Spiral Density Waves and Torque Balance in the Kerr Geometry

TL;DR

This paper develops a relativistic model of disc-EMRI interactions in Kerr spacetime, calculating fluid responses and spiral structures to improve understanding of torque balance in accretion discs around spinning black holes.

Contribution

It provides the first relativistic calculation of planetary migration analogues in accretion discs, incorporating pressure effects and deriving a torque-balance equation in Kerr geometry.

Findings

Computed relativistic spiral arm structures for various Kerr spins.

Derived a relativistic torque-balance equation for EMRIs in accretion discs.

Demonstrated the importance of pressure effects in relativistic fluid response.

Abstract

Extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) in relativistic accretion discs are a key science target for the upcoming LISA mission. Existing models of disc-EMRI interactions typically rely on crude dynamical friction or Newtonian planetary migration prescriptions, which fail to capture the relativistic fluid response induced by the binary potential. In this work we address this gap by providing the relativistic calculation. We apply standard methods from self-force theory, black hole perturbation theory, and relativistic stellar perturbation theory to perform the full fluid calculation of the relativistic analogue of planetary migration for the first time. We calculate the response of a fluid in the perturbing potential of an EMRI consistently incorporating pressure effects. Using a master enthalpy-like variable and linearised fluid theory, we reconstruct the fluid perturbations and relativistic spiral arm structure for a range of spin values in the Kerr geometry. We conclude by deriving a relativistic torque-balance equation that enables computation and comparison of local torques with advected angular momentum through the disc. This opens a promising route towards establishing torque-balance relations between integrated disc torques arising from fluid perturbations and the forces acting on EMRIs embedded in matter.