Gravitationally Driven Electromagnetic Perturbations of Neutron Stars and Black Holes

TL;DR

This paper analytically explores how gravitational perturbations in neutron stars and black holes can couple with electromagnetic fields, potentially producing detectable electromagnetic signals that reveal details about these compact objects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analytic framework for understanding coupled gravitational and electromagnetic perturbations in neutron stars and black holes.

Findings

Coupled perturbations can generate electromagnetic signals.

Electromagnetic signatures could help probe source properties.

Detection prospects depend on magnetic field strength and perturbation dynamics.

Abstract

Gravitational perturbations of neutron stars and black holes are well known sources of gravitational radiation. If the compact object is immersed in or endowed with a magnetic field, the gravitational perturbations would couple to electromagnetic perturbations and potentially trigger synergistic electromagnetic signatures. We present a detailed analytic calculation of the dynamics of coupled gravitational and electromagnetic perturbations for both neutron stars and black holes. We discuss the prospects for detecting the electromagnetic waves in these scenarios and the potential that these waves have for providing information about their source.