KerrGeoPy: A Python Package for Computing Timelike Geodesics in Kerr Spacetime

Abstract

KerrGeoPy is a Python package which computes both stable and plunging timelike geodesics in Kerr spacetime using analytic solutions to the geodesic equation that are written in terms of Legendre elliptic integrals. It mirrors and builds upon much of the functionality of the KerrGeodesics Mathematica library. Users can construct a geodesic by providing the initial position and four-velocity, or by providing either the constants of motion or a generalized version of the parameters defining a Keplerian orbit. The package provides methods for computing the four-velocity, fundamental frequencies, and constants of motion associated with a given geodesic along with the location of the separatrix. It also includes several methods for visualizing and animating geodesics.

4 pages, 1 figure; repository: https://github.com/BlackHolePerturbationToolkit/KerrGeoPy ; documentation: https://kerrgeopy.readthedocs.io/

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• SciPy 1.0--Fundamental Algorithms for Scientific Computing in Python
• Array Programming with NumPy
• Celestial mechanics in Kerr spacetime
• Analytical solutions of bound timelike geodesic orbits in Kerr spacetime
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Cited by in corpus (1)

• Metric reconstruction and the Hamiltonian for eccentric, precessing binaries in the small-mass-ratio limit