Phase portrait in Kerr spacetime

(Dated: September 21, 2012)

PACS numbers: 03.30.+p; 04.20.Cv Keywords: Kerr metric

I.

OBSERVERS IN KERR SPACETIME

Kerr metric (c = G = 1): ds2 = gtt dt2 + 2gt ddt + grr dr2 + g d2 + g d2 = where 2 = r2 + a2 cos2 = r2 + a2 2M r . Frame of reference of a given observer is given by a set of four vectors e i satisfying
g e i ej = ij ,

2M r 2

dt2 +

4M ra sin2 2 2 2M ra2 sin2 2 2 2 2 2 ddt d2 , dr d ( r + a ) sin + 2 2

(1)

(2)

(3)

where ij = diag(1, 1, 1, 1). Let us describe the reference frame of a stationary observer in Kerr geometry. For this observer r = const, = const and = d U = t . dt U (4)

His four-velocity U = U t (1, 0, 0, ). This observer exists provided that his/her U 2 = U U = 1 so g U U = (U t )2 (gtt + 2gt + 2 g ) = 1 and thus gtt + 2gt + 2 g > 0 , he/she cannot exist between the horizons. The frame of reference of a stationary observer is given by:
t e t = U (1, 0, 0, ) , 1 , 0, 0 e 0, r = grr

(5)

(6)

, (7)

t e = G U (g + gt , 0, 0, gt gtt ) ,

where U t = (gtt + 2gt + 2 g )1/2

2 G = (gt g gtt )1/2 .

(8)

If we put = 0 then we obtain a reference frame of a static observer. Four-vector of a photon moving in a plane (k = 0), with angular momentum in the direction of the rotation axis L and energy E , k = (k t , k r , 0, k ) reads k t = G 2 (gt L g E ) , k r = G gtt L2 + 2gt EL g E 2 , (grr ) (9)

k = G 2 (gt E gtt L) .

2 Projection of k on the direction t, r and of a stationary observer:

|k t | = |g e tk | t t t = |gtt et t k + gt et k + gt et k + g et k | = U t (L + E ) ,

|k r | = |g e rk | r = |grr er rk |

= G

gtt L2 + 2gt EL g E 2 ,

|k | = |g e k | t t t = |gtt et k + gt e k + gt e k + g e k |

= G U t [(gtt + gt )L (gt + g )E ] . The following relations are satised: |k r |2 + |k |2 = |k |2 |k r | cos = |k | |k | sin = |k | |k t |2 = |k |2

(10)

(11) where is the angle of incidence. gt In the special case of zero angular momentum observer, ZAMO, the angular velocity = g and the measured components of the wave vector are: |k t | = G |k r | = G |k | = g E gt L g ,

gtt L2 + 2gt EL g E 2 , L . g (12)

Velocity four-vector of a massive object (observer) moving in a plane (k = 0), with angular momentum in the direction of the rotation axis L and energy E , V = (V t , V r , 0, V ) reads V t = G 2 (gt L g E ) , Vr = G2 (gtt L2 + 2gt EL g E 2 ) 1 , (grr ) (grr ) (13)

V = G 2 (gt E gtt L) .

In the special case of zero angular momentum observer, ZAMO, the measured components of the above velocity four-vector are: |V t | = G |V r | = |V | = g E gt L g ,

G 2 (gtt L2 + 2gt EL g E 2 ) 1 , L . g (14)

3 From the zeroth, t-component we can derive the velocity of the moving observer as measured by ZAMO: |V t | = v2 1 1 v2 1 = 1 t 2 |V | (g ) (g E gt L)2 G 2 (15)

v2 = 1

In the case of a static observer the measured components of V are: E |V t | = , gtt |V r | = |V | = G G 2 (gtt L2 + 2gt EL g E 2 ) 1 , gtt L gt E . gtt (16)

The velocity of the moving observer as measured by the static observer reads v2 = 1 gtt E2 (17)