Scattering from Black Holes

by J. A. H. Futterman , F. A. Handler , Richard Alfred Matzner

• ISBN13: 9780521112109
• ISBN10: 0521112109
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-06-11
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book investigates the propagation of waves in the presence of black holes. Astrophysical black holes may eventually be probed by these techniques. The authors emphasise intuitive physical thinking in their treatment of the techniques of analysis of scattering, but alternate this with chapters on the rigourous mathematical development of the subject. High and low energy limiting cases are treated extensively and semi-classical results are also obtained. The analogy between Newtonian gravitational scattering and Coulomb quantum mechanical scattering is fully exploited. The book introduces the concepts of scattering by considering the simplest, scalar wave case of scattering by a spherical black hole. It then develops the formalism of spin-weighted spheroidal harmonics and of plane wave representations for neutrino, electromagnetic and gravitational scattering. Research workers and graduate and advanced undergraduate students in scattering theory, wave propagation and relativity will find this a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Perturbations of black hole spacetimes

Integral spin plane waves in black hole

Neutrino plane waves

Scattering

Limiting cross sections

Computation of cross sections

Absorption, phase shifts and cross sections for gravitational waves

Conclusion

Appendices

References

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.