Scalar self-force for eccentric orbits around a Schwarzschild black hole

Abstract

We revisit the problem of computing the self-force on a scalar charge moving along an eccentric geodesic orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole. This work extends previous scalar self-force calculations for circular orbits, which were based on a regular "effective" point-particle source and a full 3D evolution code. We find good agreement between our results and previous calculations based on a (1+1) time-domain code. Finally, our data visualization is unconventional: we plot the self-force through full radial cycles to create "self-force loops", which reveal many interesting features that are less apparent in standard presentations of eccentric-orbit self-force data.