The Kerr spacetime: A brief introduction

TL;DR

This chapter offers an accessible overview of Kerr spacetime, focusing on rotating black holes, their metrics, horizons, and ergospheres, serving as foundational knowledge for further study.

Contribution

It provides a concise introduction to Kerr spacetime, highlighting key geometric features and coordinate representations for readers new to the subject.

Findings

Describes the structure of Kerr black holes

Explains horizons and ergospheres

Summarizes coordinate systems used in Kerr spacetime

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief introduction to the Kerr spacetime and rotating black holes, touching on the most common coordinate representations of the spacetime metric and the key features of the geometry -- the presence of horizons and ergospheres. The coverage is by no means complete, and serves chiefly to orient oneself when reading subsequent chapters.