In this thesis I present results for the evolution and dynamics of massive electromagnetically coupled
Maxwell-Klein-Gordon fields in black hole spacetimes. The first part of my investigation for
gravitationally and electromagnetically self-interacting fields in spherical symmetry reveals two distinct
types of solution at the threshold of black hole formation. For fields with relatively small mass
parameter I observe Type II discretely self-similar behaviour for the critical solutions and obtain
the black hole mass and charge scaling relations. However, when the mass parameter is sufficiently
large a different type of critical solution is obtained.. This new solution is periodic and resembles
a perturbed charged boson star solution. This new solution exhibits Type I critical behaviour and
its lifetime obeys a well-defined scaling law.
The second aspect of investigation involves massive electromagnetically coupled scalar field
perturbations in axial symmetry on a Kerr black hole spacetime. Here, results show that both the
mass and charge coupling parameters play a significant role in the field dynamics on the spacetime
background. For relatively weak parameter values the perturbations exhibit strong gravitational
interaction through the phenomenon of orbiting resonances. In the case of pure electromagnetic
perturbation there is also evidence of superradiant scattering when the black hole rotation is large.
When the parameter values are large both the physics and complexity of the dynamics change.
For intermediate values of the mass and charge parameter, the perturbations exhibit trapping and
a preference for scattering along the axis of black hole rotation. Finally, all electromagnetically
coupled solutions generically display charge separation and dynamo-like behaviour.Science, Faculty ofPhysics and Astronomy, Department ofGraduat
