English

The harmonic structure of generic Kerr orbits

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2015-05-28 v1 Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Abstract

Generic Kerr orbits exhibit intricate three-dimensional motion. We offer a classification scheme for these intricate orbits in terms of periodic orbits. The crucial insight is that for a given effective angular momentum LL and angle of inclination ι\iota, there exists a discrete set of orbits that are geometrically nn-leaf clovers in a precessing {\it orbital plane}. When viewed in the full three dimensions, these orbits are periodic in rθr-\theta. Each nn-leaf clover is associated with a rational number, 1+qrθ=ωθ/ωr1+q_{r\theta}=\omega_\theta/\omega_r, that measures the degree of perihelion precession in the precessing orbital plane. The rational number qrθq_{r\theta} varies monotonically with the orbital energy and with the orbital eccentricity. Since any bound orbit can be approximated as near one of these periodic nn-leaf clovers, this special set offers a skeleton that illuminates the structure of all bound Kerr orbits, in or out of the equatorial plane.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1105.5811,
  title  = {The harmonic structure of generic Kerr orbits},
  author = {Rebecca Grossman and Janna Levin and Gabe Perez-Giz},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1105.5811},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

14 pages, 8 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. D

R2 v1 2026-06-21T18:14:14.595Z