Mode sum regularization approach for the self-force in black hole spacetime - art. no. 061502

We present a method for calculating the self-force (the "radiation reaction force") acting on a charged particle moving in a strong field orbit in bla ck hole spacetime. In this approach, one first calculates the contribution to the self-force due to each multipole mode of the particle's field. Then, the sum over modes is evaluated, subject to a certain regularization proce dure. Here we develop this regularization procedure for a scalar charge on a Schwarzschild background, and present the results of its implementation f or radial trajectories (not necessarily geodesic).