Kerr axial timelike effective potential 2026-10-07
Conserved stationary energy and unit timelike normalization give this equation in the Kerr axial analytic extension. For , the negative-sheet maximum of the potential is at . Energy squared above this maximum permits an inward orbit to pass through regular and continue to negative infinity without a turning point. At energy squared one, zero is a turning point. For negative spin the threshold is expressed with .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 iii Paper 58 2 e Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-07
Choose spin orientation so that ; the printed threshold assumes nonzero positive . Put and . The axial metric has components and determinant . Conserved energy and timelike normalization giveEliminating gives the Kerr axial timelike effective potentialIt extends through the zeros of in the regular original coordinates. Since , reaching zero requires . At equality the infalling orbit reaches zero with zero radial velocity and turns back, because the nearby negative sheet is forbidden. Along the axis zero is regular, unlike the off-axis ring.
For , and the global maximum is . If , an inward particle has no negative-sheet turning point. It passes through zero and continues toward , another asymptotically flat end, with and infinite proper time to infinity. It first crosses the outer and inner horizons. Perturbative Cauchy-horizon instability can invalidate this ideal Kerr axial analytic extension physically.
