Scattering Amplitudes and the Conservative Hamiltonian for Binary Systems at Third Post-Minkowskian Order
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
122
Journal Issue
20
Start Page
201603
ISSN
0031-9007
1079-7114
Date Issued
2019-05-24
Author(s)
Abstract
We present the amplitude for classical scattering of gravitationally interacting massive scalars at third post-Minkowskian order. Our approach harnesses powerful tools from the modern amplitudes program such as generalized unitarity and the double-copy construction, which relates gravity integrands to simpler gauge-theory expressions. Adapting methods for integration and matching from effective field theory, we extract the conservative Hamiltonian for compact spinless binaries at third post-Minkowskian order. The resulting Hamiltonian is in complete agreement with corresponding terms in state-of-the-art expressions at fourth post-Newtonian order as well as the probe limit at all orders in velocity. We also derive the scattering angle at third post-Minkowskian order and find agreement with known results.
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Type
journal article