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

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 or...

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Main Authors: Lara Bohnenblust, Lucile Cangemi, Henrik Johansson, Paolo Pichini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of High Energy Physics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2025)261
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author Lara Bohnenblust
Lucile Cangemi
Henrik Johansson
Paolo Pichini
author_facet Lara Bohnenblust
Lucile Cangemi
Henrik Johansson
Paolo Pichini
author_sort Lara Bohnenblust
collection DOAJ
description 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 serve as building blocks 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-order-in-spin formulae for certain contributions, and the remaining ones are given up to O S 11 $$ \mathcal{O}\left({S}^{11}\right) $$ . Since Kerr 2PM dynamics beyond O S ≥ 5 $$ \mathcal{O}\left({S}^{\ge 5}\right) $$ is as of yet not completely settled, this work serves as a useful reference for future studies.
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series Journal of High Energy Physics
spelling doaj-art-cb27a6f291834609b05b94206ae3c4e92025-08-20T04:01:43ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792025-07-012025715510.1007/JHEP07(2025)261Binary Kerr black-hole scattering at 2PM from quantum higher-spin ComptonLara Bohnenblust0Lucile Cangemi1Henrik Johansson2Paolo Pichini3Department of Astrophysics, University of ZurichDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala UniversityCenter for Theoretical Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of LondonAbstract 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 serve as building blocks 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-order-in-spin formulae for certain contributions, and the remaining ones are given up to O S 11 $$ \mathcal{O}\left({S}^{11}\right) $$ . Since Kerr 2PM dynamics beyond O S ≥ 5 $$ \mathcal{O}\left({S}^{\ge 5}\right) $$ is as of yet not completely settled, this work serves as a useful reference for future studies.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2025)261Scattering AmplitudesBlack Holes
spellingShingle Lara Bohnenblust
Lucile Cangemi
Henrik Johansson
Paolo Pichini
Binary Kerr black-hole scattering at 2PM from quantum higher-spin Compton
Journal of High Energy Physics
Scattering Amplitudes
Black Holes
title Binary Kerr black-hole scattering at 2PM from quantum higher-spin Compton
title_full Binary Kerr black-hole scattering at 2PM from quantum higher-spin Compton
title_fullStr Binary Kerr black-hole scattering at 2PM from quantum higher-spin Compton
title_full_unstemmed Binary Kerr black-hole scattering at 2PM from quantum higher-spin Compton
title_short Binary Kerr black-hole scattering at 2PM from quantum higher-spin Compton
title_sort binary kerr black hole scattering at 2pm from quantum higher spin compton
topic Scattering Amplitudes
Black Holes
url https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2025)261
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