Dolan, S. orcid.org/0000-0002-4672-6523 and Stratton, T. (2017) Rainbow scattering in the gravitational field of a compact object. Physical Review D , 95. 124055. ISSN 2470-0010
Abstract
We study the elastic scattering of a planar wave in the curved spacetime of a compact object such as a neutron star, via a heuristic model: a scalar field impinging upon a spherically symmetric uniform density star of radius R and mass M. For R<rc, there is a divergence in the deflection function at the light-ring radius rc ¼ 3GM=c2, which leads to spiral scattering (orbiting) and a backward glory; whereas for R>rc, there instead arises a stationary point in the deflection function which creates a caustic and rainbow scattering. As in nuclear rainbow scattering, there is an Airy-type oscillation on a Rutherford-like cross section, followed by a shadow zone. We show that, for R ∼ 3.5GM=c2, the rainbow angle lies close to 180°, and thus there arises enhanced backscattering and glory. We explore possible implications for gravitational wave astronomy and dark matter models.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 American Physical Society. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Fluids & classical fields in curved spacetime; General relativity; Gravitational waves; Gravitation, Cosmology & Astrophysics |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > School of Mathematics and Statistics (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL (EPSRC) EP/M025802/1 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL ST/L000520/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 07 Jul 2017 11:43 |
Last Modified: | 07 Jul 2017 11:43 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.95.124055 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Physical Society |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1103/PhysRevD.95.124055 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:118455 |