DOI:

10.1103/PhysRevD.72.084009

PACS:

04.30.Db

^*Present address: Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, United Kingdom.

Electronic address: jgair@ast.cam.ac.uk

^†Electronic address: danielk@uark.edu

^‡Electronic address: shane@gravity.psu.edu

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Phys. Rev. D 72, 084009 (2005) [20 pages]

Semirelativistic approximation to gravitational radiation from encounters with nonspinning black holes

See Also