Null geodesics of the Kerr exterior
Samuel E. Gralla, Alexandru Lupsasca
Abstract
The null geodesic equation in the Kerr spacetime can be expressed as a set of integral equations involving certain potentials. We classify the roots of these potentials and express the integrals in manifestly real Legendre elliptic form. We then solve the equations using Jacobi elliptic functions, providing the complete set of null geodesics of the Kerr exterior as explicit parametrized curves.
Topics & Concepts
GeodesicNull (SQL)Geodesics in general relativityMathematicsMathematical analysisParameterized complexityElliptic integralSpacetimeElliptic functionSet (abstract data type)Legendre polynomialsMathematical physicsPure mathematicsPhysicsComputer scienceQuantum mechanicsCombinatoricsDatabaseProgramming languageAstrophysical Phenomena and ObservationsPulsars and Gravitational Waves ResearchBlack Holes and Theoretical Physics