Paper detail

Self-force regularization of a point particle for generic orbits in Kerr spacetime: electromagnetic and gravitational cases

The self-force is the leading method in modelling waveforms for extreme mass ratio inspirals, a key target of ESA's future space-based gravitational wave detector LISA. In modelling these systems, one approximates the smaller body as a point particle leading to problematic singularities that need to be removed. Modelling of this singular structure has settled on the Detweiler-Whiting singular field as the gold standard. As a solution to the governing wave equation itself, on removal, it leaves a smooth regular field that is a solution to the homogeneous wave equation, much like its well established flat spacetime counterpart. The mode-sum method enables subtraction of this singularity mode by mode via a spherical harmonic decomposition. The more modes one has, the faster the convergence in the $\ell$-sum, making these expressions highly beneficial, especially considering the heavy computational burden of waveform production. Until recently, only the two leading orders were known for generic orbits in Kerr spacetime. In a previous paper, we produced the next non-zero parameter for a scalar charged particle in curved spacetime, laying the groundwork for the electromagnetic and gravitational case which we present here.