Description
Abstract: The four main approaches to the relativistic two-body problem of general
relativity, numerical relativity (NR), post-Newtonian expansions (PN), post-
Minkowskian expansions (PM), and black hole perturbation theory (BHPT), each
have unique advantages and disadvantages, with effective one-body theory (EOB)
assembling results from each within their respective domains of validity. When
extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) enter the strong field regime, BHPT is
necessary to build accurate gravitational wave models. This talk is an introduction
to BHPT in the context of gravitational wave source modeling for an audience
familiar with the basics of gravitational physics. The topics covered include 1)
expanding the Einstein field equations in powers of the mass-ratio, 2) formulating
the field equations in terms of either metric perturbations or Weyl scalars and the
Teukolsky equation, 3) considering how the small body's motion is influenced by
interactions with its own first-order field through the first-order self-force, and 4)
introducing second-order perturbations and associated challenges.
