Analytic solutions of the Teukolsky equation and their low frequency expansions

Abstract

Analytic solutions of the Teukolsky equation for arbitrary spin weight in Kerr geometry are presented in the form of series of hypergeometric functions and Coulomb wave functions. Relations between these solutions are established. The solutions provide a very powerful method not only for examining the general properties of solutions and physical quantities both analytically and numerically. The solutions can be regarded as series expansions in terms of a small parameter ε≡2Μω, Μ being the mass of black hole, which corresponds to the Post-Minkowski expansion by G and to post-Newtonian expansion when they are applied to the gravitational radiation from a particle in circular orbit around a black hole. It is expected that these solutions will become a powerful weapon to construct accurate theoretical templates for LIGO and VIRGO projects.