Gravitational self-torque and spin precession in compact binaries

Dec 3, 2013
6 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.D 89 (2014) 6, 064011
  • Published: Mar 6, 2014
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Abstract: (APS)

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(G/c)μ2 in a circular orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole of mass Mμ. 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 semianalytical models of the strong-field dynamics in astrophysical binaries, important for ongoing and future gravitational-wave searches.

Note:
  • 5 pages, 1 table, 1 figure. Minor changes to match published version
  • 04.70.Bw
  • 04.20.-q
  • spin: precession
  • black hole: mass
  • binary: compact
  • black hole: Schwarzschild
  • strong field
  • orbit
  • gravitational radiation
  • perturbation theory