paper

WKB analysis of the Regge-Wheeler equation down in the frequency plane

arXiv:gr-qc/0303095 · doi:10.1063/1.1626805

Abstract

The Regge-Wheeler equation for black-hole gravitational waves is analyzed for large negative imaginary frequencies, leading to a calculation of the cut strength for waves outgoing to infinity. In the--limited--region of overlap, the results agree well with numerical findings [Class. Quantum Grav._20_, L217 (2003)]. Requiring these waves to be outgoing into the horizon as well subsequently yields an analytic formula for the highly damped Schwarzschild quasinormal modes,_including_ the leading correction. Just as in the WKB quantization of, e.g., the harmonic oscillator, solutions in different regions of space have to be joined through a connection formula, valid near the boundary between them where WKB breaks down. For the oscillator, this boundary is given by the classical turning points; fascinatingly, the connection here involves an expansion around the black-hole singularity r=0.

REVTeX4, 11pp with one EPS figure. N.B.: 'Alec' is my first, and 'Maassen van den Brink' my family name. v2: discussion and Refs. expanded; overall grooming. v3: added calculation of the highly damped QNMs, incl. the leading correction. v4: a few clarifications and minor corrections; final, to appear in JMP

Cited by in corpus (16)