pith. sign in

arxiv: 0802.0459 · v1 · submitted 2008-02-04 · 🌀 gr-qc · astro-ph

A Periodic Table for Black Hole Orbits

classification 🌀 gr-qc astro-ph
keywords orbitsperiodictaxonomyblackbeendynamicsgravitationalhole
0
0 comments X p. Extension
read the original abstract

Understanding the dynamics around rotating black holes is imperative to the success of the future gravitational wave observatories. Although integrable in principle, test particle orbits in the Kerr spacetime can also be elaborate, and while they have been studied extensively, classifying their general properties has been a challenge. This is the first in a series of papers that adopts a dynamical systems approach to the study of Kerr orbits, beginning with equatorial orbits. We define a taxonomy of orbits that hinges on a correspondence between periodic orbits and rational numbers. The taxonomy defines the entire dynamics, including aperiodic motion, since every orbit is in or near the periodic set. A remarkable implication of this periodic orbit taxonomy is that the simple precessing ellipse familiar from planetary orbits is not allowed in the strong-field regime. Instead, eccentric orbits trace out precessions of multi-leaf clovers in the final stages of inspiral. Furthermore, for any black hole, there is some point in the strong-field regime past which zoom-whirl behavior becomes unavoidable. Finally, we sketch the potential application of the taxonomy to problems of astrophysical interest, in particular its utility for computationally intensive gravitational wave calculations.

This paper has not been read by Pith yet.

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.

Forward citations

Cited by 11 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Topological charge and black hole photon spheres in massive gravity

    gr-qc 2025-09 unverdicted novelty 7.0

    In dRGT massive gravity, static spherically symmetric black holes exhibit zero, one, or two photon spheres whose topological charges and stability patterns differ from Einstein gravity and from horizonless compact objects.

  2. Particle motions and gravitational waveforms in rotating black hole spacetimes of loop quantum gravity

    gr-qc 2026-03 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    The LQG parameter ξ enlarges equatorial bound orbit energy ranges, confines off-equatorial trajectories, and produces larger deviations from Kerr waveforms in EMRI models for two rotating LQG black holes, though signa...

  3. The relativistic restricted three-body problem: geometry and motion around tidally perturbed black holes

    gr-qc 2026-01 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    Increasing tidal deformation around a black hole drives bound geodesics through weak chaos, plunging, unbinding, and eventual depletion of all bound motion, with semi-analytic critical amplitudes for each transition.

  4. Topologically equivalent yet radiatively distinct orbits in EMRI system

    gr-qc 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    In dyonic black holes, periodic orbits with identical rotation numbers but spanning different curvature regions generate radiatively distinct gravitational waveforms in EMRIs.

  5. Equatorial periodic orbits and gravitational wave signatures in Euler-Heisenberg black holes surrounded by perfect fluid dark matter

    gr-qc 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    Periodic orbits in Euler-Heisenberg black holes surrounded by perfect fluid dark matter produce burst-like gravitational wave signals whose amplitude and frequency content are modified by both dark matter density and ...

  6. Gravitational radiations from periodic orbits around a black hole in the effective field theory extension of general relativity

    gr-qc 2025-12 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    Periodic orbits around EFTGR black holes produce gravitational waveforms whose substructures increase in complexity with higher zoom numbers.

  7. Periodic orbits and their gravitational wave radiations in $\gamma$-metric

    gr-qc 2025-11 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    Deviations from γ=1 in the Zipoy-Voorhees metric shift the (z,w,v) classification of periodic orbits and induce phase shifts plus amplitude modulations in their gravitational-wave signals.

  8. Gravitational waveforms from periodic orbits around a novel regular black hole

    gr-qc 2025-09 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    Numerical study finds that a deviation parameter in a regular black hole with Minkowski core produces phase shifts and amplitude changes in kludge waveforms from periodic orbits, making them distinguishable from Schwa...

  9. Probing Gravitational Wave Signatures from Periodic Orbits of Regular Black Holes in Asymptotically Safe Gravity

    gr-qc 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 4.0

    The quantum parameter ξ in an asymptotically safe regular black hole shifts the innermost stable orbit, enhances whirl behavior in periodic geodesics, and produces amplitude-modulated millihertz gravitational-wave str...

  10. Probing the nature of Einstein nonlinear Maxwell Yukawa black hole through gravitational wave forms from periodic orbits and quasiperiodic oscillations

    gr-qc 2026-01 unverdicted novelty 4.0

    Gravitational waveforms from periodic orbits and QPOs around ENLMY black holes are derived and used with MCMC to constrain the Yukawa parameter and charge for microquasars and the galactic center.

  11. Taxonomy of periodic orbits and gravitational waves in a non-rotating Destounis-Suvorov-Kokkotas black hole spacetime

    gr-qc 2026-01 unverdicted novelty 4.0

    Periodic orbits around a non-rotating Destounis-Suvorov-Kokkotas black hole are taxonomized with integer triplets and their gravitational waveforms are calculated, showing that large deformations eliminate circular or...