Geodesics in supersymmetric microstate geometries

Abstract

It has been argued that supersymmetric microstate geometries are classically unstable. One argument for instability involves considering the motion of a massive particle near the ergosurface of such a spacetime. It is shown that the instability can be triggered by a particle that starts arbitrarily far from the ergosurface. Another argument for instability is related to the phenomenon of stable trapping of null geodesics in these geometries. Such trapping is studied in detail for the most symmetrical microstate geometries. It is found that there are several distinct types of trapped null geodesic, both prograde and retrograde. Several important differences between geodesics in microstate geometries and black hole geometries are noted. The Penrose process for energy extraction in these geometries is discussed.