Binary Kerr black-hole scattering at 2PM from quantum higher-spin Compton

TL;DR

This paper applies quantum higher-spin theory to compute second post-Minkowskian scattering amplitudes for binary Kerr black holes, providing all-orders-in-spin formulas and new insights into black hole dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel all-orders-in-spin framework for Kerr black hole scattering at 2PM using quantum higher-spin amplitudes and unitarity methods.

Findings

Derived scalar, vector, and triangle coefficients to all orders in spin.

Computed classical 2PM impulse, scattering angle, and eikonal phase.

Provided new all-orders-in-spin formulas for certain contributions.

Abstract

Quantum higher-spin theory applied to Compton amplitudes has proven to be surprisingly useful for elucidating Kerr black hole dynamics. Here we apply the framework to compute scattering amplitudes and observables for a binary system of two rotating black holes, at second post-Minkowskian order, and to all orders in the spin-multipole expansion for certain quantities. Starting from the established three-point and conjectured Compton quantum amplitudes, the infinite-spin limit gives classical amplitudes that serves as building block that we feed into the unitarity method to construct the 2-to-2 one-loop amplitude. We give scalar box, vector box, and scalar triangle coefficients to all orders in spin, where the latter are expressed in terms of Bessel-like functions. Using the Kosower-Maybee-O'Connell formalism, the classical 2PM impulse is computed, and in parallel we work out the scattering angle and eikonal phase. We give novel all-orders-in-spin formulae for certain contributions, and the remaining ones are given up to ${\cal O}(S^{11})$. Since Kerr 2PM dynamics beyond ${\cal O}(S^{\ge 5})$ is as of yet not completely settled, this work serves as a useful reference for future studies.