English

The point-particle-limit effective-source approach for computing gravitational self-force in the Lorenz gauge

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2026-03-31 v1

Abstract

The traditional effective-source method is hampered by complex analytical expressions and the inherent smoothness limit, which incur high computational costs and complicate implementation. To overcome these limitations, we introduce the point-particle-limit effective source method, which analytically takes the size of the effective source to zero, thereby transforming the problem into a well-defined jump condition of retarded metric field at the particle position governed by the local singular field. This formulation naturally pairs with a discontinuous Galerkin scheme, whose inherent capacity for accommodating solution discontinuities enables highly accurate enforcement of the jump conditions. We apply both the traditional and point-particle-limit effective source method to calculate the time-domain gravitational metric perturbation and gravitational self-force in the Lorenz gauge on a point particle in a circular orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole. The comparison of numerical results shows the excellent advantage of the point-particle-limit effective source method, which validates the correctness and efficiency of the point-particle-limit effective source method and thereby establishes a numerical foundation for computing generic geodesic orbits or long-time self-consistent orbital evolution.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2603.27284,
  title  = {The point-particle-limit effective-source approach for computing gravitational self-force in the Lorenz gauge},
  author = {Chao Zhang and Yungui Gong and Xuchen Lu and Wenting Zhou},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.27284},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

30 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables; comments are welcome

R2 v1 2026-07-01T11:42:19.280Z