Related papers: Second-order perturbation theory: problems on larg…
A point particle of small mass m moves in free fall through a background vacuum spacetime metric g_ab and creates a first-order metric perturbation h^1ret_ab that diverges at the particle. Elementary expressions are known for the singular…
Second-order self-force computations, which will be essential in modeling extreme-mass-ratio inspirals, involve two major new difficulties that were not present at first order. One is the problem of large scales, discussed in [Phys. Rev. D…
A small body moving in the field of a much larger black hole and subjected to its own gravity moves on an accelerated world line in the background spacetime of the large black hole. The acceleration is produced by the body's gravitational…
Using a rigorous method of matched asymptotic expansions, I derive the equation of motion of a small, compact body in an external vacuum spacetime through second order in the body's mass (neglecting effects of internal structure). The…
We revisit the relativistic restricted two-body problem with spin employing a perturbation scheme based on Lie series. Starting from a post-Newtonian expansion of the field equations, we develop a first-order secular theory that reproduces…
Extreme mass-ratio inspirals, in which solar-mass compact bodies spiral into supermassive black holes, are an important potential source for gravitational wave detectors. Because of the extreme mass-ratio, one can model these systems using…
Persistent puzzles to do with information loss for black holes have stimulated critical reassessment of the domain of validity of semiclassical EFT reasoning in curved spacetimes, particularly in the presence of horizons. We argue here that…
A point particle of mass $\mu$ moving on a geodesic creates a perturbation $h_{ab}$, of the spacetime metric $g_{ab}$, that diverges at the particle. Simple expressions are given for the singular $\mu/r$ part of $h_{ab}$ and its distortion…
Gravitational self-force theory is the primary way of modelling extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs). One difficulty that appears in second-order self-force calculations is the strong divergence at the worldline of the small object, which…
Local nonlinear approximations to the growth of cosmic perturbations are developed, resulting in relations, at a given epoch, between the peculiar velocity and gravity fields and their gradients. Only the equation of motion is approximated,…
Radial fall has historically played a momentous role. It is one of the most classical problems, the solutions of which represent the level of understanding of gravitation in a given epoch. A {\it gedankenexperiment} in a modern frame is…
We review a recent theoretical progress in the so-called self-force problem of a general relativistic two-body system. Although a two-body system in Newtonian gravity is a very simple problem, some fundamental issues are involved in…
Accurate calculation of the gradual inspiral motion in an extreme mass-ratio binary system, in which a compact-object inspirals towards a supermassive black-hole requires calculation of the interaction between the compact-object and the…
The second-order gravitational self-force on a small body is an important problem for gravitational-wave astronomy of extreme mass-ratio inspirals. We give a first-principles derivation of a prescription for computing the first and second…
An idealized "test" object in general relativity moves along a geodesic. However, if the object has a finite mass, this will create additional curvature in the spacetime, causing it to deviate from geodesic motion. If the mass is…
The principal subject of this thesis is the gravitational two-body problem in the extreme-mass-ratio regime---that is, where one mass is significantly smaller than the other---in the full context of our contemporary theory of gravity,…
Through second order in perturbative general relativity, a small compact object in an external vacuum spacetime obeys a generalized equivalence principle: although it is accelerated with respect to the external background geometry, it is in…
In the $\Lambda$CDM framework, presenting nonrelativistic matter inhomogeneities as discrete massive particles, we develop the second-order cosmological perturbation theory. Our approach relies on the weak gravitational field limit. The…
We consider the evolution of relativistic perturbations in the Einstein-de Sitter cosmological model, including second-order effects. The perturbations are considered in two different settings: the widely used synchronous gauge and the…
Accurate calculation of the motion of a compact object in a background spacetime induced by a supermassive black hole is required for the future detection of such binary systems by the gravitational-wave detector LISA. Reaching the desired…