Generalized Gibbons-Werner method for stationary spacetimes

Abstract

The Gibbons-Werner (GW) method is a powerful approach in studying the gravitational deflection of particles moving in curved spacetimes. The application of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem (GBT) to integral regions constructed in a two-dimensional manifold enables the deflection angle to be expressed and calculated from the perspective of geometry. However, different techniques are required for different scenarios in the practical implementation which leads to different GW methods. For the GW method for stationary axially symmetric (SAS) spacetimes, we identify two problems: (a) the integral region is generally infinite, which is ill-defined for some asymptotically nonflat spacetimes whose metric possesses singular behavior, and (b) the intricate double and single integrals bring about complicated calculation, especially for highly accurate results and complex spacetimes. To address these issues, a generalized GW method is proposed in which the infinite region is replaced by a flexible region to avoid the singularity, and a simplified formula involving only a single integral of a simple integrand is derived by discovering a significant relationship between the integrals in conventional methods. Our method provides a comprehensive framework for describing the GW method for various scenarios. Additionally, the generalized GW method and simplified calculation formula are applied to three different kinds of spacetimes — Kerr spacetime, Kerr-like black hole in bumblebee gravity, and rotating solution in conformal Weyl gravity. The first two cases have been previously computed by other researchers, affirming the effectiveness and superiority of our approach. Remarkably, the third case is newly examined, yielding a innovative result for the first time.