Quasi-stationary routes to the Kerr black hole

Abstract

Quasi-stationary (i.e. parametric) transitions from rotating equilibrium configurations of fluid bodies to rotating black holes are discussed. For the idealized model of a rotating disc of dust, analytical results derived by means of the "inverse scattering method" are available. They are generalized by numerical results for rotating fluid rings with various equations of state. It can be shown rigorously that a black hole limit of a fluid body in equilibrium occurs if and only if the gravitational mass becomes equal to twice the product of angular velocity and angular momentum. Therefore, any quasi-stationary route from fluid bodies to black holes passes through the extreme Kerr solution.