Self-force correction to the deflection angle in black-hole scattering: a scalar charge toy model

Understand

Using self-force methods, we consider the hyperbolic-type scattering of a pointlike particle carrying a scalar charge $Q$ off a Schwarzschild black hole.

• For given initial velocity and impact parameter, back-reaction from the scalar field modifies the scattering angle by an amount $\propto\! Q^2$, which we calculate numerically for a large sample of orbits (neglecting the gravitational self-force).
• Our results probe both strong-field and field-weak scenarios, and in the latter case we find a good agreement with post-Minkowskian expressions.
• The scalar-field self-force has a component tangent to the four-velocity that exchanges particle's mass with scalar-field energy, and we also compute this mass exchange as a function along the orbit.