An explanation of the Newman-Janis Algorithm

After the original discovery of the Kerr metric, Newman and Janis showed that this solution could be ``derived'' by making an elementary complex transformation to the Schwarzschild solution. The same method was then used to obtain a new stationary axisymmetric solution to Einstein's field equations now known as the Kerr-newman metric, representing a rotating massive charged black hole. However no clear reason has ever been given as to why the Newman-Janis algorithm works, many physicist considering it to be an ad hoc procedure or ``fluke'' and not worthy of further investigation. Contrary to this belief this paper shows why the Newman-Janis algorithm is successful in obtaining the Kerr-Newman metric by removing some of the ambiguities present in the original derivation. Finally we show that the only perfect fluid generated by the Newman-Janis algorithm is the (vacuum) Kerr metric and that the only Petrov typed D solution to the Einstein-Maxwell equations is the Kerr-Newman metric.Comment: 14 pages, no figures, submitted to Class. Quantum Gra

An extension of the Newman-Janis algorithm

The Newman-Janis algorithm is supplemented with a null rotation and applied to the tensors of the Reissner-Nordstr\"om spacetime to generate the metric, Maxwell, Ricci and Weyl tensors for the Kerr-Newman spacetime. This procedure also provides a mechanism whereby the Carter Killing tensor arises from the geodesic angular momentum tensor of the underlying Reissner-Nordstr\"om metric. The conformal Killing tensor in the Kerr-Newman spacetime is generated in a similar fashion. The extended algorithm is also applied to the Killing vectors of the Reissner-Nordstr\"om spacetime with interesting consequences. The Schwarzschild to Kerr transformation is a special case

The Quasinormal Modes of Weakly Charged Kerr-Newman Spacetimes

The resonant mode spectrum of the Kerr-Newman spacetime is presently unknown. These modes, called the quasinormal modes, play a central role in determining the stability of Kerr-Newman black holes and their response to perturbations. We present a new formalism, generalized from time-independent perturbation theory in quantum mechanics, for calculating the quasinormal mode frequencies of weakly charged Kerr-Newman spacetimes of arbitrary spin. Our method makes use of an original technique for applying perturbation theory to zeroth-order solutions that are not square- integrable, and it can be applied to other problems in theoretical physics. The new formalism reveals no unstable modes, which together with previous results in the slow-rotation limit strongly indicates the modal stability of the Kerr-Newman spacetime. Our techniques and results are of interest in the areas of holographic duality, foundational problems in General Relativity, and possibly in astrophysical systems.Comment: 4+3 pages, 2 figures, data (along with a read-me file) provided for eight mode

The Wahlquist-Newman solution

Based on a geometrical property which holds both for the Kerr metric and for the Wahlquist metric we argue that the Kerr metric is a vacuum subcase of the Wahlquist perfect-fluid solution. The Kerr-Newman metric is a physically preferred charged generalization of the Kerr metric. We discuss which geometric property makes this metric so special and claim that a charged generalization of the Wahlquist metric satisfying a similar property should exist. This is the Wahlquist-Newman metric, which we present explicitly in this paper. This family of metrics has eight essential parameters and contains the Kerr-Newman-de Sitter and the Wahlquist metrics, as well as the whole Pleba\'nski limit of the rotating C-metric, as particular cases. We describe the basic geometric properties of the Wahlquist-Newman metric, including the electromagnetic field and its sources, the static limit of the family and the extension of the spacetime across the horizon.Comment: LaTeX, 18 pages, no figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Entropy in the NUT-Kerr-Newman Black Holes Due to an Arbitrary Spin Field

Membrane method is used to compute the entropy of the NUT-Kerr-Newman black holes. It is found that even though the Euler characteristic is greater than two, the Bekenstein-Hawking area law is still satisfied. The formula $S=\chi A/8$ relating the entropy and the Euler characteristic becomes inapplicable for non-extreme four dimensional NUT-Kerr-Newman black holes

Quasinormal modes of Kerr-Newman black holes: coupling of electromagnetic and gravitational perturbations

We compute numerically the quasinormal modes of Kerr-Newman black holes in the scalar case, for which the perturbation equations are separable. Then we study different approximations to decouple electromagnetic and gravitational perturbations of the Kerr-Newman metric, computing the corresponding quasinormal modes. Our results suggest that the Teukolsky-like equation derived by Dudley and Finley gives a good approximation to the dynamics of a rotating charged black hole for Q<M/2. Though insufficient to deal with Kerr-Newman based models of elementary particles, the Dudley-Finley equation should be adequate for astrophysical applications.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. Minor changes to match version accepted in Phys. Rev.