Published August 15, 2011 | Version v1
Journal article

Equatorial circular motion in Kerr spacetime

  • 1. School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS (United Kingdom)
  • 2. ICRANet, Piazzale della Repubblica 10, I-65122 Pescara (Italy)
  • 3. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma (Italy)
  • 4. Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, AP 70543, Mexico, DF 04510 (Mexico)

Description

We analyze the properties of circular orbits of test particles on the equatorial plane of a rotating central mass whose gravitational field is described by the Kerr spacetime. For rotating black holes and naked singularities we explore all the spatial regions where circular orbits can exist and analyze the behavior of the energy and the angular momentum of the corresponding test particles. In particular, we find all the radii at which a test particle can have zero angular momentum due to the repulsive gravity effects generated by naked singularities. We classify all the stability zones of circular orbits. It is shown that the geometric structure of the stability zones of black holes is completely different from that of naked singularities.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
Journal Volume
84
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
p. 044030-044030.24
ISSN
0556-2821
CODEN
PRVDAQ

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
43083208
Subject category
S72: PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
Descriptors DEI
ANGULAR MOMENTUM; BLACK HOLES; GRAVITATION; GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS; KERR METRIC; MASS; ORBITS; SINGULARITY; SPACE-TIME; STABILITY; TEST PARTICLES
Descriptors DEC
METRICS

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2011 American Institute of Physics