Kerr Black Hole & Keplerian Stable Orbit

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the derivation of the equation for a Keplerian stable orbit around a Kerr black hole, specifically addressing discrepancies in the relationship between centripetal and gravitational acceleration. The participants explore the implications of general relativity on centripetal acceleration, suggesting it may need modification in extreme gravitational fields. A key point is the realization that centripetal acceleration could become negative beyond the event horizon, affecting the stability of orbits. The conversation also highlights the importance of correctly applying the equations derived from the Keplerian orbit to ensure consistency with general relativity principles. Ultimately, the discussion underscores the complexities involved in gravitational dynamics near black holes.
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The following is the equation for a Keplerian stable orbit at the equator around a Kerr black hole-

\tag{1}v_s=\frac{\pm\sqrt{M}(r^2\mp2a\sqrt{Mr}+a^2 )}{\sqrt{\Delta}(r^{3/2}\pm a\sqrt{M})}

where M=Gm/c^2,\ a=J/mc and \Delta=r^2-2Mr+a^2

which for a static black hole would reduce to -

v_s=\frac{\pm\sqrt{M}\,r^2}{\sqrt{r^2-2Mr}\,r^{3/2}}

and I would have thought that it was save to assume that for a static black hole-

\frac{v_s^2}{r}=\frac{M}{r^2}\sqrt{g_{rr}}

which is basically a_c=a_g and where g_{rr}=(1-2M/r)^{-1}

rearranging the equation, the following should apply-

\frac{v_s^2r}{M}=\sqrt{g_{rr}}

but for some reason, the answer I get is simply g_{rr} instead of \sqrt{g_{rr}}. Does anyone see why this might be the case?http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/0067-0049/112/2/423/35032.pdf?request-id=99398a5d-17c3-4c96-a4c7-516cf1ef178b" for equations (1)
 
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You should give a step by step derivation. This would help in isolating the problem.
 
Hi mathman, thanks for the reply.

Starting from where the stable orbit vs was established in the equatorial plane for a black hole-

v_s=\frac{\pm\sqrt{M}\,r^2}{\sqrt{r^2-2Mr}\,r^{3/2}}

For a stable orbit, centripetal acceleration (ac) has to equal gravity (ag)-

a_c=a_g

where a_c=v^2 m_2/r and a_g=G m_1 m_2/r^2 where v is the tangential velocity of the orbiting object (m2), m1 is the object being orbited and r is the radius of orbit.

rewriting a_c=a_g

\frac{v^2 m_2}{r}=\frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}

in the case of an extreme gravitational field, coordinate acceleration needs to be taken into account which for a static BH is-

dr&#039;=dr\left(1-\frac{2M}{r}\right)^{-1/2}=dr\sqrt{g_{rr}}[/itex]<br /> <br /> so in an extreme field,<br /> <br /> \frac{v^2 m_2}{r}=\frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\sqrt{g_{rr}}<br /> <br /> re-arrange relative to \sqrt{g_{rr}}<br /> <br /> \frac{v^2 r}{G m_1 }=\sqrt{g_{rr}}<br /> <br /> substitute v for the equation for v<sub>s</sub> and replace Gm<sub>1</sub> with M (geometric units) where M is the gravitational radius (as derived in post #1)-<br /> <br /> \left(\frac{\sqrt{M}\,r^2}{\sqrt{r^2-2Mr}\,r^{3/2}}\right)^2\frac{r}{M}=x<br /> <br /> expand and cancel out-<br /> <br /> \frac{r^2}{(r^2-2Mr)}=x<br /> <br /> x should equal \sqrt{g_{rr}} but instead equals g_{rr}. I&#039;m beginning to suspect that the equation for centripetal acceleration needs to take into account relativity in some respect.<br /> <br /> ______________________________________________<br /> <br /> There seems to be the suggestion that centripetal acceleration goes into reverse around BH&#039;s (and in SR in general), this may be equivalent to dividing a<sub>c</sub> by \sqrt{g_{rr}} for a stable orbit which would explain the answer to the above equation.<br /> <br /> one source- <a href="http://arxiv.org/abs/0903.1113v1" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://arxiv.org/abs/0903.1113v1</a>There is also the suggestion that a<sub>c</sub> becomes negative beyond the event horizon. Considering the change over from positive to negative a<sub>c</sub> would be smooth, it might be said that a<sub>c</sub> reduces relative to 1/\sqrt{g_{rr}} (or simply \sqrt{g_{tt}}) becoming zero at the event horizon and then negative at r&lt;2M. It would also mean that ac was reasonably unaffected at r&gt;20M.
 
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I have to confess that I am lost when it comes to the details of gen. rel. However, I am confused about what you are doing in the middle of the derivation.

You have v2m2/r=one expression at one point and something different a few lines later. I don't understand what you are doing.
 
I mathman, I think I may have answered my own question. It appears that centripetal acceleration also needs to be modified in GR. The reason why I change the derivation in post #3 is that I had initially assumed that v^2 r/G m_1=\sqrt{g_{rr}}, where v is the tangential velocity of the rotating object, would be correct but when introducing the result for v from the Kepler equation, this wasn't the case and I changed \sqrt{g_{rr}} to x, x turning out to be simply g_{rr}. It appears a correct solution for centripetal acceleration that works with the Kepler equation for a static black hole is-

a_c=\sqrt{g_{tt}}\,\frac{v^2 m_2}{r}

where g_{tt}=(1-2M/r)

which means that centripetal acceleration begins to reduce significantly at approx. 20M, becoming zero at the event horizon and negative within the EH.

If we introduce vs from the Kepler stable orbit equation, we can say-

\sqrt{g_{tt}}\,\frac{v_s^2 m_2}{r}=\frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\sqrt{g_{rr}}

where g_{rr}=(1-2M/r)^{-1}

The idea of ac becoming negative beyond the EH is also discussed to some degree in https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=10369".
 
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