Perturbation method in the assessment of radiation reaction in the capture of stars by black holes

Abstract

This work deals with the motion of a radially falling star in Schwarzschild geometry and correctly identifies radiation reaction terms by the perturbative method. The results are: i) identification of all terms up to first order in perturbations, second in trajectory deviation, and mixed terms including lowest order radiation reaction terms; ii) renormalisation of all divergent terms by the $\zeta$ Riemann and Hurwitz functions. The work implements a method previously identified by one of the authors and corrects some current misconceptions and results.

10 pages, no figures. Email: [email protected] To appear on Classical and Quantum Gravity March 2004