Applying the effective-source approach to frequency-domain self-force calculations for eccentric orbits

TL;DR

This paper extends the frequency-domain effective-source approach to eccentric orbits in self-force calculations, introducing a new method to improve convergence and demonstrating it on a scalar-field model relevant to gravitational wave research.

Contribution

It develops a novel extended effective-sources method for frequency-domain self-force calculations on eccentric orbits, advancing the capability for more accurate EMRI gravitational wave templates.

Findings

Successfully applied the new method to a scalar-field problem

Improved convergence over traditional Fourier sum methods

Paves the way for more generic second-order self-force calculations

Abstract

Extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) are expected to have considerable eccentricity when emitting gravitational waves (GWs) in the LISA band. Developing GW templates that remain phase accurate over these long inspirals requires the use of second-order self-force theory and practical second-order self-force calculations are now emerging for quasi-circular EMRIs. These calculations rely on effective-source regularization techniques in the frequency domain that presently are specialized to circular orbits. Here we make a first step towards more generic second-order calculations by extending the frequency domain effective-source approach to eccentric orbits. In order to overcome the slow convergence of the Fourier sum over radial modes, we develop a new extended effective-sources approach which builds upon the method of extended particular solutions. To demonstrate our new computational technique we apply it a toy scalar-field problem which is conceptually similar to the gravitational case.